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.
-
Feb- 2021 -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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
22 JanuaryPeople Moves
EG Group appoints Lord Stuart Rose as chair
The Issa Brothers’ EG Group has announced the appointment of Lord Stuart Rose as non-executive chairman with immediate effect. Lord Rose is currently chairman of Ocado plc, a post from which he will retire in May after more than eight years as chair. He previously served as chief executive and…
Read More » -
21 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Apricot switches to turnover rent after CVA
Apricot, the women’s fashion retailer, has changed the lease agreements for the majority of its UK portfolio to turnover-based rents, according to Drapers. The decision, which will impact 13 of the brand’s 14 UK stores, was reportedly given the green light on 15 January. The move came as a result…
Read More » -
19 JanuarySupermarkets
Aldi increases minimum wage to £9.55
Aldi has announced it is increasing its minimum hourly rate to £9.55 an hour nationwide, exceeding the Living Wage Foundation’s latest recommended pay rates. According to the supermarket, these changes mean that store colleagues across the UK will earn a minimum of £0.83 more per hour than the current national…
Read More » -
14 JanuaryCoronavirus
£95m Northern Ireland retail voucher scheme put on hold
A £95m high street voucher scheme, first announced by the Northern Ireland economy minister in November, has been referred to the next financial year, according to the BBC. The scheme is intended to support retailers that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, possibly through a pre-paid card system. Similar…
Read More » -
Dec- 2020 -22 DecemberNews
Card Factory appoints new CEO
Card Factory has announced the appointment of Darcy Willson-Rymer as CEO, which will come into effect on 8 March 2021. Willson-Rymer will join the company from Costcutter Supermarkets, where he has served as CEO for the last eight years. During his time at Costcutter, Willson-Rymer steered the multi-site owned and…
Read More »
