Manchester
This coverage highlights retail activity, trends, and developments in Manchester, a key UK retail hub. Reporting includes store openings and closures, property developments, local economic impacts, retail performance data, and insights into regional strategies by national and independent brands. Tailored for executives and managers, it supports strategic planning for those engaged in retail operations and expansion in the North West.
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Oct- 2018 -5 OctoberShopping Centres
Intu deputy chairman considers takeover bid
John Whittaker, the deputy chairman of Intu, is believed to be considering a £2bn deal to take over the shopping centre developer that owns venues such as Lakeside in Essex and the Trafford Centre in Manchester. Whittaker currently owns 27% of the company and has formed a consortium via his…
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Sep- 2018 -27 SeptemberEconomy
One in four UK small retail businesses ‘fearful’ of Brexit, research finds
A quarter of small UK retail businesses admit they are “fearful” of Brexit, data from YouGov analysed by Vend has revealed. The retail software management company accessed a research sample of over 1,000 senior managers in the retail sector, working at organisations with fewer than 20 staff, on YouGov’s ‘profiles…
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Aug- 2018 -30 AugustAnalysis
How accessible are shopping centres in the UK?
In 2016, the UK’s population peaked at 65.6 million. Reportedly, 18% of the population were aged 65 and over. With an ageing population, are businesses accommodating for elderly people and their differing needs? Similarly, are they making themselves accessible to those with disabilities? Despite Britain’s disabled population having a spending…
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29 AugustGovernment
Bailiffs visited more than 200 firms daily over unpaid business rates
In the first year after the new business rates revaluation came into effect, councils sent bailiffs to more than 200 commercial properties everyday for unpaid rates. An investigation by real estate advisor Altus Group revealed that during 2017/18, over 81,000 business premises liable for rates were referred to bailiffs to…
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Jul- 2018 -30 JulyOnline & Digital
Shop Direct appoints new retail director and shuffles executive board
Online retailer Shop Direct, which owns Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, has appointed Sam Perkins as its new retail director, who aims to drive “increased customer-centricity”. The group has also reshaped its executive board bringing together its retail and product teams, with Perkins leading the new group. As part of these changes,…
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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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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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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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10 JulyHigh Street
Deloitte announces first wave of Poundworld store closures
Deloitte, which is handling the administration of Poundworld, has announced the closure of 25 stores resulting in around 242 staff redundancies. Administrators said the decision will not impact on the potential sale of the remaining business, which will include a significant number of stores, the head office and distribution centre.…
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4 JulyHigh Street
Scribbler to stock interracial and LGBTQ greeting cards in UK first
Greetings card retailer Scribbler has become the first UK high street retailer to stock greeting cards featuring interracial and LGBTQ couples this month ahead of Pride in London. The range was created by card designer Huetribe and aims to promote social inclusivity and celebrate the “beauty of diversity”. Tineka Smith,…
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