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 -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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5 MayPeople Moves
JD Sports blocks director appointment at Boohoo
Sportswear giant JD has reportedly blocked non-executive director Kath Smith from joining online fashion retailer Boohoo in the same role. The online fashion group announced the appointment of Smith last month, effective from 1 May. Boohoo’s group CEO Mahmud Kamani had said: “Her commercial insight will be a great asset…
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4 MayCoronavirus
Sports Direct managers say firm asked them to work while on furlough
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and House of Fraser firms reportedly asked store managers to work one day a week despite being furloughed. According to The Guardian, store managers allege that they had been asked to come into stores and prepare stock ready to be distributed to its Shirebrook warehouse to…
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4 MayCoronavirus
Bira releases ‘life after lockdown’ strategy
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has released its 10-point “life after lockdown” strategy, calling on the government to consider lifting restrictions on smaller retailers first. In an open letter, CEO Andrew Goodacre’s survival plan encourages retailers to consider sustainable retail, customer focused experiences and multi-channel sales to survive post…
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