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.
-
Apr- 2020 -23 AprilCoronavirus
One in six shopworkers abused daily during pandemic, says Usdaw
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has released statistics revealing one in six shop workers have suffered abuse on every shift, during the coronavirus pandemic. The statistics revealed 62% of the 4,928 shopworkers surveyed have experienced verbal abuse, with almost a third being threatened by a customer. Usdaw also revealed 4% of…
Read More » -
23 AprilCoronavirus
DFS raises £64m from shareholders and directors
DFS revealed it has successfully raised £64m through a share placing in a move that will “significantly increase its financial resilience” amid the ongoing pandemic. In addition, the furniture retailer also received credit approval for a new 12-month bank facility of £70m from its existing lending banks. This new bank…
Read More » -
22 AprilHigh Street
Cath Kidston shutters entire UK estate, over 900 staff made redundant
The administrators of Cath Kidston have confirmed that all 60 Cath Kidston stores in the UK have now closed, resulting in 908 staff being made redundant. Richard Fleming and Mark Firmin from restructuring practice Alvarez and Marsal were appointed as joint administrators to Cath Kidston yesterday. Immediately following the administrators’…
Read More » -
22 AprilCoronavirus
John Lewis furloughs 14,000 members of staff
John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has revealed it has furloughed over 14,000 members of staff and will slash over £200m from its year spend. The effort to cut costs, which was announced in a letter to partners and staff, comes as John Lewis revealed a “mixed” trading period. With all 50…
Read More » -
22 AprilOnline & Digital
Boohoo reports 54% rise in pre-tax profits in FY results
Online fashion retailer Boohoo has reported a 54% rise in pre-tax profit to £92.2m compared with £59.9m last year. In its full year results ended 29 February 2020, Boohoo reported a 44% increase in revenues to £1.2bn compared with £857m in the same period in 2019. Gross profit increased by…
Read More » -
21 AprilComment
How brands can use feedback to excel CX in the post-coronavirus world
The coronavirus lockdown is likely to change consumers’ relationships with brands in all kinds of ways. With a third of the world’s population under some form of restriction because of the pandemic, millions of consumers have hours to spend online, reassessing the familiar and exploring the new. At a time…
Read More » -
21 AprilBusiness Bites
Oil prices plunge, Virgin Australia could crash land, Nasa robots controlled from the kitchen table
Oil producers in the United States will pay you to take their barrels as global demand has plummeted amid government lockdowns. It’s hard to overstate the significance of the story, but probably the best way is to say that this has never happened before. Essentially the largest producers have ended…
Read More » -
21 AprilCoronavirus
Companies House suspends strike-offs amid Covid-19 crisis
Companies House has announced it has temporarily paused its strike off process to prevent companies being dissolved amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The government announced changes to Companies House enforcement last week (16 April), which gives businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak the time they need to update their records and…
Read More » -
21 AprilCoronavirus
Cath Kidston bought out of administration by owner
Global lifestyle brand Cath Kidston has been bought out of administration by its parent company Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) in a pre-pack deal. The management team of Cath Kidston today (21 April) confirmed that parts of the business have been transferred by administrators, Alvarez and Marsal, following an independent…
Read More » -
21 AprilCoronavirus
Covid-19: Primark to suffer £284m stock hit
Associated British Foods (ABF) has revealed that Primark will take a £284m hit in stock following store closures amid the ongoing pandemic. ABF said the prediction was made following a “careful review” of its inventory, and added that the retailer had fully paid for and taken delivery of “very large…
Read More »
