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.
-
Oct- 2020 -7 OctoberNews
AO opens third warehouse in four months
Online electricals retailer AO is opening its third warehouse in four months. The Stoke-on-Trent site will add 275,000 square feet of warehouse space to their distribution portfolio. AO’s fifth warehouse in total will also create 120 new jobs in the Staffordshire area, part of the company’s nationwide recruitment drive of…
Read More » -
6 OctoberEconomy
High Streets Task Force appoints 150 experts
The High Streets Task Force has appointed 150 professionals to work with local authorities in England over the next four years, supporting their evolution and response to Covid-19. Towns in England will receive advice on progressing local plans, bidding for investment and helping the high street post-pandemic. The ‘experts register’…
Read More » -
5 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Mulberry swings to full-year loss
Mulberry has announced that group revenue fell by 10% to £149.3m in the full-year ended 28 March 2020, in light of a “challenging” UK market and the impact of the pandemic towards the end of the financial period. The group also swung to a pre-tax loss of £14.2m, down from…
Read More » -
1 OctoberGovernment
Retail coalition calls for government inquiry on retail violence
Several retail trade bodies have formed a coalition to call on parliament to launch an inquiry on retail violence, in a letter published yesterday (30 September). The British Retail Consortium, the Association of Convenience Stores, Usdaw and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents wrote to Yvette Cooper MP, chair of…
Read More » -
1 OctoberDIY
Kingfisher offloads Russian chain in £73m deal
B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher has announced it has offloaded Castorama Russia to Russian home improvement firm Maxidom in a £73m deal. Kingfisher, which has approximately 1,350 stores across eight European countries, said that the deal was closed on 30 September with 80% paid at the closing of the transaction.…
Read More » -
1 OctoberSport & Leisure
Halfords raises expectations amid ‘positive momentum’
Halfords has announced that its pre-tax profit in the first half of the year is now expected to be in excess of £55m, following continued “positive” momentum in its cycling and motoring business. Its previous 20-week trading update on 8 September highlighted an “improving growth trend” throughout the period, reflecting…
Read More » -
Sep- 2020 -30 SeptemberEconomy
N Brown reveals H1 recovery on back of homeware demand
The N Brown group has posted a “recovery” in H1 sales following an increased demand for homeware. N Brown said it has experienced a product revenue trajectory which has “continued to improve” throughout the second quarter, stabilising at -20.5% for H1. Losses in product revenue were down by 58.3% by…
Read More » -
30 SeptemberOnline & Digital
Studio reveals strong autumn retail performance
Studio Retail Group has reported strong retail trading in the early weeks of its autumn season, with gifting and early Christmas ranges performing well. The company’s product sales have grown by 30% in the six weeks since the announcement of its full year results on 24 August. First half product…
Read More » -
30 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Boohoo raises forecast as profits soar
Boohoo has reported that pre-tax profit soared by 51% to £68.1m in its latest half-year results. In addition, revenue soared by 45% to £816.5m in the six months ended 31 August 2020. Strong revenue growth was seen across all geographies and brands, with revenue up by 37% in the UK…
Read More » -
29 SeptemberHigh Street
Card Factory swings to half-year loss
Card Factory has swung to a half-year loss after Covid-19’s economic downturn affected its trading. The retailer saw a £22m statutory pre-tax loss in the six months to 31 July, against the £24.3m profit reported last year. Sales dropped by 48.6% to £100.5m during the six-month period and like-for-like sales…
Read More »
