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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Jul- 2020 -8 JulyClothing & Shoes
H&M to close 170 stores worldwide
H&M has announced plans to close 170 of its stores worldwide after increasing the pace of the closures due to the impact of the coronavirus. The announcement, which came in a six-month trading update for the second quarter of the year, also revealed that the H&M group’s net sales decreased…
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8 JulyClothing & Shoes
Boohoo launches independent review of supply chain
Boohoo has launched an “immediate, independent” review of its supply chain, following revelations of poor working conditions in a Leicester warehouse. Boohoo first responded to allegations of malpractice earlier this week, after a Sunday Times exposé highlighted the conditions at supplier Jaswal Fashions in an undercover report. The retailer had…
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7 JulyHigh Street
Halfords cycling sales soar during lockdown
Halfords has reported a surge in sales for cycling related products and services during the Covid-19 lockdown in its preliminary results for the year ended 3 April 2020. The retailer’s cycling business was up 57.1% on a life-for-like basis, which Halfrods said was “significantly boosted” by the avoidance of public…
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7 JulyClothing & Shoes
JD Sport welcomes ‘record’ results
JD Sport has welcomed “record” annual figures as it reported a 30% increase in revenue for the full-year period ended 1 February 2020. The retailer recorded revenues of £6.1bn, up from £4.7bn the year prior. It also reported “strong” total like-for-like sales growth of 12% in its global sports fashion…
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6 JulyClothing & Shoes
NCA confirms probe into Boohoo working conditions
The National Crime Agency has confirmed it is investigating fashion retailer Boohoo following allegations of poor working conditions in a Leicester warehouse. An NCA spokesman told Retail Sector: “Within the last few days NCA officers, along with Leicestershire Police and other partner agencies, attended a number of business premises in…
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6 JulyTips
How retailers can adapt in a post-Covid-19 economy
A post-Covid-19 world may seem like a distant reality for now. While there are advances in finding a cure or vaccine for the virus, there’s still no clarity on how close the world is from finally being free from the pandemic. However, a post-Covid-19 world may not be a complete…
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6 JulyClothing & Shoes
Boohoo to investigate illegal practices at factory
Boohoo has responded to allegations of slavery and poor working conditions after a Sunday Times exposé highlighted the conditions at supplier Jaswal Fashions in a recent undercover report. Only last week, the fashion retailer defended its business practices against accusations that it was putting workers at factories in Leicester at…
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3 JulyEconomy
Consumer confidence increases in June
GfK’s fourth Covid-19 flash report has revealed Consumer Confidence Index increased by three points to -27 over the past two weeks. Joe Staton, GfK‘s client strategy director, said after the recent “near-historic low” of -36 for the Consumer Confidence Barometer last month, there are some early signs of improvement…
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3 JulyClothing & Shoes
Boohoo denies it ‘puts workers at risk’
Online clothing retailer Boohoo has defended its business practices against accusations that it was putting workers at factories in Leicester at risk of contracting coronavirus. The allegations made by worker’s rights group Labour Behind the Label come after the East Midlands city was placed under lockdown earlier this week. The…
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2 JulyOnline & Digital
17 million UK consumers expected to permanently shop online post-Covid-19
Some 17.2 million British consumers plan to make permanent changes to the way they shop, as perceived risks of contracting Covid-19 at physical stores redirects spending into online channels. This is according to a new report by global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), in partnership with Retail Economics,…
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