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- 2021 -18 JuneEntertainment
Waterstones FY20 revenues decline 4.3% to £376m
Waterstones has reported a 4.3% year-on-year decline in revenues to £376m for the 52 weeks ended 25 April 2020. The books retailer also saw a contraction in profits after tax, falling 8.3% from £22.7m in FY19 to £20.8m in FY20. For consecutive years, no dividend was paid or declared during…
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18 JuneEconomy
Return to restaurants sees retail sales fall by 1.4%
UK retail sales fell by 1.4% between April and May, following a sharp increase in April when retail restrictions were eased, according to data from the Office of National statistics (ONS). The largest contribution to the monthly decline came from grocery stores where sales volumes fell by 5.7% – the…
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17 JuneClothing & Shoes
Dr Martens profits drop 30% amid IPO related costs
Footwear retailer, Dr Martens has revealed that its profit before tax dropped 30% to £70.9m from £101m for the year ended 31 March 2021 which was attributed to the £80.5m cost related to its London Stock Exchange IPO. Profit was also impacted by the group’s repayment of £1.3m in furlough…
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17 JuneSport & Leisure
Halfords profits soar in FY21 amid cycling boom
Halfords has welcomed a “strong” year of trading, as pre-tax profit soared by 72.3% to £96.3m in its preliminary results for the year ended 2 April 2021. In the same period, revenue rose by 13.1% to £1.3bn, while total revenue across its retail business rose by 9.4%. Retail LFL sales…
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17 JuneComment
In the age of online shopping, shoplifting has gone digital
April this year signalled a fresh start for shop owners as lockdown restrictions on non-essential retailers in the UK were lifted. Retailers now have the chance to forge a new relationship with customers and engage with them as they return to the high street. However, our world is becoming increasingly…
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16 JuneEconomy
UK inflation hits 2.1% as clothing prices rise
Inflation in the UK rose to 2.1% in May, up from 1.5% in April, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This increase has been fuelled by an increase in consumer spending as the British public comes out of lockdown. Meanwhile, clothing prices jumped by…
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16 JuneDIY
ScS upgrades FY21 outlook amid ‘strong’ trading
ScS has announced that it now expects its full year performance for FY21 to be ahead of market expectations, following a “very encouraging” performance since the reopening of its stores. The group also experienced strong order intake growth over the first 21 weeks of the financial year despite the impact…
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16 JuneAdvice
Why data is the key to business survival and growth for e-commerce
Data has been heralded as the new gold for a few years now, but the last year really demonstrated just how valuable it is for businesses. With the world changing overnight no retailer was immune to having to change, and quickly at that. Yet, even though most of us realise…
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15 JuneComment
Brightpearl: Bringing automation to the masses
The pandemic has undoubtedly changed almost all facets to modern life, and retail is no exception. After a year of lockdowns and restrictions, more people than ever before are turning to e-commerce and eschewing the traditional shopping experience, and retailers need to keep up. This shift was already in the…
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15 JuneClothing & Shoes
H&M sales soar 75% in Q2
H&M has reported a quarterly turnover rise from the year before as Covid-19 restrictions continue to ease, despite overall revenue remaining below 2019 levels. In the second quarter of 2021, the retail group reported a net sales increase of 75% in local currencies compared with the same period last year.…
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