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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Nov- 2020 -16 NovemberComment
The future of retail, where one size fits none
When writing this introduction, perhaps somewhat naively, I Googled ‘what was the most challenging time in all of history for retailers?’; thinking I could find some anecdotes about a time when retailers overcame hardships greater than those we face currently. As it turns out, the most challenging time in modern…
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16 NovemberDepartment Stores
JD Sports enters race for Debenhams
JD Sports has reportedly entered the race to acquire embattled department store Debenhams, and has been granted access to Debenhams’ finances in a secure data room. According to The Telegraph, JD Sports has emerged as a potential contender after being given access to Debenhams’ finances within the last fortnight. One…
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16 NovemberClothing & Shoes
Arcadia Group enters ‘urgent’ borrowing talks
Arcadia Group, the parent company of Topshop, has reportedly entered “urgent” borrowing talks in a bid to secure funding and “aid its survival prospects”. According to Sky News, the group, owned by Sir Philip Green, has sought several potential lenders in its efforts to borrow around £30m to support the…
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16 NovemberHigh Street
76% of retail staff experiencing higher levels of abuse, Usdaw finds
Usdaw has announced that three quarters of retail staff have experienced high levels of abuse and said it “has been worse during the pandemic”. The retail trade union acquired the statistics from over 2,000 retail staff in its annual survey. The interim results for this year showed that 76% of…
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16 NovemberSport & Leisure
Tribunal reverses CMA’s block of JD Sports’ Footasylum takeover
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has overturned the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) decision to block JD Sports’ acquisition of Footasylum. In its ruling, the CAT said the CMA “acted irrationally” in its decision-making and failed to provide the essential evidence needed to block the takeover. Following this result, JD…
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13 NovemberClothing & Shoes
Burberry H1 revenues fall 31%
Burberry has revealed sales have managed to return to growth in October, after the luxury retailer said revenue for the first half of the year decreased by 31% to £878m. In the same period, operating profit plummeted 75% to £51m amid the effects of the ongoing pandemic. The fashion house…
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12 NovemberComment
How businesses can optimise their Google Shopping in 2020
Google Shopping has always been a core part of most retailers’ PPC marketing strategy but with the pandemic and closing of stores, many say the adoption of eCommerce has jumped forwards by about 10 years. With more and more retailers turning to Google Shopping to increase their online traffic and…
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12 NovemberEconomy
UK GDP recovers 15.5% in Q3
The UK economy showed signs of recovery in Q3 as GDP grew a record 15.5% from July to September. The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics ( ONS) come after the UK suffered its largest ever decrease in GDP of 20.4% in Q2. This means that despite the…
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12 NovemberClothing & Shoes
LK Bennett set to launch CVA
LK Bennett has launched a CVA proposal, which will result in five store closures and a small number of job losses. The womenswear retailer will also move its remaining shops to turnover-based rents in order to “mitigate the ongoing financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic”, Drapers reported. Currently, the business…
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11 NovemberDIY
Homebase hunts for new owners to fund next growth stage
DIY retailer Homebase has reportedly started a search for a new owner as it looks for funding for its next stage of growth. According to Retail Week, Homebase chief executive Damian McGloughlin said the company is hopeful of a deal being completed by April of next year. McGloughlin reportedly added…
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