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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Sep- 2020 -9 SeptemberHigh Street
Travis Perkins profits slump 80%
Travis Perkins has reported a 80.9% decrease in adjusted operating profits to £42m for the half-year period ended 30 June 2020. This reflected “shortfall” from lower sales volumes, and was partially offset by actions to reduce and control operating costs. The retailer also reported a 20% fall in revenues to…
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9 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Majority of UK consumers change their shopping habits during lockdown
A study by online market vendor Capterra has revealed how consumers’ shopping habits have changed since the start of Covid-19. The study, which was conducted at the end of the summer, revealed that 62% of shoppers felt that their retail habits have been altered as a result of UK self-isolation…
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8 SeptemberHigh Street
JD Sports revenues slide in half-year results
JD Sports has reported a 6.5% decrease in total revenue to £2.5bn during the half-year period ended 1 August 2020. The decrease in revenue was split between sports fashion sales, which reduced by 4.6% to £2.4bn, and its outdoor range, which saw sales sink by 30.2% to £142.5m. Additionally, total…
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8 SeptemberSport & Leisure
Cycling surge boosts sales at Halfords
Halfords has delivered a “strong” trading performance in the first half of its FY21, with like-for-like sales up by 5% in the 20 weeks ended 21 August 2020. According to the group, this was largely driven by a larger cycling market, boosted by the “positive impact” from the current staycation…
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7 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Primark trading ‘stronger than expected’ post-lockdown
Associated British Foods (ABF) has announced that Primark’s trading in the fourth quarter has “exceeded expectations” ahead of its full-year results, which are set to be announced on 3 November. Primark stores reopened over the course of May, June and July, and have since “traded strongly”, according to its parent…
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3 SeptemberCoronavirus
Shop prices fall in August
Shop Prices fell by 1.6% in August compared to a decrease of 1.3% in July, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). This is below the 12 and six-month average price decreases of 1.0% and 1.5%, respectively. Non-food prices also fell by 3.4% during the month, compared…
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3 SeptemberEconomy
UK small business sector ‘plagued’ by late payment issues
UK freelancers and small business owners continue to be plagued by the problem of late payment, according to new research by cloud accounting software company Freeagent. Analysis of over two million invoices sent by FreeAgent customers between January 2019 and June 2020 has revealed the “startling impact” of late payment…
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3 SeptemberEntertainment
Lego reports double-digit growth in H1
The Lego Group has reported that revenue rose by 7% to DKK 15.7bn (£1.87bn) in the six months ended June 30, 2020. In the same period, consumer sales grew by 14% against the year before, while operating profit was DKK 3.9bn (£466m), an increase of 11% against the first half…
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2 SeptemberPeople Moves
Ray Kelvin returns to Ted Baker board through nominee director
Ray Kelvin, the founder of Ted Baker, has returned to the retailer’s executive board, following his exit last year amid allegations of misconduct. However, Kelvin will not take a physical place in the boardroom, and instead has appointed Colin La Fontaine Jackson to act as a nominee director. The retailer…
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2 SeptemberSupermarkets
Morrisons doubles number of instore florists
Morrisions is doubling the number of professional florists in its stores to 300 later this year, to meet increased consumer demand. Flowers have been one of the country’s most popular online purchases, with online searches up 277%, according to recent Google data. The supermarket is expanding its in-store florist shop,…
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