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 world’s most dynamic retail markets.
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Jul- 2018 -24 JulyHigh Street
Retail sales buoyed by England football frenzy
Retail sales during the Football World Cup tournament increased on the days that England played, according to data from a retail software company. Vend figures showed sales grew by 6% when England played despite the 11% average decrease in retail sales compared with the previous month, throughout the tournament. Data…
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24 JulyEconomy
Over 30,000 retailers in ‘significant financial distress’ at end of Q2
Over 30,000 retailers were found to be in “significant financial distress” at the end of June 2018, according to research Professional services firm Begbies Traynor’s ‘Red Flag Alert’ research for Q2 2018 found 472,183 businesses were experiencing financial distress, a 9% increase when compared with the same period the previous…
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19 JulyHigh Street
Poundworld distribution centres for the chopping block
The administrators of Poundworld, Deloitte, have announced that the retailer’s distribution centre operations will be closing on Friday 20 July. They also announced the closure of a further 78 stores, which will see 907 employees lose their jobs when the stores shutter on either Thursday 26 July or Sunday 29…
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19 JulyHigh Street
Store closures lead to slump in demand for retail space
New research has found that 70% of chartered surveyors in London saw a notable slump in demand for retail space over the last quarter, in light of recent closures by Poundworld and M&S. The research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said that demand for retail space is…
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18 JulyShopping Centres
Retail centre ‘to rival Bicester Village’ planned for The O2
Crosstree Retail Estate Partners and AEG Europe have announced a new 85-store retail centre to rival Bicester Village will open at London’s The O2 in October. The 210,000 sq ft Icon Outlet will bring retail to The O2 for the first time since it changed from the Millennium Dome in…
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17 JulyPeople Moves
Asda plunges 261 Enfield warehouse jobs into uncertainty
Asda has announced it has proposed to shutter its Enfield warehouse which would result in cutting 261 roles. The supermarket chain said that the proposal to close the warehouse came following the opening of two new automated warehouses in Dartford and Heston. Asda said the Enfield site, built only eight…
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16 JulyEconomy
The Works to open 50 stores per year and plans to IPO
Discount retailer The Works has unveiled plans to float on the London Stock Exchange and open 50 new stores each year, as it defies falling high street footfall. The Works is planning a £100m listing on the stock market which will give management and shareholders a £36.7m payout. Along with…
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13 JulyEconomy
Bumper June footfall sees record increase of 11.4%
UK retailers benefited from record month-on-month growth in footfall for June, with a 11.4% increase in high street traffic compared with May. Compared with the same period last year, footfall was 7.8% lower, but June did deliver a reduction in the year-on-year deficit for the fourth successive month, data from…
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12 JulyAdvice
The end of the high street as we know it?
A week doesn’t go by without another retailer hitting the headlines. M&S, Poundworld, Carphone Warehouse, Mothercare and House of Fraser have all recently announced store closures, rocking the already fragile high street. The dominance of online shopping has been cited by many as the reason for the closures, with…
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11 JulyGovernment
Alternative Oxford Street ‘transformation’ announced
Westminster City Council has announced plans to “transform” – though not necessarily fully pedestrianise – Oxford Street after scrapping the Mayor of London’s plans for the area. The council will have to foot the £727,000 bill for the new development as TfL withdrew its support when the council blocked the…
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