Northern Ireland
This coverage focuses on retail developments in Northern Ireland, including store openings and closures, local consumer trends, investment initiatives, and regional market performance. Reporting examines how retailers adapt strategy, site selection, and operations to the region’s economic, cultural, and demographic context — providing insights for executives, managers, and professionals overseeing retail activity across Northern Ireland.
-
Jul- 2023 -7 JulyHigh Street
Heatwave dampens June footfall
Footfall fell -1.9% in the five weeks from 28 May to 01 July 2023 as hot weather meant that shoppers strayed from the high street, according to BRC-Sensormatic IQ data. The fall was worse than the three-month average increase of -1.1% and comes as high street footfall increased by 0.6%…
Read More » -
May- 2023 -11 MaySupermarkets
BRC calls for Windsor Framework labelling clarity
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the government to provide clarity for UK supermarkets on labelling issues caused by the Windsor Framework ahead of the October deadline. Labelling is a key issue as it will determine whether or not businesses can trade in the green lane or red…
Read More » -
Apr- 2023 -24 AprilFeatures
Is Labour’s five-point plan a starting point to revive high streets?
Can you tell me about yourself and your experience in the retail sector? I‘ve been working in retail for the past three years, having joined BRC the week before lockdown in March 2020. I work in our corporate affairs team, which has responsibility for running the BRC’s public affairs and…
Read More » -
Mar- 2023 -29 MarchFeatures
Brendan McDowell: ‘Online marketing has been huge’
Can you tell us a little bit about your background in cosmetics and what led you to start this company? I worked for LivingSocial for five years, working with a lot of beauty salons. At the time, I noticed that there was a gap in the market for really strong…
Read More » -
16 MarchClothing & Shoes
Strikes cause 11.1% decrease in retail footfall, reports Springboard
Footfall declined 11% yesterday as a result of the UK-wide strike action, according to a new report by MRI Springboard. Springboard said that this decline is even “more significant” than usual as it comes on the back of reduced footfall last Wednesday (8 March 2023), when customer activity declined by…
Read More » -
15 MarchEconomy
Spring Budget: Corporation tax to rise to 25%
Corporation tax is set to rise from 19% to 25% for firms with profits over £250,000, as part of a number of measures announced in chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget. To help offset the corporation tax rise, Hunt also announced a provision of £9bn of “full capital expensing” which for…
Read More » -
14 MarchHigh Street
Severe weather sees footfall drop 7%
Footfall across UK retail destinations declined by -7% last week due to “severe” weather conditions, a far greater decline than in the week before last when footfall had dropped by a modest -1.1%, according to the latest figures from Springboard. Springboard revealed that high streets were by far the hardest…
Read More » -
2 MarchHigh Street
Footfall falls by 5.3% following half-term boost
Footfall across UK retail destinations declined by -5.3% last week from the week before when it surged +7.6% thanks to school half-term. Over the three days from Monday to Wednesday footfall declined by an average of -12.6% in response to an average rise of +16.8% over the same three days…
Read More » -
Feb- 2023 -28 FebruaryEconomy
PM agrees new Brexit deal with EU for NI
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has agreed a deal with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for new post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland. The Windsor Framework replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol, and aims to deliver free-flowing trade in goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland…
Read More » -
22 FebruaryGovernment
Fortnum & Mason chief urges Sunak to seal NI trade deal
Fortnum and Mason chief executive Tom Athron has reportedly urged Sunak to seal a deal with Brussels on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland. He told the Financial Times that the British government needed to “invest some time improving its relationship with the EU”, and agree post-Brexit trade rules for…
Read More »
