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 -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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6 MayCoronavirus
Business rates revaluation postponed until 2022
A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 in line with the government’s latest efforts to “reduce uncertainty” for firms affected by the ongoing pandemic. Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP confirmed that legislation has now been introduced to bring the next revaluation forward by…
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6 MayOnline & Digital
Card Factory online sales soar over 250% amid UK lockdown
Cards and gifts retailer Card Factory has reported a 267.5% increase in online sales since the UK lock-down began in March. During the period the retailer said it recorded “significant growth” in visitors, conversion and sales. In response to this increased demand, and to support social distancing, the company has…
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6 MayComment
Five ways COVID-19 has impacted e-commerce
COVID-19 has affected e-commerce marketing in all sorts of ways, and especially the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Some essential goods are in such high demand that they don’t need any form of advertising to flourish. However, the pandemic has hit non-essential goods dramatically, presenting unique challenges for marketers…
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5 MayAdvice
Supermarket Peep: a glimpse at UK shopping behaviours in the now
As we sit in our make-shift offices, attempting to keep a work-life balance and ponder where we will go on our permitted once daily exercise, it’s hard to walk past the local parade of shops or high street and not wonder when or even if normality will ever be the…
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5 MayComment
Retail tenants – how to work with your landlord during the lockdown and beyond
Retail tenants were relieved to hear that the Coronavirus Act 2020 (“CA 2020”) prevented landlords from forfeiting a business tenancy on the basis of unpaid rent between 25 March and 30 June 2020, or possibly later if the government extends the period. Further restrictions are due to come into…
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5 MayHigh Street
Government launches £6.1m fund to help high streets through pandemic
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are set to receive a £6.1m funding boost to help high streets and town centres through the Covid-19 pandemic. According to high streets minister Simon Clarke, hundreds of local business partnerships across England will share the fund to spend on projects that will help their local…
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5 MayClothing & Shoes
J.Crew files for bankruptcy protection
J.Crew has become the first major US retailer to officially file for bankruptcy protection amid the global lockdown. As per the terms of the new filing agreement, the fashion retailer’s main creditors will take control of the group in exchange for cancelling debts of $1.65bn (£1.3bn), converting them into equity.…
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