High Street
This coverage explores the state and evolution of the UK high street, with reporting on store openings and closures, footfall trends, redevelopment projects, policy impacts, and changing consumer behaviour. Insights are designed to help retail managers and executives understand the challenges and opportunities shaping high street retail operations and strategy.
-
Mar- 2022 -31 MarchComment
How to create the ‘Feel Good’ retail we all need right now
While the economy has fully opened up after the end of pandemic restrictions, we are faced with fresh challenges. Soaring inflation, ongoing supply chain disruption and the implications of a war in Europe loom large. Against this worrying backdrop many are looking for positive experiences to help us feel good…
Read More » -
31 MarchHigh Street
High street footfall continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels
Footfall levels remain 23% below pre-pandemic levels in February 2022 as rising costs are reportedly set to “batter” retailers from 1 April, according to RSM. The latest data from Datscha, analysed by RSM, shows the overall decline in footfall is the worst in London with numbers on Oxford Street down…
Read More » -
30 MarchHigh Street
WHSmith partners with Deliveroo in new trial
WHSmith has partnered with Deliveroo in an exclusive new trial to bring customers a new offer of around 600 WHSmith products on-demand. The new partnership launched yesterday (29 March) in Reading and will be rolled out to nine stores across the UK over the next week, covering Richmond, Muswell Hill,…
Read More » -
7 MarchCoronavirus
Retailers record 12th month of consecutive sales growth
The retail sector has recorded its 12th consecutive month of positive trading with total like-for-like sales, combined in-store and online, increasing year-on-year by 49.6% in February from a base of -3.1% when the country was in full lockdown. According to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST), total like-for-like sales saw…
Read More » -
3 MarchComment
Why buying into digital transformation makes good business sense for retailers
It’s an understatement to say that COVID-19 – and the restrictions imposed on businesses as a result of it – have triggered change within the retail sector. Over 15,000 shops and 188,000 retail jobs were lost in the first twelve months of the pandemic, and 2020 has since been confirmed…
Read More » -
Feb- 2022 -23 FebruaryHigh Street
New report indicates extent of high street challenge, says Bira
A report released by PwC about a study on how the high street is fairing shows how “challenging the high street continues to be”, according to The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). The report, released this week, highlighted how store closures for chains and multiples slowed versus the last two…
Read More » -
21 FebruaryEconomy
Bira welcomes sales rise, but warns ‘all is not well’
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it is “pleased to see a rise in retail sales”, but warned retailers against “falling into the trap of thinking all is well”. It was commenting on the recently released figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the UK retail…
Read More » -
18 FebruaryCoronavirus
135,000 retail jobs lost amid pandemic
Almost 135,000 traditional retail jobs were lost during the course of the pandemic, according to an analysis of figures from trade union GMB. It found that in 2019, there were an estimated 1.2 million sales and retail assistants, retail cashiers and check-out operators in the UK. By 2021, however, this…
Read More » -
Jan- 2022 -28 JanuaryHigh Street
Store vacancy rate improves for first time since 2018
New research has found the number of vacant stores has decreased for the first time since 2018, according to the latest BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor. In Q4, the GB store vacancy rate fell to 14.4%, 0.1 percentage points below the Q3 level. Shopping Centre vacancies improved to 19.1% for Q4, a…
Read More » -
24 JanuaryHigh Street
Bradford chosen for UK’s first sustainable high street scheme
Bradford has been chosen as the location for the UK’s first Green Street pilot scheme, which aims to help small and independent businesses on local high streets become sustainable. The Green Street scheme will be led by Bradford retailer and businesswoman Victoria Robertshaw, with help from initial funding from the…
Read More »
