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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Jul- 2020 -24 JulyCoronavirus
Retail sales boosted in June
The volume of retail sales rose by 13.9% in June against May figures, as non-food and fuel stores continued their recovery in the wake of the pandemic. According to the latest figures from the ONS, the two monthly increases of retail sales in May and June have brought total sales…
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22 JulyComment
Ensuring digital accessibility is part of the retail journey
The rapid acceleration of digital transformation has been one of the most remarkable aspects of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, with people literally Zooming to stay in touch and accessing online products and services in unprecedented numbers. There is little doubt that the coronavirus has dealt a devastating…
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22 JulyLuxury Goods
Tapestry CEO resigns after company launches investigation
Tapestry, the parent company of Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman, has announced its chairman and CEO Jide Zeitlin, has resigned from the company and its board of directors due to “personal reasons”. However, sources told The Wall Street Journal that Zeitlin resigned from the company after the board launched…
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22 JulyCoronavirus
Turn high streets into housing hubs, says think-tank
High street units left unoccupied in the wake of the pandemic should be converted into “hundreds of thousands” of new homes, a think-tank has argued. According to the Social Market Foundation, the collapse of traditional high street shopping is “inevitable”, and the government must now “focus less on slowing that…
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20 JulyCoronavirus Featured Content
Post-lockdown: keeping business afloat
Lawyers predict that 1 in 10 SMEs is set to collapse post-lockdown. This harsh reality means burying heads in sand is not an option and steps – some difficult – must be taken sooner rather than later to protect against the looming slump. Recent news that household names such as…
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17 JulyTips
How ESG will help retailers survive the pandemic
With lockdowns slowly lifting again and more consumers coming out of their homes after months in isolation, the conditions have become far more favourable for the UK’s retail businesses. Given that every retail business owner had their eyes peeled for a possible opening for the past month, you might not…
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17 JulyDepartment Stores
John Lewis extends Co-op partnership
John Lewis has announced plans to extend its click-and-collect delivery partnership with the Co-op to over 500 stores by the end of the summer. The move will see the total number of John Lewis Partnership click and collect locations increase to nearly 900, double the number of current click and…
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17 JulyCoronavirus
BFC calls on government support of fashion industry
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has called on the government to provide more support for Britain’s fashion industry in the wake of Covid. It comes as the group today released new data from Oxford Economics that “reinforces the stark reality of the impact of the global pandemic on the British…
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16 JulyComment
Intu the unknown: The future of the shopping centre
Saddled with unsustainable levels of debt and lacking rental income over the past two quarters due to Covid-19 restrictions, Intu finally announced its move into administration earlier this month. The shopping centre giant’s collapse left thousands of shops and livelihoods on the line and it represented a pivotal moment for…
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16 JulyCoronavirus
Asos to consider legal action against Leicester supplier
Asos is reportedly considering legal action against a Leicester supplier after it was found to be in breach of its ethical standards during the lockdown period. According to The Guardian, following an “ethical audit” the online fashion retailer has classed one of its suppliers as “red critical” meaning that action…
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