Pandemic
This coverage examines the impact of pandemics on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational disruption, financial challenges, consumer behaviour shifts, and recovery strategies. Reporting highlights store closures, safety measures, supply chain pressures, leadership decisions, and lessons learned to enhance resilience. Tailored for executives and managers, it provides insights to navigate crisis situations and strengthen preparedness.
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Mar- 2021 -15 MarchComment
Why retail success depends on clean customer address data
The pivot to online shopping during the pandemic has opened a valuable revenue stream for many retailers. However, to stay competitive in this increasingly online era, retailers must take a step back and consider all aspects of how they can ensure success via this channel. It is imperative to understand…
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15 MarchHigh Street
Oxford Street kicks off £150m regeneration plan
Westminster City Council has launched its “ambitious” £150m plans to renovate Oxford Street, beginning with a series of temporary interventions to encourage higher footfall after lockdown. The initial interventions aim to boost footfall and support businesses in the area, and will be closely followed by council-led projects that will “permanently…
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15 MarchCoronavirus Featured Content
Covid-19 forced over 17,500 chain stores to close in 2020
More than 17,500 chain stores were forced to close last year across the UK, as Covid-19 has created one of the worst declines for retail on record. According to research by PwC and the Local Data Company, 2020 saw an average of 48 shops, restaurants and leisure venues close every…
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12 MarchClothing & Shoes
Mothercare to float on junior stock market
Mothercare has announced its intentions to float on admission (AIM) on the junior stock market at £0.01 per ordinary share. Following this move, the company stated that its admission of the ordinary shares on the main market of the London stock exchange and to the premium listing segment of the…
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12 MarchFeatures
A look at what an online sales tax means for businesses
In last year’s Business Rates Review: Call for Evidence, Jesse Norman MP, financial secretary to the Treasury, said the government would explore the potential options of “alternative” property and online taxes which could act as “possible replacements” for rates to tackle the increases in businesses online presence. The proposition would…
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12 MarchOnline & Digital
JD.com Q4 revenues up 31%
Chinese online retailer JD.com reported a 31% increase in revenues during the fourth quarter of the year to RMB224.3bn (£24.7bn). The Q4 performance has beaten analyst expectations of RMB 220.3bn (£24bn) as the Covid-19 pandemic drove consumers to its online operations. The retailer also reported that income from operations for…
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12 MarchLuxury Goods
Burberry upgrades Q4 guidance
Burberry has announced that ahead of its trading update, the group anticipates its fourth quarter results to be “better than expected” with an adjusted operating margin to be in the range of 15.5% to 16.5%. The retailer has estimated that its comparable store retail sales in Q4 FY2021 will range…
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12 MarchEconomy
UK GDP shrinks 2.9% amid January lockdown
Monthly GDP fell by 2.9% in January as a national lockdown proved to impact economic activity, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. Figures released show that January’s GDP was 9.0% below the levels seen in February 2020, and 4.0% below October 2020 – the “initial recovery…
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12 MarchComment
PCI – whose problem is it, anyway?
Remember when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation hit in the UK? Well, it came out in May 2018, and firms are still struggling to come to terms with it. There are big names out there who’ve been hit for six with the big stick that is GDPR –…
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12 MarchHigh Street
Government announces eviction ban extension
The ministry of housing, communities, and local government has announced an extension to the ban of commercial evictions until 30 June. Introduced by Robert Jenrick, housing secretary, the measure is intended to ensure businesses are supported upon reopening. Alongside the commercial support package is a six-month notice period and bailiff…
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