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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Jun- 2020 -30 JuneClothing & Shoes
TM Lewin collapses into administration
TM Lewin has collapsed into administration following news that the retailer was eyeing up a pre-pack administration deal. According to the Mail Online, the group cited the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary closure of its stores in March as the main reasons behind the collapse. The move could result…
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30 JuneComment
What the fuel station of the future means for retailers
Cruising into a petrol station and filling up the tank is a staple of everyday life for drivers across the world. However, according to predictions from Nissan, this isn’t set to last. In fact, the leading car manufacturer is predicting that in the future, fuel stations as we know it…
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30 JuneEconomy
Revised ONS data reveals greater GDP drop in Q1 2020
The UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) in volume terms fell by 2.2% in Q1 2020, which has been revised downwards by 0.2 percentage points from the Office for National Statisitic’s (ONS) first quarterly estimate. The ONS said it is the largest fall in UK GDP since Q3 1979, when it…
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30 JuneComment
Should I stay closed or reopen?
Since the start of lockdown, most owner managers have become used to real-time contingency planning and agile decision making. However, with non-essential shops now allowed to reopen, they have been faced with another high-risk financial decision – should they stay closed or reopen? Knowing the key areas to consider and…
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30 JuneCoronavirus
Reopening is ‘no magic bullet’ for retail, says BRC
Reopening is “no magic bullet” for retail, the British Retail Consortium has warned despite UK footfall improving since lockdown restrictions were lifted earlier this month. The BRC’s footfall tracker found that UK footfall decreased 53.4% year-on-year during the second week of reopening in England and NI. This is compared to…
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29 JuneCoronavirus
H&M half-year sales slump amid Covid-19 pandemic
Fashion retailer H&M has reported a 23% decrease in net sales to SEK 83,612bn (£7.2bn) for the half-year period ended 31 May 2020. The group said it was “significantly negatively affected” by the Covid-19 situation, with pre-tax losses amounting to SEK 3,063bn (£265m) during the H1 period. H&Ms net sales…
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26 JuneTips
The New Normal in Retail: The State of Shopping After Lockdown
The retail sector in the country gears up for reopening as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are starting to get lifted. However, although many stores and shopping centres are preparing to reopen to the public, they are required to ensure a healthy and safe shopping environment and provide their customers with a…
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26 JuneNews
Tesco sales soar as online business booms
Tesco saw sales surge in the first quarter of trading, with like-for-like sales up 8.2% despite the pandemic and nationwide lockdown. In the quarter ended 30 May, total sales were up by 9.2%, while online sales soared by 48.5% as more shoppers shifted online. The group doubled its online capacity…
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25 JuneM&A
Amazon’s proposed stake in Deliveroo cleared by CMA
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared Amazon’s 16% investment in Deliveroo for the second time, on the basis that it is not likely to result in a “substantial lessening of competition”. In its initial provisional findings, published in April, the CMA provisionally cleared Amazon’s investment on the…
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25 JuneComment
Is it time retailers challenged digital transformation?
I think we have all heard enough about how quickly we have adapted to working from home, the constant play on words of “new normal”, “next normal”, “old normal” (whatever that means) and the “I told you so” smugness of digital transformation agencies (yes, I am from one of them!)…
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