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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May- 2020 -19 MayComment
Secondary market represents the key to survival during a crisis
As the Coronavirus outbreak lead to the forced closure of non-essential businesses across the nation, apparel retailers seem to have stopped in time. Relying on online-only purchasing and the movement of essential goods, retailers have witnessed a standstill of stock waiting for the pandemic to pass, are set to be…
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19 MayClothing & Shoes
N Brown secures new funding as sales drop 25% since lockdown
Jacamo, JD Williams and Simply Be owner N Brown has revealed it has secured a new £50m funding facility as it looks to weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic which saw its sales fall by 25% over the last six weeks. In a trading update the company said it…
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19 MayCoronavirus
French Connection seeks urgent funding
French Connection has revealed it is in “active discussions” with potential funding partners in order to seek emergency cash as the pandemic continues. The move comes as the fashion retailer warned of a “continued expected weak trading environment” in light of the ongoing crisis. It added that without securing additional…
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18 MayClothing & Shoes
VF Corp sees FY revenues jump 2% but warns Q1 earnings may halve
VF Corporation, the owner of brands such as Vans, The North Face and Timberland, has reported a 2% increase in full-year revenues but has warned that it expects current-quarter revenue to more than halve due to the coronavirus outbreak. In a trading update for the full-year ended March 28, 2020,…
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18 MayCoronavirus
Central England Co-op reports rise in ‘violent’ threats to staff during lockdown
Central England Co-op has reported a rise in “violent” offences being carried out against its staff amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The company reported problems which include verbal abuse and threats, alongside customers threatening to cough and spit on employees. Figures for the past four weeks have revealed an increase in…
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15 MayTips
Transparency in fashion – What it is and whether it’ll survive the Covid-19 pandemic
With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic keeping shoppers at home, clothing sales are plummeting faster than ever before. How the fashion industry redefines itself after nation-wide lockdowns will determine how it eventually recovers. What is the Transparency Trend? Transparency in the retail industry is promoted by activists and points out the…
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15 MayClothing & Shoes
Boohoo secures £200m through share placing
Boohoo confirmed it has successfully raised almost £200m in funding following the placing of 58 million shares. The online retailer raised £197.7m through the successful placing of 58,140,591 shares at 340p per share, in a placing led by investment banking boutique Zeus Capital. Following the fundraise, Boohoo will have an…
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14 MayOnline & Digital
Online retail sales soar to 10-year high amid Covid-19 crisis
Online sales growth surged to a 10-year high in April, up 23.8% year-on-year, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. That’s according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, which tracks the online sales performance of over 200 retailers. According to the report, the spike in sales was “overwhelmingly” driven by…
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14 MayLuxury Goods
Watches of Switzerland reports 5.9% increase in revenues in Q1 results
Watches of Switzerland has reported a 5.9% increase in group revenues to £819.3m in the year to 26 April, ahead of recently revised guidance. In the 46 weeks to 15 March 2020, group revenue increased by 15.8% across both the UK, which was up by 9.4% and the US, which…
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14 MayCoronavirus
WH Smith sales plunge 85% amid lockdown
WH Smith has revealed that group total revenue plunged 85% in April in light of the ongoing pandemic. Following the nationwide and global lockdown, travel revenue plummeted 91% last month, while high street revenue tumbled 74%. It comes as the retailer closed most of its UK stores, excluding 203 Post…
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