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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Oct- 2020 -15 OctoberCoronavirus
London to move to Tier 2
London and Essex will face tougher Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions from Saturday (17 October), including a ban on the mixing of households indoors, local MPs have been told. According to the BBC, health secretary Matt Hancock is set to update MPs on the latest measures in the Commons later today.…
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15 OctoberDepartment Stores
Dunelm reports ‘very strong’ first quarter trading
Dunelm has reported “very strong’’ first quarter trading for the 13-week period ended 26 September with results coming in ahead of expectations. The homewares retailer saw its total sales increase by 36.7% to £359.1m, an increase of £96.5m year over the year. Online sales accounted for 29.7% of the quarter’s…
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14 OctoberDepartment Stores
Matalan profits drops by 44% at end Q2
Profit at retail chain Matalan dropped 44% to £25.8m during the 13 week period ending 29 August as the retailer reported lower revenues due to heavy discounting in a bid to clear stock. Revenue declined 11.6% to £258m, down from £292m the previous year. Net cash however, at the end…
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14 OctoberNews
Asos group sales rise nearly 20% during lockdown
Asos announced its group sales for the year rose 19% to £3.3bn from last year’s sales of £2.7bn. The online fashion retailer saw its UK sales increase by 18% to £1.2bn compared with last £1.02bn last year. Asos said its sales were driven by an additional 23 million customers who…
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14 OctoberSupermarkets
Tesco to hire 11,000 temporary staff
Tesco is set to hire more than 11,000 temporary members of staff to assist its stores during the festive period. New recruits will be hired across the UK and work in Tesco’s Superstores and Extra stores, with the focus being on filling roles in online delivery and store replenishment. Rachel…
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13 OctoberClothing & Shoes
French Connection revenue down by 53% during first 6 months
Revenue at fashion retailer French Connection fell by 53% in the first half of 2020, according to the latest update. The brand released an interim report which attributed the steep decline to Covid-19 and its widespread effects on the retail market. The report showed an annual underlying loss of £12.2m…
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13 OctoberLuxury Goods
Aspinal of London to close all 10 stores
Luxury goods brand, Aspinal of London, has agreed a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approved by its creditors, thus permanently closing all 10 of its stores. According to Drapers, the decision was agreed upon “comfortably” with 75% of creditors giving the green light. None of the company’s 10 stores have reopened…
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13 OctoberEconomy
UK retail sales rise by 6.1% in September
Retail sales in the UK increased on a like-for-like basis by 6.1% in September from the same period last year, according to BRC-KPMG’s retail sales monitor. Non-food retail sales increased by 5.2% on a like-for-like basis by 5.2% and 3.2% on a total basis. On a total basis, sales rose…
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12 OctoberCoronavirus
PM unveils three-tiered lockdown system
Prime minister Boris Johnson this afternoon announced a new three-tier lockdown system that will see some hospitality businesses in the North-West forced to close from Wednesday. Under the new system, different rules for regions will be classified as being on ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ alert depending on the rate…
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9 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group calls in administrators
Philip Day’s EWM Group, owner of retail brands Edinburgh Woollen Mills, Peacock’s and Jaeger has announced it is to appoint administrators to conduct a review of the business. In an update the group said it is “responding to the harsh trading conditions caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic…
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