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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Apr- 2020 -29 AprilComment
Twin peaks: it’s a time of peak purchasing, but not as we know it
Purchasing in the time of Covid-19 is fuelled far more by necessity than luxury, and it’s an unprecedented peak the retail industry is rapidly trying to adjust to. These aren’t indulgent puddings to follow your Christmas spread, or a fun new gadget you’ve treated yourself to because the Black Friday…
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29 AprilCoronavirus
Next warns of ‘faster and steeper’ hit to sales amid Covid-19 crisis
Retail giant Next has revealed the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on trading has been “faster and steeper” than anticipated as it reports a 41% plunge in full-price sales in its first quarter results. In the period from 26 January to 25 April, Next reported a 52% fall in high…
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28 AprilHigh Street
Games Workshop to restart online sales amid Covid-19 lockdown
Games Workshop has revealed plans to restart online orders and trade sales in Europe and North America this week, amid the wordwide Covid-19 lockdown. The majority of its stores continue to remain closed. However, a small number have re-opened in China, the Netherlands and Scandinavia in line with local guidance…
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28 AprilBusiness Bites
Job support to be wound down, M&S dividend suspended, ventilator production slows, property market halts
Chancellor Rishi Sunack says he will wean the economy off his support schemes in a “gradual” wind-down, to help prevent soaring unemployment on ‘expiration day’. His announcement, made to MPs, came in response to concerns that a definite cut-off date would produce an explosion in redundancies and layoffs. Currently, the…
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28 AprilCoronavirus
Tesco begins laying off some of its 45,000 temporary workers
Supermarket giant Tesco has reportedly begun laying off some of the 45,000 temporary workers it hired to help meet the surge in demand during the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. According to the Telegraph, some of the job cuts have come earlier than expected with temporary staff in one store…
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28 AprilComment
Furlough – what next?
The Government’s Job Retention Scheme was set up urgently to support employers and protect employees during lockdown. Such state intervention, unprecedented in the UK, is designed to facilitate a quick rebound of the economy once business activity resumes. But as the crisis drags on, the lockdown has already been extended…
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28 AprilCoronavirus
UK economy not expected to recover until 2023, study suggests
The UK’s economy is not expected to return to normal until 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report issued by economic forecasting group EY Item Club. The group has warned that it is likely to take three years for the UK economy to return to the…
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27 AprilBusiness Bites
Lockdown to persist says Johnson, clergy weigh in on behaviour of corona-corporations
The PM is back at his desk and says the lockdown must continue for the foreseeable future, and it would be premature to consider lifting now. After having been struck down with COVID-19 himself – and ending up in intensive care – the premier has finally convalesced and spoke from…
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27 AprilHigh Street
JD Sports to delay full-year results
Sports fashion retailer JD Sports has revealed plans to delay its full-year results to 7 July 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact the UK. In March the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) announced a temporary relief for listed companies that are due to report financial results during the current…
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27 AprilComment
How the supply chain might look after Covid-19
Strategy changes For many, we are likely to see a re-assessment in supply chain strategies. Reliance upon global supply chains will reduce, particularly on single sourcing of components, raw materials and finished products. Subsequently, this could also potentially lead to more positive encouragement of domestic production, manufacturing and farming where…
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