Covid-19
This coverage examines the effects of Covid-19 on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational disruption, financial pressures, consumer behaviour shifts, and recovery strategies. Reporting includes lockdown impacts, safety measures, supply chain challenges, online growth, and leadership decisions that shaped responses to the crisis. Designed for executives and managers, it offers lessons and insights for navigating future disruptions.
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Aug- 2024 -27 AugustNews
Today’s news in brief-27/8/24
UK shop prices have fallen for the first time since October 2021, with the BRC-NielsenIQ index reporting deflation of 0.3% in August, down from July’s 0.2% inflation. Non-food items saw a deeper deflation of -1.5%, driven by heavy discounts on summer stock, while food inflation slowed to 2%, with fresh…
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Jul- 2024 -31 JulyPeople Moves
Fenwick appoints new CEO
Fenwick has appointed Nigel Blow, the current CEO of department store Morleys, as its new chief executive officer. His appointment comes as Fenwick CEO John Edgar leaves business after four and a half years, as part of “wider changes” to its senior management structure. The appointment of Blow, who joins the…
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1 JulyClothing & Shoes
Fancy dress brand Smiffy’s sold to Ad Populum
Fancy dress retailer R.H. Smith and Sons, trading as Smiffy’s, has been sold to Ad Populum after falling into administration. Headquartered in Leeds, Smiffy’s has been operating for over 100 years and has stores in Liverpool, Newcastle and Oxford. However, the retailer was forced to appoint joint administrators from PwC…
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Jun- 2024 -17 JuneEconomy
Peak international spending returns to pre-pandemic levels, ONS finds
Spending by international visitors in August, the traditional UK high season, has largely recovered since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Visa. The ONS found that places in the UK with the highest concentration of seasonal spend by international tourists…
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Apr- 2024 -5 AprilGovernment
Theo Paphitis slams gov’s ‘disappointing’ attitude towards retail
Theo Paphitis has called out the government’s “disappointing” attitude towards the industry’s importance, Retail Week has reported. It comes as Paphitis’ retail group, which comprises Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue, achieved improved profitability in its full-year results. Paphitis said he had increased investment in his brands, whilst the government was…
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Mar- 2024 -15 MarchHigh Street
WH Smith appoints new CFO
WH Smith has appointed Max Izzard as its latest CFO, following the news that Robert Moorhead is set to retire as CFO and COO after more than 20 years with the business. Izzard is currently SVP of group and corporate finance at Burberry. He will join the stationery retailer on…
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4 MarchClothing & Shoes
Retail records fifth consecutive month of negative sales, BDO finds
Total in-store and online sales have dropped -1.3% in February, marking the fifth consecutive month of negative sales results, according to new data from BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker. BDO’s data, which looks at sales across discretionary spend categories, showed that despite online sales growing by +2.9% compared with last…
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Feb- 2024 -15 FebruaryNews
Today’s news in brief-15/2/24
The UK has entered a technical recession as its GDP contracted by 0.3% in the final quarter of 2023. This marks the first recession since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decline in GDP was larger than expected, with key sectors like manufacturing, construction, and wholesale experiencing significant downturns.…
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15 FebruaryEconomy
UK enters technical recession as GDP contracts 0.3% in Q4
The UK fell into a technical recession after gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.3% in the final three months of 2023, according to the ONS latest report. The news marks the first time the UK has entered a recession since the first half of 2020, when the initial Covid-19…
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Jan- 2024 -30 JanuarySupermarkets
Less shoppers stick to a weekly grocery shop routine, report finds
Just 16% of shoppers now report sticking to a weekly shop schedule, down from 26% in 2020, according to Savanta’s Grocery Eye report. The report has found that the weekly shop – a staple of domestic life for decades – appears to be “coming to a close” as cash-strapped and…
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