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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Jan- 2020 -28 JanuaryComment
How ‘Ostrich Shops’ are blighting the high street
The state of the high street isn’t to blame for the closure of shops and growing number of UK retailers entering into Company Voluntary Administration (CVA) schemes. It’s a trend of ‘Ostrich Shops’ which is killing high street retail. It’s all too easy to read about struggling high street shops.…
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22 JanuaryHigh Street
WH Smith travel division drives revenue growth
WH Smith has announced it delivered a “good performance” over the Christmas trading period, with total revenue up 7% for the 20 weeks ended 18 January. Total revenue was also up 19% in the group’s travel business, with like-for-like revenue up 3%. The retailer said its UK travel arm saw…
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15 JanuaryFeatures
How catering to older consumers can help save the high street
2019 was the “worst year on record” for retail according to figures released by the BRC last week, with commentators quick to blame the rise of internet shopping or the impact of Brexit, but the reality can be seen to be much more complex. Across the UK, high streets are…
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Nov- 2019 -29 NovemberDepartment Stores
Heal’s announces Chiswick Outlet store
Furniture retailer, Heal’s has announced the opening of its new outlet store, opening on Chiswick High Street next week. The new 2,090sq ft store will open on 3 December, and will feature cancelled, returned and overstocked items at reduced prices. The store will offer 70% off across Heal’s furniture, lighting,…
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Oct- 2019 -23 OctoberHigh Street
UK retailers store profit margins halved since 2011, study finds
A new report by global professional services firm Alvarez and Marsal, in partnership with Retail Economics, has shown that store-based profit margins for the top 150 UK retailers have more than halved in less than a decade, dropping from 8.8% in 2009/10 to 4.1% in 2017/18. “Ballooning” operation costs have…
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18 OctoberClothing & Shoes
M&S to open 60,000 sq ft store in Nottingham near year
Marks and Spencer will open a new 60,000 sq ft store at British Land’s Giltbrook Retail Park, Nottingham, in the summer of 2020. The announcement comes less than two weeks before M&S opens a major new store in Cornwall – it’s first clothing store opening in the South West for…
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15 OctoberComment
How can the high street survive?
Recent news that fast-fashion retailer, Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy protection in Canada and the United States should have come as a shock. However, the latest high street casualty is just another name pending on a growing list. The troubles facing the UK’s retail sector are entrenched and well-publicised.…
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Sep- 2019 -25 SeptemberHigh Street
Hotel Chocolat beats high street woes with strong revenue growth in 2019
British chocolatier Hotel Chocolat has reported a 14% increase in revenues to £132.5m for the year ending 30 June 2019. Profit before tax grew by 11% to £14.1m during the period, and the group results included £0.5m of sales and £1.2m of losses relating to new investments in locations in…
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18 SeptemberAdvice
Why the death of the high street has been greatly exaggerated
To misappropriate Mark Twain’s famous quote, news of the high street’s death has been greatly exaggerated. There is no doubt it’s undergoing a seismic shift, with the option to buy online continuing to change the landscape. We’ve seen several historic retail businesses in crisis, while online operators have been acquiring…
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9 SeptemberHigh Street
Primark expects like-for-like sales dip in FY results
Clothes retailer Primark, which is owned by Associated British Foods (AB Foods), has revealed it expects a 2% decline in like-for-like sales for the year to 14 September 2019. Despite this, sales for the full year are expected to be 4% ahead of last year at constant currency and actual…
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