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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May- 2020 -27 MayComment
Collaborating with landlords in a post-lockdown world
Earlier this month the government published its roadmap to ending the lockdown. It’s clear from the document that retail’s exit from lockdown will be slow and taken in phases. Even when retailers are allowed to reopen bricks and mortar stores, they will have to contend with a dip in economic…
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27 MayCoronavirus
Frasers Group CFO blames reopening delay on ‘Cummings fiasco’
Chris Wooton, the chief financial officer of the Frasers Group, has blamed the new opening date for non-essential retail as a result of the “Dominic Cummings Fiasco” which has made the government “hesitant”. Speaking to ITV News last night (26 May) Wooton made the claim that the current controversy surrounding…
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27 MayPeople Moves
Hammerson CEO David Atkins to step down
Shopping centre owner Hammerson has announced that its CEO, David Atkins, has decided to step down from his role. Atkins will remain in position until spring 2021 at the latest, while the board searches for his successor. Atkins joined the company in 1998 and was appointed as CEO in 2009.…
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26 MayCoronavirus
Non-essential retailers set to open in June
Thousands of high street shops, department stores and shopping centres across England are set to reopen next month once they are “Covid-19 secure” and can show customers will be kept safe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. All non-essential retailers including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics,…
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26 May
ScS resumes operations amid Covid-19 lockdown
ScS has announced the reopening of 80 stores across England, after temporarily closing operations on 23 March in line with government guidance. The decision to reopen was made “after carefully considering recently updated government guidelines and implementing enhanced health and safety policies and procedures, to protect our people and our…
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26 MayLuxury Goods
Burberry senior independent director departs due to ‘other executive commitments’
Burberry has announced that Jeremy Darroch, independent non-executive director and senior independent director, has informed the company that he will not stand for re-election at the company’s AGM on 15 July due to “other executive commitments”. Darroch joined the board in February 2014 becoming senior independent director on 1 July…
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22 MayTips
3 Ways UK’s Retail Industry Will Change With COVID-19 – What to Know
With the COVID-19 pandemic making its apparent impact on the operations of British businesses every day, many business owners are in a steady waiting game for everything to go back to normal. While it may be human instinct to be as optimistic as possible in such dire times, the unseen…
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22 MayClothing & Shoes
Clarks to cut 900 jobs as part of new ‘made to last’ strategy
Clarks has announced the launch of its long-term ‘made to last’ strategy that is designed to ensure that Clarks has a “sustainable and successful future”, resulting in around 900 members of staff made redundant. Making the announcement, CEO Giorgio Presca said that the new strategy aims to deliver a new…
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22 MayEconomy
Consumer confidence drops further in May
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index has decreased by one point to -34 for May, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. The measure for the general economic situation of the country during the last 12 months has dropped seven points to -55, 25 points lower than in May 2019. Additionally, expectations for…
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22 MayClothing & Shoes
Burberry sales fall 27% amid Covid-19 pandemic
Luxury fashion retailer Burberry has reported a 27% decrease in like-for-like sales in its fourth quarter results, attributing the loss to the coronavirus pandemic. The fashion retailer also revealed a 57% drop in operating profit to £189m compared with £437m during the same period last year. Additionally, in its preliminary…
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