Marketing
This coverage explores marketing strategy and innovation across the UK retail industry — from brand campaigns and customer engagement to data-driven advertising and omnichannel communication. Retail Sector reports on retailer marketing performance, creative partnerships, loyalty schemes, and digital transformation shaping how brands connect with consumers. Coverage includes insights into retail media networks, influencer collaborations, social commerce, and the evolving use of AI and analytics in campaign optimisation. For retail professionals, this category offers expert intelligence on how effective marketing drives sales, brand value, and competitive advantage in a dynamic retail environment.
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Feb- 2021 -15 FebruaryAdvice
How to put customers at the centre with Google Shopping automation
It is impossible to discuss retail without assessing the impact of Covid-19. The pandemic has sparked profound change across society, with lockdown measures rapidly changing consumer behaviour and forcing retailers to adapt in order to survive. Much of this change stems from the acceleration towards ecommerce. Data from the ONS…
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11 FebruaryHigh Street
Two-fifths of retailers expect Valentine’s sales boost
Two-fifths of retailers (41%) expect to see a boost in sales in the run up to Valentine’s Day. According to Barclaycard Payments, £787m is expected to be spent on the celebratory day, despite ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. As a result of the expected 26% spike to predicted sales, 63% of retailers…
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10 FebruarySupermarkets
Tesco fights shareholder challenge over UK obesity crisis
Tesco is preparing to face a shareholder resolution from a coalition of institutional and retail investors, who are calling on the company to set targets to increase the proportion of healthy products in its sales. Coordinated by NGO ShareAction, the resolution is being supported by seven institutional investors managing over…
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9 FebruaryCoronavirus Featured Content
How the fashion industry can survive and thrive post-lockdown
Back when the effects of the coronavirus pandemic first hit in March 2020, everyone seemed to expect the worst for both physical and online retail. Fast forward to 2021 and initial predictions for online retail could not have been more wrong. Propelled primarily by a surge in demand for makeup…
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9 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
M&S bolsters clothing business with senior hires
Marks and Spencer has announced it is strengthening its Clothing and Home leadership team through two new hires, who are both set to “play an important role” in the development of its Never the Same Again programme. The programme, launched last year, is focused on the group becoming “more relevant,…
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5 FebruaryComment
Top of the shops – retail trends to drive success in 2021
2020 was clearly a challenging year for the retail sector. However the shake up from the global pandemic means massive change in the industry, bringing with it potential benefits for retailers and consumers alike. Change is the only constant and the brands that are set to thrive in 2021 will…
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5 FebruaryFeatures
Fanfare Label’s founder takes on fast fashion
There is no doubt about it, the sustainable fashion industry is growing. A desire for environmentally and socially responsible goods is becoming increasingly prominent in the habits of conscious consumers, therefore pushing demand within the sector. For some, the importance of sustainability in fashion is unparalleled. “I wouldn’t say it’s…
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4 FebruaryLuxury Goods
‘Robust’ online sales offset store closures at Watches of Switzerland
Watches of Switzerland has welcomed a period of strong trading in its third quarter ended 24 January 2021, with group revenue up by 6.6% to £272.6m despite the ongoing pandemic. This was bolstered by a “robust” e-commerce performance in the UK, which offset continued store closures throughout the period. UK…
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4 FebruaryHigh Street
Retail footfall drops 65.6% in first full month of third lockdown
Retail footfall has declined 65.6% in January compared with a 41.9% drop in December, as the first full month of the third national lockdown comes to an end. According to Springboard, footfall declined by 72.6% in high streets a further 73.6% in shopping centres and 42.1% in retail parks. However,…
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2 FebruaryAdvice
Pursuing privacy-first marketing strategies
Following the announcement of a third national lockdown last week, it’s clear that consumers’ shopping habits won’t be returning to ‘normal’ anytime soon. Restrictions imposed by the government have closed all stores deemed to be non-essential and as a result, consumers have flocked online to shop instead. With retailers unable…
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