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 -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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12 MayOnline & Digital
AO expects full year revenues will be in line with expectations
Online electricals retailer AO World has said that it expects its full-year revenues and adjusted EBITDA to fall within the range of “analyst expectations”. The online retailer is aiming to release its preliminary results for the year ending 31 March in July this year, as it will expect to have…
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11 MayTips
The Impact of COVID-19 on Garment Workers – What to Know
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic shift to our daily and professional lives, leaving no one unaffected. Many businesses have taken a stepback and many jobs were lost, with the clothing industry taking much of the hit. Garment factories have been forced to shut their doors and temporarily…
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11 MayHigh Street
Trouble ahead for retail vacancy rates, warns BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Local Data Company has said the new BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor has revealed that the rate of store vacancies increased to 12.2% in March. The monitor also reported a 0.3% decrease in vacancy rates in shopping centres to 14.1% compared with 14.4%. The South West…
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7 MayCoronavirus
Zalando anticipates FY sales growth of 10% to 20%
Online fashion retailer Zalando has revealed it is expecting an increase in its full year gross merchandise (GMV) volume by between 10% and 20%, despite a slowdown in sales in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The online retailer expects to continue to “grow profitably” and therefore anticipates an adjusted…
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7 MayClothing & Shoes
Superdry sales slide as stores are shuttered
Superdry has announced that its fourth quarter performance was “substantially impacted” by the outbreak of Covid-19, with year-on-year revenue tumbling 36.9% to £118.5m. Following the closure of all owned stores and most franchise locations, group revenue for the full-year was down 19.1% to £705.5m against the year prior. Store revenue…
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