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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Feb- 2021 -17 FebruaryHigh Street
Westminster Council launches Oxford Street revival initiative
An “ambitious” new framework has been launched by Westminster City Council in a bid to kickstart a “reimagined” Oxford Street and revive the wider district, in order to attract more shoppers to the area post-lockdown. The new Oxford Street District (OSD) framework, developed with key strategic partners, will reportedly deliver…
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16 FebruaryHigh Street
Almost half of consumers shift to online shopping due to covid-19
Almost half of consumers (46%) in 2020 made an online purchase that would have previously been made in-store amid the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a new report by Retail Economics and Natwest, online sales in the retail sector saw five years of growth in just 12 months in 2020 as…
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15 FebruaryAdvice
How to put customers at the centre with Google Shopping automation
It is impossible to discuss retail without assessing the impact of Covid-19. The pandemic has sparked profound change across society, with lockdown measures rapidly changing consumer behaviour and forcing retailers to adapt in order to survive. Much of this change stems from the acceleration towards ecommerce. Data from the ONS…
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15 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Bravissimo secures multi-million pound investment
Bravissimo, a lingerie retailer, has secured a multi-million pound funding package from NatWest to upscale its online presence. Currently an operator of 23 stores across the UK, Bravissimo has used the capital to invest in its warehouse operations and customer service teams to match the rise in ecommerce demand. Leanne…
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15 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Burberry to repay £6m in business rates relief
Burberry has voluntarily agreed to repay around £6m in business support to the Treasury, following the business rates holiday designed to help businesses navigate through the impact of the pandemic. According to the Sunday Times, the retailer has also repaid a £300m loan from the Bank of England, in a…
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15 FebruarySupermarkets
Asda to donate £2m to help fund apprenticeships
Asda has announced that in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, it will donate £2m to small businesses to help fund around 400 apprenticeships in local communities across the country. The grocer has “opted” to transfer a portion of its annual funds to pay for apprentices to train in small businesses,…
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12 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Shoe Zone expects to report £14.6m FY loss
Shoe Zone has announced that ahead of its FY 2020 results, it expects to report a statutory loss before tax of approximately £14.6m an increase from £11.3m in 2019. The group also expects to report revenues of approximately £122.6m, dropping from £162m the previous year. The increase in the anticipated…
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12 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Boohoo seeks larger London office following acquisition spree
Online fashion retailer Boohoo is reportedly seeking a larger London office following its recent acquisition spree that saw its purchases of a number of Arcadia brands and the Debenhams brand. According to the Evening Standard, Boohoo is looking to upgrade from its current London office in Euston Tower to a…
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12 FebruaryNews
Vacant units in City of London almost double amid pandemic
The number of vacant units in the City of London increased by 47% from 174 at the end of 2019 to 255 at the end of 2020, according to new research by retail data consultancy the Local Data Company This equated to an increase in vacancy rate in the City…
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11 FebruaryShopping Centres
Westfield owner to ‘significantly reduce’ exposure in US
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has revealed it will “significantly reduce” its financial exposure to the US and instead focus on its UK real estate. The news follows the company’s F2 2020 results which showed net rental income for shopping centres fell by 25.9% to €1.69bn (£1.4bn) from €2.29bn (£2bn) the previous year.…
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