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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Mar- 2021 -25 MarchHigh Street
Santander announces 111 branch closures
Santander has announced plans to close 111 of its branches by the end of August 2021, impacting 5,000 jobs and representing another blow to the UK high street. The bank claimed the streamlining of its portfolio is in response to the ongoing shift to mobile and online banking, as the…
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24 MarchCoronavirus Featured Content
Gov urged to avoid fourth lockdown as Covid claims 67,000 retail jobs
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the government to take “all necessary precautions” to prevent another lockdown after 67,000 retail jobs have been lost in the past year due to Covid-19. The plea comes in response to the latest ONS job figures, which also show that employment levels…
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22 MarchAnalysis
Amazon Fresh and the rise of automation in retail
Years ago when someone walked into a shop and emerged without paying, it usually resulted in an arrest and a possible visit to the local magistrate’s court. However, in the digitally-driven 21st Century, this practice has started to be actively encouraged as a means to ease the shopping experience for…
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19 MarchCoronavirus
Non-essential Welsh retail to begin reopening from 22 March
Mark Drakeford, first minister of Wales, has announced an easing of lockdown restrictions, starting with the reopening of non-essential retail on Monday (22 March). While historic sites and gardens are currently under review with a final decision expected next week, garden centres will open first alongside the rest of non-essential…
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19 MarchClothing & Shoes
Nike global revenues up 3% as online helps offset store closures
Global sportswear giant Nike has revealed that its revenues for the third quarter of the year were $10.4bn (£7.4bn) up 3% compared to the prior year. The retailer revealed that despite a large portion of its store estate in Europe remaining closed during the final two months of the quarter,…
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18 MarchClothing & Shoes
Ralph and Russo enters administration
Ralph and Russo has announced that it has been placed into administration putting its 400 worldwide employees at risk. Last week, a spokesman for the brand told Sky News that the company would “fight any attempt” by creditors to force it into insolvency. Following a year of affected trading caused…
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18 MarchNews
Ocado revenue soars amid ‘dramatic’ shift to online
Ocado has announced that retail revenue soared by 40% in its first quarter ended 28 February 2021, amid a “dramatic and permanent” shift towards online shopping in light of the pandemic. Average orders per week were up by 2.5% against the first quarter of 2020, while the average order size…
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16 MarchHigh Street
Thorntons to close all 61 UK sites, 600 jobs at risk
Chocolate maker Thorntons has announced it is to close all 61 of its UK stores, placing over 600 jobs at risk. Announcing the decision on its website, it said the decision comes as it has been “operating for a long time in a tough and challenging retail environment”. It cited…
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15 MarchAdvice
No smooth sailing: Omnichannel investment is the key to weathering the storm
A series of challenges over the last year have brought with them a wealth of era-defining moments for retail. Within a brief and turbulent window of time, we have seen some of the biggest hallmarks of the changing retail landscape. Most notably, the already wavering high street was hit hard…
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15 MarchClothing & Shoes
H&M Q1 sales fall 21% to £3.4bn
H&M has announced that group net sales decreased by 21% in local currencies to SEK 40.1bn (£3.4bn) in its first quarter of trading, compared with the same period the previous year. The group stated that sales development was “significantly affected” by the Covid-19 situation, with over 1,800 stores temporarily closed…
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