Coronavirus
This coverage analyses the impact of coronavirus on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational challenges, government measures, financial pressures, workforce management, and shifts in consumer behaviour. Reporting provides insights into how retailers responded to closures, safety protocols, supply chain disruptions, and evolving customer needs — helping executives and managers assess lessons learned and long-term changes.
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Apr- 2020 -21 AprilBusiness Bites
Oil prices plunge, Virgin Australia could crash land, Nasa robots controlled from the kitchen table
Oil producers in the United States will pay you to take their barrels as global demand has plummeted amid government lockdowns. It’s hard to overstate the significance of the story, but probably the best way is to say that this has never happened before. Essentially the largest producers have ended…
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21 AprilCoronavirus
Companies House suspends strike-offs amid Covid-19 crisis
Companies House has announced it has temporarily paused its strike off process to prevent companies being dissolved amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The government announced changes to Companies House enforcement last week (16 April), which gives businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak the time they need to update their records and…
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21 AprilCoronavirus Featured Content
Customer contracts in a crisis
We lawyers have been asked a lot of questions about contracts in the past couple of weeks. At this point, I probably don’t need to tell you why. Most of the questions have been along similar lines – “can I get out of this contract?” and “how much will I…
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21 AprilClothing & Shoes
Joules adds £15m to existing debt facility
British lifestyle brand Joules has announced it has successfully agreed to add £15m to an existing credit facility with Barclays Bank, due to the coronavirus crisis. The retailer also said it has taken a “significant” number of mitigating actions to conserve cash throughout this period of significant “global macroeconomic uncertainty”.…
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20 AprilCoronavirus
UK retail footfall plummets in March
UK retail footfall decreased by 44.7% in March due to the mandatory lockdown, according to the latest BRC-ShopperTrak footfall monitor. The report said the figure is a record decline for the industry that saw “unprecedented challenges” during the month as the UK continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic. In the…
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20 AprilComment
What’s behind the demise of Cath Kidston?
Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shutting of high street stores has compounded the effects on the already struggling retail sector. Along with other 90s/early 2000s favourites Oasis and Warehouse, homeware and clothing retailer Cath Kidston announced it was going into administration this month. According to Savanta BrandVue Retail data,…
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20 AprilCoronavirus
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme portal goes live
The portal for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is now live, with the government saying that businesses with validated claims will receive payments within at least six days. Under the scheme announced last month, employers can claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee, subject to…
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20 AprilCoronavirus
DFS remains ‘confident’ as it plans equity raise
DFS has confirmed that it is in the advanced stages of negotiating an additional debt facility amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The furniture retailer is now seeking between £60m and £70m of funding with its existing lending banks in order to supplement its existing bank facility of £250m. This additional…
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17 AprilHigh Street
Laura Ashley appoints third administrator amid Covid-19 crisis
Embattled retailer Laura Ashley has appointed a third administrator amid growing pressure from the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the UK. PwC has confirmed that Rachael Wilkinson, business restructuring services director at the firm, has been appointed to support the business during this time. She joins Rob Lewis and Zelf Hussain of…
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17 AprilCoronavirus
Chancellor extends coronavirus loan scheme to bigger firms
The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme has been extended to include businesses with turnover greater than £500m. The £330bn package now allows all firms with a turnover of greater than £45m to apply for loans of up to £25m. Initially, businesses with a turnover of more than £500m were…
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