Office
This coverage examines Office’s strategy, operations, and role within the UK footwear retail sector. Reporting highlights store performance, online initiatives, product trends, marketing campaigns, financial results, and leadership decisions. Focused on commercial outcomes and brand positioning, it offers insights for retail professionals managing footwear, fashion, and multi-channel retail businesses.
-
Apr- 2022 -11 AprilEconomy
UK economic growth slows in February to 0.1%
Gross domestic product (GDP) slowed in the UK as the economy only saw 0.1% growth in February, down from a growth rate of 0.8% in January. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), services grew by 0.2% and was the main contributor to February’s growth in GDP, although this…
Read More » -
5 AprilHigh Street
The Works forced to close stores amid cyber security incident
The Works has confirmed it has been victim to a cyber security incident involving unauthorised access to its computer systems, which led to several temporary store closures. The retailer said the incident caused “some limited disruption” to trading and business operations, including the closure of some stores due to till…
Read More » -
Mar- 2022 -23 MarchNews
Inflation hits 30-year high at 6.2% in February
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 6.2% in the 12 months to February 2022, up from 5.5% in January, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It revealed this is the highest CPI 12-month inflation rate in the national statistic series which began in January 1997, and the…
Read More » -
22 MarchPeople Moves
The Hut Group appoints Charles Allen as new chair
The Hut Group (THG) has announced that Charles Allen, Lord Allen of Kensington CBE, is joining the group as an independent non-executive chair with immediate effect. His appointment follows an international search that began in October 2021, when THG committed to splitting the dual roles of executive chair and CEO…
Read More » -
18 MarchAdvice
Why the time for local businesses to recover is now
The return to the high street is an unmissable opportunity for shops, restaurants, pubs and bars to attract customers back after a challenging period for the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. The key to success will be offering unforgettable customer service, unique products and experiences, and convenient payment and delivery…
Read More » -
18 MarchComment
13 Spring Statement predictions
With both the global and UK economies coming under pressure from the rising cost of living crisis, which has only been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, all eyes will be on the chancellor when he makes his Spring Statement speech on 23 March 2022. Here, Christy Wilson, tax associate…
Read More » -
9 MarchNews
A reshaping of town centres
“The last two years have been tumultuous for retailers but the closures we’ve seen are an acceleration of what was happening before the pandemic,” says Lisa Hooker, consumer markets lead at PwC. The accounting firm recently published a report monitoring the openings and closures of large-chain highstreet operators. It concludes…
Read More » -
1 MarchHigh Street
Footfall rises 11% as weather improves
Footfall rose by +11.1% across all UK retail destinations last week from the week before, when it dropped by -3.8%, according to Springboard. The company said this uplift emanated from a bounce back in footfall on Friday and Saturday when footfall averaged +43.3% higher than the week before, “helped by…
Read More » -
Feb- 2022 -22 FebruaryComment
Three reasons to monitor the battle between Amazon and Shopify
The behind the scenes battle going on between the two biggest e-commerce platforms in the US – Amazon and Shopify – could have significant implications for merchants. Amazon’s real customer is the end consumer – rather than the merchants that make up its Marketplace business. The e-commerce king keeps its…
Read More » -
21 FebruaryEconomy
Bira welcomes sales rise, but warns ‘all is not well’
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it is “pleased to see a rise in retail sales”, but warned retailers against “falling into the trap of thinking all is well”. It was commenting on the recently released figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the UK retail…
Read More »
