London
This coverage focuses on retail activity, trends, and developments in London, a central hub of the UK retail industry. Reporting highlights flagship store openings, property developments, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, and strategic moves by both international and domestic brands. Tailored for retail executives and managers, it offers insights into operating and competing in one of the worldโs most dynamic retail markets.
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Oct- 2020 -21 OctoberEntertainment
Geek Retreat plans on opening 100 more stores
Games and fantasy company Geek Retreat has confirmed its plans to open another 100 stores over the next two years according to the BBC. The new 100 store plan is predicted to create around 600 new jobs. The retailer said it plans on opening sites in Bournemouth, Northampton and Liverpool…
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20 OctoberDepartment Stores
Hamleys to axe a quarter of staff
Iconic toy retailer Hamleys is reportedly set to cut more than a quarter of its London workforce. According to The Guardian, Hamleys is set to make 60 of its 208 staff working at its London store and nearby head office building redundant. Founded in 1760, Hamleys is the worldโs oldest…
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20 OctoberCoronavirus
Footfall continues decline following tiered restrictions
Footfall fell by 3.1% across all retail destinations last week from the week before, following tiered restrictions being introduced across the UK. According to the latest figures from Springboard, footfall saw largely similar rates of decline in all three destination types, with footfall down by 2.8% in high streets, 3%…
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19 OctoberCoronavirus
Wales announces โfirebreakโ lockdown
The Welsh government has announced a two-week โfirebreakโ national lockdown, which will force business closures across the country from 23 October at 6pm until Monday 9 November.ย According to BBC News, first minister Mark Drakeford said the “time-limited firebreak” will be “a short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock,…
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19 OctoberProperty
Landsec to dispose of retail parks
Landsec has unveiled its plans to dispose of its retail parks where there is โlittle or no competitive advantageโ, in a newly-announced restructuring of the group’s portfolio.ย It comes as the property group said that whilst the retail sector is โfacing clear structural challenges as a result of the emergence…
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15 OctoberCoronavirus
London to move to Tier 2
London and Essex will face tougher Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions from Saturday (17 October), including a ban on the mixing of households indoors, local MPs have been told. According to the BBC, health secretary Matt Hancock is set to update MPs on the latest measures in the Commons later today.…
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13 OctoberLuxury Goods
Aspinal of London to close all 10 stores
Luxury goods brand, Aspinal of London, has agreed a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approved by its creditors, thus permanently closing all 10 of its stores. According to Drapers, the decision was agreed upon โcomfortablyโ with 75% of creditors giving the green light. None of the companyโs 10 stores have reopened…
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6 OctoberLuxury Goods
Watches of Switzerland raises guidance as sales surge
Watches of Switzerland has announced that revenue for the first 10 weeks of Q2 has been โstronger than expectedโ at ยฃ202.7m, up 20.2% in constant currency and 18.3% in reported terms against the prior year. The group also reported sales to date of ยฃ145.1m, up by 12.6% against the prior…
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2 OctoberClothing & Shoes
M&S launches third-party fashion brand partnership
Marks and Spencer has begun stocking independent fashion brands on its site, with debut partner Nobodyโs Child launching yesterday (1 October). According to The Guardian, the decision, initially announced in May, seeks to โreinvigorateโ the retailerโs โstruggling clothes armโ by widening its customer appeal. Nobodyโs Child markets itself as โeco-conscious…
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Sep- 2020 -28 SeptemberHigh Street
Arcadia Group to put Burton HQ on the market
Sir Philip Green has reportedly put Burtonโs former London headquarters on the market, according to The Sunday Times. The owner of Arcadia Group has drafted in agents from BNP Paribas to bring the Tottenham Court Road site to market for an asking price of ยฃ80m. The move follows rising pressure…
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