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 -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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7 DecemberDIY
Kingfisher set to return business rates relief funds
Kingfisher has announced it intends on returning the full amount of business rates relief received to the UK and ROI as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Kingfisher said its “total annual business rates bill” eligible for this relief is approximately £130m, of which £110m falls in FY 20/21 and…
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7 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Ted Baker losses widen as sales fall 42%
Ted Baker has announced that its losses have continued to widen, with underlying loss-before-tax amounting to around £39m, primarily driven by lower revenue levels, and partially offset by our cost actions. In the 28 week period ended 8 August, group revenue was also down by 45.9% against the prior year. …
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3 DecemberHigh Street
Post-lockdown footfall increases by 64.5%
Springboard has revealed that footfall across all UK retail destinations was 64.5% higher yesterday ( Wednesday 2 December) than the Wednesday prior, as the nationwide lockdown came to an end. The increase in activity was seen to have occurred most in high streets and shopping centres increasing 80.4% and 133.2%…
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3 DecemberNews
Sainsbury’s forgoes £410m rates relief
Sainsbury’s has joined rivals Tesco and Morrisons in a pledge to repay the government’s business rates relief, bringing the total number of returned costs to over £1bn. The supermarket has revealed plans to forgo approximately £410m of its business rates relief. In a statement, Sainsbury’s said it has been considering the…
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3 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Arcadia brings forward pension fund payment
The owner of Arcadia, Lady Christina Green, is set to bring forward a payment of £50m that will go into the collapsed group’s pension scheme. The £50m installment was originally scheduled to be paid in September of next year, but has been brought forward in light of the retailer’s collapse…
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2 DecemberHealth & Beauty
Beauty Bay considers a stock market listing
Online cosmetics store, Beauty Bay is reportedly considering a stock market listing, following the surge in valuation fellow digital retailer The Hut Group (THG) experienced earlier this year. According to Sky News, the company which was created by Arron and David Gabbie, is in talks with investment bank GCA Altium…
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2 DecemberNews
Tesco to repay £585m rates relief
Tesco has announced that it will repay £585m in business rates relief to the UK government and devolved administrations. The supermarket said it was “immensely grateful” for the financial and policy support provided by the government, adding that the rates relief was a “game-changer” for all retailers. It noted that…
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