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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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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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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