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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Jun- 2021 -10 JuneHigh Street
Card Factory swings to £16.4m loss in 2020
Card Factory has reported a pre-tax loss of £16.4m for the full-year ending 31 January 2021, down from £65.2m profit the previous year, as the company continued to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing lockdowns. Revenue plummeted 36.9% to £285.1m in the period, down from £451.5m in 2020,…
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9 JuneCoronavirus
RSM retail head calls for ‘more flexible furlough scheme’
Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM, has called for a more “flexible furlough scheme” to allow retailers to “manage peaks and troughs of activity”, as the UK comes out of lockdown. In her plea, which comes ahead of the government’s coronavirus select committee this afternoon, Baker said that retailers…
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8 JuneHigh Street
Consumer spending up 7.6% in May
Consumer spending rose by 7.6% in May compared to the same period in 2019, the highest level of growth since coronavirus restrictions began. According to new data from Barclaycard, spending on essential items grew 11.4% compared to May 2019, the sharpest increase since before the onset of the pandemic. This…
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May- 2021 -25 MayEconomy
Family spending power reaches 11-year high
The average family disposable income in the UK has reached an 11-year high, according to Asda’s latest Income Tracker. Income increased by 13.1% year-on-year in March, representing a weekly income rise of £28 for each household. London saw the smallest annual growth with a rise of 8%, while disposable incomes…
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21 MayLuxury Goods
Watches of Switzerland anticipates profits of £104m
Watches of Switzerland has expected its FY21 pre-tax profits to range between £104m and £107m following a “very robust performance” throughout the year. Group revenue rose 13% to £905.1m from £810.5m, with UK revenue increasing 3.6% despite stores being closed for 26 weeks of the year and “significantly reduced tourism”.…
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21 MayHigh Street
Card Factory completes £225m refinancing
Card Factory has announced it has completed a £225m refinancing with its current banking syndicate. The news follows the retailer’s recent trading update which saw its sales performance “exceed expectations” after reopening following the first and second lockdowns. Sales from the online channels reportedly fell which was in line with…
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4 MayGovernment
PM announces new £1bn trade agreement with India
Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced a new £1bn trade agreement with India which will create more than 6,500 UK jobs. The agreement includes an enhanced trade partnership which will unlock new opportunities for British businesses exporting to India and vice-versa and will pave the way for future UK-India free…
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Apr- 2021 -27 AprilEconomy
Consumer confidence rises due to ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown
During the first three months of 2021, consumer confidence saw a record quarterly rise thanks to the government’s “roadmap” out of lockdown, according to the latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker. In the firm’s survey of 3,000 UK consumers between 19 and 22 March 2021, while most of the country was still…
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23 AprilCoronavirus
Retail sales continue recovery in March
Retail sales volumes continued to witness recovery in March, with an increase of 5.4% against the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. The latest figures reflect the effect of the easing of coronavirus restrictions on consumer spending, with sales 1.6% higher than February…
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20 AprilNews
Search begins to find the UK’s fastest growing online retailers
One of the world’s leading Digital Operations Platforms has launched its search for the inaugural ‘Lightning 50’, a league table of the UK’s fastest growing e-commerce businesses of the last 12 months. The list has been launched to celebrate the fastest-growing UK retailers following findings from internal research that two…
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