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.
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Jun- 2020 -30 JuneCoronavirus
Reopening is ‘no magic bullet’ for retail, says BRC
Reopening is “no magic bullet” for retail, the British Retail Consortium has warned despite UK footfall improving since lockdown restrictions were lifted earlier this month. The BRC’s footfall tracker found that UK footfall decreased 53.4% year-on-year during the second week of reopening in England and NI. This is compared to…
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19 JuneAdvice
How email can save the high street
According to IMRG, online sales in the UK grew by just 6.7% in 2019. The current pandemic, though, helped online retail sales soar to ten year high. A recent press release by IMRG reports growth to a “staggering +23.8% Year-on-Year (YoY) in April 2020, as high streets across the country…
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17 JuneClothing & Shoes
Debenhams opens 38 more stores following ‘successful’ Monday reopening
Department store chain Debenhams has announced it will reopen a further 38 stores in England, following the “successful reopening” of 50 of its stores earlier this week. Debenhams revealed that four stores have also reopened in Northern Ireland, whilst the business awaits confirmation from Wales and Scotland as to when…
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5 JuneCoronavirus
Online sales reach 10-year high
British retailers recorded a 10-year high for online sales in May while the continued lockdown measures kept high streets empty, according to new figures by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. According to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST), total like-for-like sales, consisting of both in-store and non-store sales, declined…
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May- 2020 -15 MayCoronavirus
Poundland to reopen 36 stores across the UK
Discount chain Poundland has revealed it is set to open 36 stores across the UK next week as it begins to reopen its store estate. While most of Poundlands stores have remained open for “essential” shopping, In March, the retailer closed around 100 stores that were located close to another…
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Apr- 2020 -24 AprilCoronavirus
Government introduces new measures to protect high street
The business secretary has announced a new set of measures that will be introduced to protect high street businesses “under strain” from the ongoing pandemic. High street shops, and other companies facing financial difficulties, will now be protected from “aggressive” rent collection and asked to pay what they can as…
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7 AprilCoronavirus
WH Smith raises £166m through share placing
WH Smith has raised £166m through a share placing in efforts to shore up its finances amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A total of 15,751,826 new ordinary shares were placed at 1050p per share, with existing and new investors. The move raised a total of £165.9m for the group. The…
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Mar- 2020 -30 MarchAdvice
Covid 19: The future health of the high street
The health of the high street is up for debate now more than ever. If retailers were struggling before coronavirus set its sights on our shores, following last week’s forced government closure of non-essential brick & mortar stores throughout the UK, it’s likely that many will have pulled down their…
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6 MarchHigh Street
February retail sales hit by poor weather and Coronavirus concerns
Total in-store retail sales declined by 0.9% in February, according to BDO’s monthly High Street Sales Tracker. The accountancy firm said a mix of poor weather and “growing concerns” around the spread of coronavirus caused retailers to take a hit during the month. Despite this, online sales saw a slight…
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Feb- 2020 -11 FebruaryComment
Why Gearbest no longer has the right gear
Doing well online is part and parcel of a business nowadays. It’s well known that people browse and shop online, and the gift industry is no exception. It’s no longer good enough to have a solid presence in the high street. Customers, old and new, want to find businesses and…
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