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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Jan- 2024 -19 JanuaryNews
Retail sales drop 3.2% in December, ONS says
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 3.2% in December 2023, from a rise of 1.4% in November 2023, the ONS has revealed. December’s decrease was the largest monthly fall since January 2021, when Covid-19 restrictions affected sales. Looking at the quarterly picture, sales volumes fell by 0.9%…
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17 JanuaryFeatures
Turning excess inventory into extra profit: the power of online auctions
Retail businesses have been fighting against tough economic conditions in recent years. From the continuing fallout of Covid-19 to the ongoing cost of living crisis, skyrocketing energy bills to increasing wage demands, bricks and mortar stores and e-commerce organisations alike have been feeling the impact of strained purse strings. As…
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Nov- 2023 -6 NovemberAnalysis
Can Asos turn around its spiral into widening losses?
If Asos’ estimations are correct, the online fashion retailer will be facing its second year of falling sales as big as 5% to 15% in FY24. Business has looked bleak for the retailer, and as of 3 September, its loss-before-tax widened to £296.7m, UP from a loss of £31.9m in…
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Oct- 2023 -25 OctoberOnline & Digital
Virgin Wines sales fall by £10m in FY23
Virgin Wines has seen revenues fall to £59m in FY23, down from £69.2m, as the group battled with economic headwinds and the launch of a new Warehouse Management System over the period. As well as a fall in sales, profit before tax fell to £0.6m, down from £6.2m, while adjusted…
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3 OctoberNews
Footfall forecast to drop in run-up to Christmas
Christmas for retailers and the hospitality industry will be challenging due to rising bills that will have started to bite since September, the retail intelligence experts at MRI Software, formerly Springboard, are forecasting. It found that this year, footfall across all UK retail destinations will decline on a month-to-month basis,…
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Sep- 2023 -13 SeptemberPeople Moves
Majestic to recruit 200 employees ahead of Christmas
Wine retailer Majestic has announced plans to hire 200 employees to work in its nationwide portfolio of stores in what is the company’s biggest ever pre-Christmas recruitment drive. Majestic will be expanding its workforce with a combination of permanent positions and temporary festive roles, as it gears up for the…
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6 SeptemberHigh Street
WHSmith FY revenues soar 28% as travel rebounds
WHSmith has welcomed a strong year of trading in the year ended 31 August, as the stationery retailer’s revenues increased 28% against the prior year. The group attributed its spike in revenue to its travel category’s popularity, which saw a 42% increase in revenue. It said its sales performance in…
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Aug- 2023 -30 AugustHigh Street
The Works revenues up 5.8% in FY23 despite ‘challenging’ backdrop
The Works’ revenues increased by 5.8% to £280.1m for the year ended 30 April 2023, up from £264.6m in FY22, and as such, the retailer said it is well-positioned to capitalise on opportunities from its strategy in the coming year. The value retailer of arts and crafts, stationery, toys, and…
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Jul- 2023 -14 JulyAnalysis
Prime Day 2023: here’s what we know
Amazon’s Prime Day, a global annual shopping event organised by Amazon, has gained notoriety among Prime members since it was first introduced in 2015. While Prime Day 2023 is behind us now, the results of the total spend by consumers has not yet been quantified. Luckily, we have last year’s…
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14 JulyClothing & Shoes
Burberry sales jump 18% as China trade rebounds
Burberry has welcomed a strong first quarter of trading as store sales rose by 18% to £589m, largely driven by a strong recovery in Mainland China, where sales rocketed 46% in the period. Aside from recovery in Mainland China, where trade benefited from the end of Covid-19 related lockdowns last…
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