England
This coverage focuses on retail developments, trends, and performance across England. Reporting includes store openings and closures, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, property developments, and strategic initiatives by national and local retailers. Designed for executives and managers, it offers insights into operating successfully within England’s diverse retail landscape.
-
May- 2020 -18 MayCoronavirus
Central England Co-op reports rise in ‘violent’ threats to staff during lockdown
Central England Co-op has reported a rise in “violent” offences being carried out against its staff amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The company reported problems which include verbal abuse and threats, alongside customers threatening to cough and spit on employees. Figures for the past four weeks have revealed an increase in…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
11 MayCoronavirus
Retail industry responds to PM’s conditional plan to ease lockdown
The retail industry has reacted to the prime minister’s announcement last night that outlined a ‘conditional’ to ease lockdown with stores possibly reopening sometime in June. Last night (10 May), Boris Johnson gave a prospective outline for a series of phased store reopenings next month if certain conditions of a…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
4 MayCoronavirus
Government announces new £617m scheme for SMEs in shared office spaces
The Business Rates loophole which meant small businesses in shared office space missed out on a £10,000 cash grant has been plugged with a new £617m funding scheme. The Department for Business, Energy, Innovation & Skills (BEIS) confirmed the new £617m scheme to support businesses in shared spaces, regular market…
Read More » -
Apr- 2020 -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…
Read More » -
16 AprilHigh Street
Dunelm CEO takes 90% pay cut as company seeks coronavirus loan
Homeware retailer Dunelm has announced its CEO, Nick Wilkinson, has taken a 90% pay cut as it confirmed it is eligible for a coronavirus loan. Dunelm also announced that the executive management team has also taken a 20% pay reduction with its chairman and non-executive directors waiving 100% of their…
Read More » -
8 AprilSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s lifts food restrictions as stock levels improve
In a letter to customers Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe has revealed that the supermarket giant has lifted buying restrictions on thousands of products amid the coronavirus outbreak. Coupe revealed that stock levels are now “much better” however some restrictions will stay in place for items such as pasta, UHT milk,…
Read More » -
7 AprilSupermarkets
Ocado unveils new measures as it apologises for inability to meet demand
Ocado has issued an apology to its customers for being unable to meet the current demand for its deliveries which it said is 10 times higher than usual. As a result it has also released a series of new measures including prioritising government shield list members and stopping orders from…
Read More »