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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Jan- 2021 -22 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Selfridges endures ‘most difficult year’ thanks to 2019 performance
Selfridges has endured the “most difficult year” in its 113-year history, but was able to weather the storm. The chain of luxury department stores was reportedly kept afloat through growing sales in 2019 and investing in e-commerce. Anne Pitcher, managing director at the group, confirmed to the Times that the…
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22 JanuaryCoronavirus
Retail sales fall to lowest ever annual level
The retail sector has suffered its largest annual fall since records began, with total sales down 1.9% against the year prior, as restrictions on non-essential retail continued to impact the sector as a whole. This was the biggest decline since records began in 1997, according to the ONS. After declines…
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21 JanuaryAnalysis
Retailers could be heading for a New Year insurance disaster
Among the huge number of changes brought about by COVID-19, one of the biggest shifts in 2021 will be the emphasis placed on mitigating physical risk for businesses. Whether it’s ensuring strict new hygiene regimes or policing slip and trip hazards within stores, organisations across the retail space in particular…
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21 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Burberry revenue drops 4% in Q3
Burberry has announced that retail revenue for 13 weeks ended 26 December dropped 4% to £688m from £719m for the same period last year, attributed to the continued impact of Covid-19. Covid-19 related store closures averaged 7% in Q3 impacting trading on a whole for the retail group. Comparable store…
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21 JanuaryOnline & Digital
Eve Sleep exceeds expectations in 2020
Eve Sleep has announced that full-year trading has exceeded expectations, with total revenue up by 6% to £25.5m, boosted by 18% growth in its second half of trading. It comes as the retailer said it has “exited 2020 in far better shape than it entered the year”, having developed a…
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21 JanuaryHigh Street
Pets at Home see sales soar to £302m
Pets at Home has reported total revenue growth of 18.% to £302m in the 12 weeks to 2 January. The pet retailer accredited the rise in sales to its ability to “adapt quickly” to the Covid environment – with like for like revenue growth up 17.5%. Pets at Home, which…
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21 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Apricot switches to turnover rent after CVA
Apricot, the women’s fashion retailer, has changed the lease agreements for the majority of its UK portfolio to turnover-based rents, according to Drapers. The decision, which will impact 13 of the brand’s 14 UK stores, was reportedly given the green light on 15 January. The move came as a result…
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21 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Pentland Brands appoints positive business director
Pentland Brands, the retail group which owns brands such as Lacoste, Boxfresh and Speedo, has appointed Sara Brennan as its first ever positive business director. Brennan will be responsible for accelerating the fashion retail group’s business strategy with an emphasis on its social and environmental impact. Since joining Pentland in…
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20 JanuaryAdvice
Building an online business by selling into overseas territories
Worldwide, eCommerce sales are growing year on year, and consumers switching to online shopping during Covid-19 has accelerated this growth. If you want to expand your reach, boost your sales and stay ahead of the competition, now’s the time to think about expanding into international markets. After all, the UK…
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20 JanuaryAnalysis
Retailers and the pressing question of their real estate portfolios
It is not an understatement to say that Covid-19 has vastly altered markets and the way businesses work within them, especially those in the retail sector. Arguably one of the greatest changes induced by Covid-19 is the rapid take-up of e-commerce in place of physical retail. “Online sales have accelerated…
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