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 -15 MarchCoronavirus Featured Content
Covid-19 forced over 17,500 chain stores to close in 2020
More than 17,500 chain stores were forced to close last year across the UK, as Covid-19 has created one of the worst declines for retail on record. According to research by PwC and the Local Data Company, 2020 saw an average of 48 shops, restaurants and leisure venues close every…
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12 MarchFeatures
A look at what an online sales tax means for businesses
In last year’s Business Rates Review: Call for Evidence, Jesse Norman MP, financial secretary to the Treasury, said the government would explore the potential options of “alternative” property and online taxes which could act as “possible replacements” for rates to tackle the increases in businesses online presence. The proposition would…
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12 MarchOnline & Digital
JD.com Q4 revenues up 31%
Chinese online retailer JD.com reported a 31% increase in revenues during the fourth quarter of the year to RMB224.3bn (£24.7bn). The Q4 performance has beaten analyst expectations of RMB 220.3bn (£24bn) as the Covid-19 pandemic drove consumers to its online operations. The retailer also reported that income from operations for…
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12 MarchLuxury Goods
Burberry upgrades Q4 guidance
Burberry has announced that ahead of its trading update, the group anticipates its fourth quarter results to be “better than expected” with an adjusted operating margin to be in the range of 15.5% to 16.5%. The retailer has estimated that its comparable store retail sales in Q4 FY2021 will range…
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12 MarchEconomy
UK GDP shrinks 2.9% amid January lockdown
Monthly GDP fell by 2.9% in January as a national lockdown proved to impact economic activity, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. Figures released show that January’s GDP was 9.0% below the levels seen in February 2020, and 4.0% below October 2020 – the “initial recovery…
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12 MarchOnline & Digital
Very Group prepares for hybrid working model
Very Group has announced that it will be adopting a hybrid working model going forward for all its employees. The Littlewoods.com and Very.co.uk operator renovated its Liverpool-based headquarters to accommodate its 2,100 members of staff oscillating between working on site and at home. The renovations, carried out by Greenmount Projects,…
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11 MarchSupermarkets
Morrisons remains ‘confident’ despite 62% fall in profits
Morrisons has said it expects to see profits recover this financial year, after it experienced a 62% decrease in pre-tax profits during 2020 due to costs brought on by the pandemic. Last year, the ‘Big-Four’ grocer saw like-for-like sales grow by 8.6%, as consumers flocked to supermarkets throughout the pandemic. …
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10 MarchClothing & Shoes
Mango 2020 in-store turnover falls 43%
Fashion, footwear, and accessories retailer Mango has announced turnover for FY20 of £1.58bn, as the performance of its in-store and online channels offset one another. While the groups’ bricks and mortar stores saw a 43% year-on-year decline to turnover, its online channels grew 36% to £656m. The figures represent an…
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10 MarchClothing & Shoes
Inditex profits fall to €1.1bn despite strong online sales
Inditex, the parent company of fashion retailers Zara and Massimo Dutti, has revealed a fall in profits to €1.1bn (£940m) for the financial year ending 31 January 2021 – as Covid-19 forced many of its stores to close. The retail group revealed that its sales fell 28% to €20.4bn (£17.4bn),…
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10 MarchSport & Leisure
Adidas reports strong finish to 2020 but warns of Reebok sales hit
Adidas has reported a “strong finish” to 2020, however warned that its profits may be impacted by its decision to divest the Reebok brand. The german sports retailer reported a 1% sales growth on a currency-neutral basis in Q4 to € 5.55bn (£3.9bn). Adidas also saw its e-commerce sales grow…
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