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- 2021 -21 MayHigh Street
Retail sales climb 9.2% in April
Retail sales across the UK increased 9.2% in April 2021 when compared to the previous month, as the easing of restrictions included the opening of non-essential retail across England, Wales, and Scotland during the period. According to the ONS’s retail sales data, sales grew 42.4% year-on-year due to April 2020…
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21 MayOnline & Digital
Cox & Cox sales soar despite supply chain disruption
Online homeware retailer Cox and Cox has announced that its first quarter “proved a very strong period”, with net revenue soaring 167% in the period, while orders were up by 101% against the prior year. Now in its 20th year of trading, the group said it has started the year…
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21 MayHigh Street
Card Factory completes £225m refinancing
Card Factory has announced it has completed a £225m refinancing with its current banking syndicate. The news follows the retailer’s recent trading update which saw its sales performance “exceed expectations” after reopening following the first and second lockdowns. Sales from the online channels reportedly fell which was in line with…
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20 MaySupermarkets
Sainsbury’s CS&R director Judith Batchelar to step down
Sainsbury’s has announced that Judith Batchelar OBE is to step down from her role as director of corporate responsibility and sustainability (CR&S) and public affairs at the group. Batchelar will remain with the business until November 2021 as an advisory, before departing from Sainsbury’s after 16 years at the firm.…
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20 MayClothing & Shoes
N Brown profits halve in FY21
N Brown, the owner of Simply Be and Jacamo, has seen its pre-tax profits almost halve in the full-year ended 27 February 2021, tumbling 49.4% to £30.1m as the group was hit by the pandemic. In the same period, revenue fell by 13% to £728.8m, and total product revenue was…
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20 MayClothing & Shoes
Mytheresa Q3 sales jump 47.5% to £142m
MYT Netherlands Parent BV, the parent company of luxury fashion and designer firm Mytheresa, saw its net sales for Q3 FY21 rise 47.5% year-on-year to €164.8m (£142.2m). The group’s adjusted EBITDA for the period ended 31 March 2021 more than tripled to €11.1m (£9.58m), up from €3.1m (£2.67m) last year.…
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20 MayDIY
Kingfisher raises guidance as Q1 sales soar 60%
Kingfisher has increased its profit forecast for the year after total sales for the first quarter of 2021 came to £3.44bn, resulting in a 60% year-on-year increase. The B&Q parent company saw like-for-like sales grow by 64.2% over the period compared to last year and posted a 22.5% rise when…
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19 MayAnalysis
The Great Covid Experiment – Is the Pure-play Retailer Dead?
A year of enforced change in buying habits where pretty much everything went online is set to revert to “the new normal”. Yes, the Covid pandemic accelerated the shift to online; but is the future of retail really digital only? While in the short to medium term, there will remain…
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19 MayEconomy
UK inflation rate doubles for April
The UK’s annual inflation rate has more than doubled in April 2021, according to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This represents a rise of 1.5% for the month from 0.7% in March, with an increase in energy and clothing costs driving prices higher. Furthermore, this has…
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18 MayClothing & Shoes
Shoe Zone reports £2.6m loss as revenues fall 40%
Shoe retailer Shoe Zone has reported a loss before tax of £2.6m for the six month period ending 3 April. The retailer attributed the loss to “tighter cost controls and an increase in digital”. It comes as it also saw revenues for the period plunge over 40% to £40.4m. As…
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