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 -18 MayCoronavirus
Central England Co-op reports rise in ‘violent’ threats to staff during lockdown
Central England Co-op has reported a rise in “violent” offences being carried out against its staff amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The company reported problems which include verbal abuse and threats, alongside customers threatening to cough and spit on employees. Figures for the past four weeks have revealed an increase in…
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15 MayTips
Transparency in fashion – What it is and whether it’ll survive the Covid-19 pandemic
With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic keeping shoppers at home, clothing sales are plummeting faster than ever before. How the fashion industry redefines itself after nation-wide lockdowns will determine how it eventually recovers. What is the Transparency Trend? Transparency in the retail industry is promoted by activists and points out the…
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15 MayClothing & Shoes
Boohoo secures £200m through share placing
Boohoo confirmed it has successfully raised almost £200m in funding following the placing of 58 million shares. The online retailer raised £197.7m through the successful placing of 58,140,591 shares at 340p per share, in a placing led by investment banking boutique Zeus Capital. Following the fundraise, Boohoo will have an…
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14 MayOnline & Digital
Online retail sales soar to 10-year high amid Covid-19 crisis
Online sales growth surged to a 10-year high in April, up 23.8% year-on-year, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. That’s according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, which tracks the online sales performance of over 200 retailers. According to the report, the spike in sales was “overwhelmingly” driven by…
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14 MayLuxury Goods
Watches of Switzerland reports 5.9% increase in revenues in Q1 results
Watches of Switzerland has reported a 5.9% increase in group revenues to £819.3m in the year to 26 April, ahead of recently revised guidance. In the 46 weeks to 15 March 2020, group revenue increased by 15.8% across both the UK, which was up by 9.4% and the US, which…
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14 MayCoronavirus
WH Smith sales plunge 85% amid lockdown
WH Smith has revealed that group total revenue plunged 85% in April in light of the ongoing pandemic. Following the nationwide and global lockdown, travel revenue plummeted 91% last month, while high street revenue tumbled 74%. It comes as the retailer closed most of its UK stores, excluding 203 Post…
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13 MayEconomy
UK economy shrinks by 2% as pandemic takes its toll
The UK’s economy shrank by 2% in the three months to 31 March 2020, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which also found that gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 5.8% during March, the largest fall…
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13 MayCoronavirus
Dobbies reopens 54 UK sites amid Covid-19 pandemic
Garden centre chain Dobbies is to reopen all of 54 of its UK sites today (13 May 2020), following government guidelines to close amid the Covid-19 lockdown. The garden retailer, which temporarily closed its doors in March, said it has introduced a range of safety and social distancing measures, which…
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12 MayComment
The impact of extended returns policies for retailers and customers
Many retailers have announced that they will be extending their returns policies to help customers adapt to the current situation. Coronavirus has certainly forced businesses to make critical decisions over a very short space of time, with the ability to engage in normal shopping practices removed and adaption required immediately.…
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12 MayDIY
Kingfisher sales drop 25% in Q1 results
B&Q and Screwfix owner B&Q has revealed its first quarter sales fell by 24.8% to £2.2bn as the impact of the coronavirus hit its core markets of UK, Ireland and France. Kingfisher said it saw UK and Ireland sales fall 14.7% to £1.09bn, with B&Q sales plummeting 22.1% to £663m.…
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