Hybrid Working
This coverage examines hybrid working practices and their impact on the UK retail sector, offering insights for executives, managers, and HR professionals. Reporting includes workforce trends, operational challenges, productivity considerations, and strategies for implementing flexible work arrangements in retail businesses. The analysis helps professionals understand how hybrid working affects staff engagement, costs, and customer service.
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Jun- 2025 -18 JuneDepartment Stores
John Lewis commercial staff return to office three days a week
John Lewis has confirmed that some parts of its commercial team have been asked to work either in the office, in stores or with brands and suppliers three days a week. According to John Lewis, flexible working “very much remains in place”, with a mix of office working, being close…
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Jan- 2025 -8 JanuaryComment
Shaping the future of retail analytics
Diane Wehrle, co-founder of Springboard, is a name synonymous with retail data innovation. Her journey from a business graduate to a pioneer in retail analytics is a testament to vision, resilience, and seizing untapped opportunities. In an industry often starved for real-time, actionable insights, Wehrle’s work has transformed how retailers…
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Nov- 2024 -7 NovemberSupermarkets
Asda to cut 475 head office roles and reduce hybrid working
Asda has confirmed that it is set to cut 475 jobs from its head offices in Leeds and Leicestershire, whilst also ordering staff back to the office as part of a turnaround plan for the group. The supermarket is set to reduce hybrid working for office staff, mandating that employees…
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Jan- 2024 -17 JanuaryNews
Today’s news in brief-17/1/24
In a surprising turn of events, inflation in December exceeded economists’ predictions, rising to 4%, contrary to the forecasted decrease to 3.8%. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the upswing was driven by increases in fuel and tobacco prices. Notably, alcohol and tobacco division prices surged by 12.8%,…
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17 JanuaryEconomy
Footfall climbed 3.3% in 2023 despite cost-of-living crisis
Footfall steadily rose by 3.3% in 2023 compared with the previous year, despite the rising prominence of the cost of living crisis, according to MRI Software’s latest retail outlook report. The findings suggest that consumers found a way to spread costs, as retail “stood firm” in the face of the…
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Dec- 2023 -7 DecemberNews
Black Friday 2023 surpasses 2019 levels
Black Friday weekend was the busiest day of 2023, slightly surpassing 2019’s figures, according to new figures released today (7 December) by New West End Company. Driving uplift was early morning shoppers, with higher footfall concentrated between 8am – 12pm. This is likely down to the rise in savvy spenders,…
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Jun- 2023 -20 JuneProperty
John Lewis writes down head office by £15m
John Lewis Partnership has reportedly written down the value of its head office in Victoria, London by £15.6m, amid a rise in hybrid working. According to The Times, the group has also pushed ahead with the writedown due to depressed commercial property valuations in light of rising interest rates. The…
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May- 2023 -19 MayFeatures
Heal’s flagship refurb is ‘a step towards commercial viability’
With Habitat having been acquired by Sainsbury’s early on in 2021 and seeing how Next also bought the scraps leftover from Made.com’s administration process for £3m at the end of last year, it’s does not come as a surprise to hear that GlobalData forecasts a 2.8% dip in the furniture…
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5 MayHigh Street
UK footfall jumps 7.2% in April
Footfall rose by +7.2% from March to April, reversing a drop of -2.8% from February to March according to the latest data from MRI Springboard. Springboard said that Easter was a significant driver of footfall in April, with a rise in the week of Good Friday and Easter Saturday of…
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2 MayDepartment Stores
John Lewis to downsize head office in cost-cutting efforts
John Lewis is looking to halve its office space in an effort to cut costs through a loose hybrid working approach, as the company is now hunting for an office of 100,000 sq ft compared with its current 220,000 sq ft space, The Times has reported. The partnership, which also…
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