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 -14 JanuaryCoronavirus
£95m Northern Ireland retail voucher scheme put on hold
A £95m high street voucher scheme, first announced by the Northern Ireland economy minister in November, has been referred to the next financial year, according to the BBC. The scheme is intended to support retailers that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, possibly through a pre-paid card system. Similar…
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14 JanuaryNews
Online sales growth hits 13-year high
UK online sales growth remained solid throughout December, coming in at +37% year-on-year (YoY) for the month and driving the annual figure to a 13-year high, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, which tracks the online sales performance of over 200 retailers. The index said that after…
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14 JanuarySupermarkets
Tesco reports record breaking Christmas
Tesco has reported the results of its “record Christmas”, however warned that it still expects to take a £810m hit due to Covid-19 related expenses. For the 19 weeks to January the chain witnessed a like for like growth of 6.7%, accelerating to 8.1% at Christmas, with the store crediting…
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14 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Boohoo raises guidance as revenue soars
Boohoo has welcomed a period of “strong” trading towards the end of last year, with revenue soaring by 40% to £661m in the four months ended 31 December 2020. In light of this trading performance, it now expects group revenue growth for the financial year to 28 February 2021 to…
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13 JanuaryAdvice
Physical retail in the year 2021
The relationship between the high street and its consumers has been somewhat turbulent during the coronavirus pandemic. Since reopening in June, nonessential stores have battled for the attention of wary consumers to tempt them away from online shopping, which became the enforced norm during lockdown. Undoubtedly, it’ll be a battle…
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13 JanuaryDepartment Stores
John Lewis Partnership to enforce face coverings in stores
John Lewis Partnership has announced it will tighten its Covid-19 rules by insisting that all customers wear a face covering (unless medically exempt or under the required age). To help ensure customers wear the face coverings, marshals will be positioned at the entrances of all supermarkets and will have disposable…
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13 JanuarySupermarkets
Morrisons first supermarket to pay staff £10 an hour
Morrisons has announced a new pay deal for its employees that will see it become the first UK supermarket to guarantee a wage of at least £10 an hour. The new pay terms will begin in April, and will facilitate a “significant” pay increase for nearly 96,000 Morrisons employees, with…
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12 JanuaryOnline & Digital
Very records best ever Christmas sales
Very.co.uk has announced a 25.2% year-on-year increase in retail sales in the seven weeks up to and including 25 December 2020, marking the best recorded sales over a Christmas period to date. The increase in sales was predominantly due to Covid-19 pushing retail online, as government lockdown restrictions continued to…
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11 JanuaryFeatures
What’s next for Primark?
Primark’s opening statement for 2021 had a slightly more sombre tone than you would expect from one of the UK’s reigning fast fashion champions. In a brief statement issued by its parent company Associated British Foods, the store revealed how it now expects to lose and additional £220m in sales…
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11 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Buyer found for Edinburgh Woollen Mill
FRP Advisory, the administrator to clothing retailer Edinburgh Woollen Mill, has accepted a rescue offer that could save a number of jobs at the group. According to the Times, sale contracts have been issued to the potential buyer, who remains unnamed, although the deal is reportedly likely to save only…
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