Ireland
This coverage focuses on retail trends, developments, and performance in Ireland, with attention to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Reporting includes store activity, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, property developments, and strategic moves by local and international retailers. Tailored for executives and managers, it offers insights into operating successfully in Ireland’s retail market.
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Mar- 2021 -16 MarchDepartment Stores
Hammerson to redevelop Debenhams store into new homes
Hammerson has announced it has submitted plans to Leicester City Council to redevelop the former Debenhams store within the shopping centre Highcross into new homes for rent. The development would see the former Debenhams department store which has been an “integral part of the city’s core” since its opening in…
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15 MarchDIY
Screwfix to open 50 new stores in UK and ROI
Screwfix has announced it plans to open more than 50 stores, creating around 600 new jobs in communities across the UK and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) by the end of January 2022. Of the new stores, 40 will be in the UK, creating up to 500 new jobs, with…
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15 MarchHigh Street
Oxford Street kicks off £150m regeneration plan
Westminster City Council has launched its “ambitious” £150m plans to renovate Oxford Street, beginning with a series of temporary interventions to encourage higher footfall after lockdown. The initial interventions aim to boost footfall and support businesses in the area, and will be closely followed by council-led projects that will “permanently…
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3 MarchGovernment
NI Executive reveals phased lockdown exit plan
Ministers for Northern Ireland’s devolved government have announced phased plans to take the country out of its current lockdown restrictions. Yesterday (2 March), the Executive agreed on a final version of the ‘Pathway to Recovery’ strategy, which will focus on reopening key areas of the economy, such as retail and…
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Feb- 2021 -25 FebruaryDIY
Ikea UK hit with £33m loss amid pandemic
Ikea UK has announced that total sales fell by £200m to £1.9bn in its full-year ended 31 August 2020, down from sales of £2.12bn reported in FY19. While the furniture giant decreased its costs by 3.4% to help shore up its finances, it still reported an overall loss impact of…
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24 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Gap battles landlords in bid to shutter stores
Gap is reportedly battling its landlords ahead of plans to “hand back the keys” to all its UK stores this July, according to the Times. The group first announced it was considering the possible closures of company-operated stores in the UK, France, Ireland and Italy at the end of Q2…
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19 FebruaryCoronavirus
NI extends lockdown until 1 April but click and collect widened
The Stormont Executive has announced it will extend the current lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland until 1 April. However, first minister Arlene Foster did reveal that more non-essential retail businesses will be able to resume click and collect services from 8 March. The scope of those allowed to operate click…
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2 FebruaryHigh Street
Footfall remains above first lockdown levels despite poor weather
Footfall across UK retail destinations rose by just +0.4% last week from the week before as poor weather deterred high street shoppers, according to the latest data from retail experts Springboard. It found that there was a “noticeable increase” in visits to retail parks as footfall rose by +4.7% and…
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Jan- 2021 -29 JanuaryDIY
Screwfix reaches £2bn in yearly sales
Omnichannel retailer Screwfix has surpassed £2bn in sales for the year to January 2021, creating thousands of new jobs in the process. The firm has also managed to open 30 new stores in the period, bringing its UK and Ireland portfolio to 725. The sales milestone represents a doubling in…
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25 JanuaryBusiness Bites
Five retailers who excelled during the Christmas season
Asos Asos has gone from strength to strength in the past few years with this year being no different. Over the peak festive season it saw its sales increase by 23% to £1.32bn from £1.074bn the previous year, which the group claimed was due to support by investors who…
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