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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Dec- 2020 -15 DecemberClothing & Shoes
H&M sales slump in final quarter
H&M has announced that net sales fell by 10% in the quarter ended 30 November 2020, following the impact of store closures and ongoing Covid-19 restrictions around the world. In its latest trading update, the group noted that overall sales have fallen by 18% in its full-year of trading, despite…
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14 DecemberAdvice
Forecasting future staffing needs
While many retail businesses use cash-flow forecasting to optimise their trading performance, could they be doing more to predict their staffing needs, both during and after the pandemic? Could this be key to their survival in the difficult months of winter trading ahead? In the retail sector particularly, both recruitment…
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14 DecemberClothing & Shoes
French Connection secures $6.5m in additional funding
French Connection has announced it has secured $6.5m (£4.9m) in additional funding, as part of its latest trading update. The UK fashion retailer said it secured the funding through the Main Street Lending Programme to support its US-based operations and staff. The loan will be for a period of five…
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11 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Administrators place £200m price tag on Topshop
Administrators for Arcadia are reportedly seeking a price tag of £200m for the firm’s Topshop brand and are looking to agree a deal before Christmas. According to The Guardian, administrators Deloitte are expecting to receive initial bids for the brand by the end of next week (18 December). Online retailer…
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11 DecemberHigh Street
McColl’s revenue tops £1.25bn despite store closures
McColl’s revenue has increased by 2.3% to £1.25bn this year in light of “strong demand” during the pandemic, according to the group’s full year trading report. In the year ended 29 November 2020, the convenience retailer’s like-for-like sales surged by 12%, due to a “strong performance” across its food, drink…
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10 DecemberSport & Leisure
Frasers Group reports 30% rise in half-year profits
Frasers Group has reported a 29.1% surge in after-tax profit to £84m in the 26 weeks to 25 October. The Mike Ashley-owned retail group said lockdown closures across its non-essential stores have resulted in a 7.4% drop in group revenue to £1.9bn. Over this period, Frasers Group’s sport retail business…
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10 DecemberAdvice
Three ways retailers can set up retail success and fight fraud this holiday season
This year’s holiday season is set to be the most important retail period in living memory. With UK retail spending during the 2019 peak season exceeding £75.8bn, the stakes this year couldn’t be higher. Not only do retailers need to adjust their strategies to recoup in-store losses due to COVID-19,…
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9 DecemberComment
The building blocks of app commerce
As the UK Government brings in a new wave of regulations to try to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus, retailers are entering their most competitive virtual holiday season yet. It is vital that retailers allocate enough focus and resource to their mobile apps as the channel that will…
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8 DecemberEconomy
Consumer spending drops 2% in November
Consumer spending in the UK fell by 2.9% in November, despite spending on essential items growing 4.9% year-on-year, as ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown restrictions pushed the public to shop online. According to Barclaycard’s monthly consumer report, spending on essentials grew 4.9%, with a 17.9% rise in supermarket shopping, while online grocery…
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8 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Joules sales hit by lockdown
Joules has announced that group revenue was down by 15.3% to £94.5m in the 26-week period ended 29 November 2020. According to the group, this reflected the impact of enforced store closures as well as the cancellation of country shows across the UK, alongside the fact that total store trading…
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