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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Aug- 2021 -13 AugustSupply Chain
Dixons Carphone launches campaign for 7.5t drivers
Dixons Carphone has announced a nationwide campaign to recruit, retain and retrain 7.5t drivers across the UK. It comes as a response to the current industry-wide shortage of drivers, and will see the group offer a sign-on bonus of £1,500 to new 7.5t drivers as well as paying a £1,500…
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12 AugustClothing & Shoes
Gerry Weber sees H1 sales fall 23.4% to £91m
Women’s fashion brand Gerry Weber saw group sales fall 23.4% year-on-year to €107.7m (£91.2m) in H1 FY21. Gross profits at the group also declined 18% to 67.3m for the six month period, compared to H1 FY20’s €81.6m (£69.1m). However, due to lower costs in the period, the fashion retailer reduced…
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12 AugustHigh Street
Pret a Manger staff to consider strike action over pay cuts
Pret a Manger staff are reportedly considering strike action after the temporary reduction in pay they suffered during the lockdown period was going to be made permanent. According to The Guardian, staff were told the reductions that were first installed last year, including not being paid for breaks and service…
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12 AugustAdvice
Building customer experiences that evolve with the user
The Covid-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst in the growth of online sales for the retail sector – which for some companies was a move they simply, and understandably, were not prepared for. This unprecedented shift to online meant that a basic e-commerce function on a website in many cases…
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12 AugustEconomy
UK economy surges 4.8% in June
The UK economy grew by 4.8% in June as Covid-19 restrictions surrounding retail and leisure were eased across the UK, according to figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown for a fifth consecutive month in June 2021, by 1.0%,…
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11 AugustSupermarkets
Morrisons to close on Boxing Day for the first time ever
Bosses at Morrisons have told staff they can have Boxing Day off this year as a thank you for their hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The supermarket made the announcement to its 111,000 workers today. The news comes just weeks before the conclusion of a takeover battle that will…
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11 AugustOnline & Digital
Online retail sales decline eases in July, IMRG finds
The IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index released today has found that after recording the steepest drops in history for two months in a row, the fall in online retail sales appears to be slowing, which could reportedly signal a return to stability in the near future. The report, which tracks…
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10 AugustHigh Street
July sales increase 6.4% but remain below yearly average
On a total basis, sales increased by 6.4% in July, against a growth of 3.2% in July 2020, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG retail sales monitor. Despite the rise in sales, however, the monitor found that this was below the three-month average growth of 14.7% and the…
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10 AugustLuxury Goods
Watches of Switzerland Q1 revenues soar 96.2%
Watches of Switzerland Group has revealed its revenues climbed 96.2% year-on-year to £297.5m for the 13 weeks ended 1 August 2021. Comprising £221.7m in UK revenues and £75.8m from US operations, the Q1 FY22 figure represents a 42.1% jump when compared to the same period in 2019. The group’s luxury…
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10 AugustGovernment
Bira in talks with metro mayors to help retailers post-pandemic
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it is involved in discussions with mayors of UK metropolitan cities to discuss “new ways” of supporting independent retailers post-pandemic. The talks, which are being led by the group’s CEO Andrew Goodacre, have been looking at support for reforms to business rates…
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