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 -11 FebruaryHigh Street
Two-fifths of retailers expect Valentine’s sales boost
Two-fifths of retailers (41%) expect to see a boost in sales in the run up to Valentine’s Day. According to Barclaycard Payments, £787m is expected to be spent on the celebratory day, despite ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. As a result of the expected 26% spike to predicted sales, 63% of retailers…
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10 FebruaryComment
David Berkley QC: Interruption and insurance in the age of Covid
As we emerge from one of the most tumultuous periods in living memory, it perhaps comes as little surprise that insurance has been thrust into the spotlight. The unprecedented impact of the pandemic has brought a renewed focus to the issue of business security and, more specifically, business interruption coverage. …
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9 FebruaryCoronavirus Featured Content
How the fashion industry can survive and thrive post-lockdown
Back when the effects of the coronavirus pandemic first hit in March 2020, everyone seemed to expect the worst for both physical and online retail. Fast forward to 2021 and initial predictions for online retail could not have been more wrong. Propelled primarily by a surge in demand for makeup…
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9 FebruarySupermarkets
Ocado sees annual earnings soar by 69%
Ocado has seen its annual earnings rise by 69% as the pandemic strengthened the demand for online grocery shopping. The virtual supermarket revealed that group earnings were £73.1m for the year ending on 29 November 2020, up from £43.3m the previous year. Earnings in Ocado Retail, the company’s joint venture…
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9 FebruaryNews
Consumer spending sees ‘sharpest’ fall at 16.3% in January
Consumer spending fell 16.3% in January, the “sharpest” decline since May 2020 which was attributed to the current lockdown restrictions and Covid-19 pandemic. The data was gathered from the Barclaycard report which combines hundreds of millions of customer transactions with consumer research to provide an in-depth view of UK spending.…
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8 FebruaryHigh Street
Retail sales fall 10% in January
Total like-for-like retail sales declined by 10% in January as both the national lockdown and impact of Covid-19 affected shops across England, according to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker. It found that lifestyle total like-for-like sales fell to 16.7% in January. This month’s result reportedly marked “the worst” since June…
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8 FebruaryOnline & Digital
Amazon’s tax to turnover ratio dropped to 0.37% in 2020
Amazon saw its tax to turnover ratio fall to 0.37% last year, despite sales rising by more than 51% in the UK. In comparison, the Centre for Retail Research reported bricks-and-mortar retailers paid around 2.3% of annual retail sales overall in business rates. The online retailer’s sales for 2020, ending…
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8 February
Sunak mulls ‘Amazon Tax’ to help with UK debts
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is allegedly considering a double tax raid on online retailers such as Amazon who profited during the pandemic. According to The Sunday Times, leaked emails show that Treasury officials have already called for tech firms and retailers to meet this month ahead of the March budget to…
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5 FebruaryComment
Top of the shops – retail trends to drive success in 2021
2020 was clearly a challenging year for the retail sector. However the shake up from the global pandemic means massive change in the industry, bringing with it potential benefits for retailers and consumers alike. Change is the only constant and the brands that are set to thrive in 2021 will…
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5 FebruaryFeatures
Fanfare Label’s founder takes on fast fashion
There is no doubt about it, the sustainable fashion industry is growing. A desire for environmentally and socially responsible goods is becoming increasingly prominent in the habits of conscious consumers, therefore pushing demand within the sector. For some, the importance of sustainability in fashion is unparalleled. “I wouldn’t say it’s…
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