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.
-
Jan- 2021 -26 JanuaryAnalysis
The new front door to welcoming customers
The pandemic has hit retailers hard, with well-known brands already falling victim to the severe impact of lockdown. Coronavirus restrictions have forced retailers of all shapes and sizes to shift priority to digital channels, ensure customer services can operate remotely, and make necessary adjustments to protect shoppers in-store. The ability…
Read More » -
26 JanuaryCoronavirus
Unemployment rises 5% to 1.7m
The UK unemployment rate rose by 5% in the three months to November with over 1.7 million people now out of work, according to the latest figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Since February 2020, the number of payroll employees has fallen by 828,000, however, the ONS said…
Read More » -
26 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Frasers Group shutters Edinburgh’s Jenners store
Frasers Group has announced it will permanently close Edinburgh’s iconic Jenners store after the company failed to reach an agreement with the site’s landlord over continuing the tenancy. A spokesman for the group said the decision came after negotiations fell through with the building’s owner, Anders Povlsen, the current owner…
Read More » -
25 JanuaryCoronavirus
Waterstones boss warns of closures unless gov extends rates relief
James Daunt, the boss of book retailer Waterstones, has warned that he could be forced to close stores unless the government extends its business rates relief and other forms of state aid. Talking to Retail Week, he said that while he has no intention to close stores currently – it…
Read More » -
22 JanuaryAdvice
Don’t relapse into a brick-and-mortar mentality
Despite vaccines being rolled out and there being some semblance of light at the end of the tunnel, the situation for brick-and-mortar stores this year remains bleak. In-store retail continues to struggle and according to a recent report from The Centre for Retail Research, up to 200,000 in-store jobs could…
Read More » -
22 JanuaryAdvice
The rise of friendly fraud: What’s so friendly about it, anway?
Can there be such a thing as ‘friendly’ fraud? What exactly is it, why is it happening and what can be done to safeguard against it? I’m sure you’re aware that over the course of the past 10 months there have been some significant changes in the way we act.…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More »
