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Bangladesh protests to delay clothing manufacturing

Political unrest in Bangladesh is expected to delay clothing manufacturing for fashion retailers such as H&M and Zara in the run-up to the key holiday season, Reuters has reported.  It comes as Bangladesh has seen a rise in violence since July, which has forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign…

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Starmer vows to ‘make work pay’ in King’s Speech

The new Labour government has outlined its main goals for the new parliament as part of the King’s Speech today (17 July) with a central focus of “ improving living standards for working people through economic growth”.  Key points outlined in the speech, read by the King but written by…

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Timpson CEO steps down to focus on new ministerial role

Timpson CEO James Timpson has stepped down from his role at the shoe repair chain company after being recently appointed as minister for prisons, parole and probation.  In a statement shared on LinkedIn, his father Sir John Timpson CBE said that as a result of his son’s decision to focus…

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The power of retail loyalty programmes

In the ever-competitive landscape of UK retail, where consumer choice is vast and customer expectations are higher than ever, retail loyalty programmes have emerged as a vital strategy for businesses looking to thrive.  These programmes, which reward customers for their continued patronage, have become a cornerstone of modern retailing, providing…

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Today’s news in brief-28/5/24

Shop price inflation has returned to normal levels, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reporting a decrease in annual shop price inflation from 0.8% in April to 0.6% in May. This marks the lowest rate since November 2021 and is below the three-month average rate of 0.9%. Non-food items remained…

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Amazon partners with Unilever and Kimberly-Clark to help families experiencing poverty

Amazon has teamed up with Unilever and Kimberly-Clark to deliver over 100,000 hygiene products to families experiencing poverty across the UK. From today (23 May) until 16 June, for every two purchases on Amazon.co.uk from a selection of over 500 personal hygiene products, Unilever and Kimberly-Clark will donate a third…

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General election called for 4 July

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that a general election will take place on Thursday 4 July. The prime minister informed the cabinet of his plans in a meeting held this afternoon (22 May). As a result the parliament will be dissolved next week. Sunak had previously confirmed that an…

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Amazon Q1 net sales jump 13% to $143.3bn

Amazon has revealed that its net sales rose 13% to $143.3bn (£114.7bn), up from $127.4bn (£102bn), for the three months ended 31 March. This figure excludes the $0.2bn (£0.16bn) “unfavourable impact” of year-on-year foreign exchange rate changes. The company’s sales in the North America segment increased 12% year-on-year to $86.3bn…

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Amazon invests over £600m in robotics and AI in Europe

Amazon has invested more than €700m (£600m) in robotics and AI-powered technologies across Europe over the last five years.By the end of 2024, the company’s European Operations Innovations Lab in Vercelli, Northern Italy, will have been responsible for the installation of over 1,000 pieces of new technology throughout Amazon’s European…

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Assault of retail staff to be made specific criminal offence

The Government has announced that assaulting a retail worker will be made a standalone criminal offence and serial or abusive shoplifters will face tougher punishments under new laws included in its Criminal Justice Bill. Perpetrators could be sent to prison for up to six months, receive an unlimited fine and…

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