Productivity
This coverage explores productivity in the UK retail industry, focusing on workforce effectiveness, operational efficiency, process innovation, and cost control. Reporting provides insight into how retailers optimise resources and performance to remain competitive — supporting executives, managers, and professionals driving improvement initiatives.
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Feb- 2025 -26 FebruaryEconomy
One in 10 part-time retail jobs at risk, BRC says
One in 10 part-time retail jobs, up to 160,000 roles, could be at risk of being lost over the next three years as a result of the rising costs of employment, the BRC has revealed. The retail body has warned of the impact that both the budget and upcoming regulatory…
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Jan- 2025 -17 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-17/1/25
Retail sales in the UK fell by 0.3% in December, disappointing analysts who anticipated a 0.4% rise during the Christmas season. The decline, attributed to the poorest supermarket sales since 2013, was partly offset by a 4.4% rise in clothing sales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that food…
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17 JanuaryNews
Customer satisfaction levels lowest since 2015, UKCSI finds
UK customer satisfaction levels remain near their lowest level since 2015, the twice-yearly report by The Institute of Customer Service on the state of service has revealed. The latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI), which benchmarks customer satisfaction of over 260 of the UK’s leading businesses and has run since…
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14 JanuaryHigh Street
Card Factory revenues rise 4.7% over Xmas period
Card Factory has revealed that total revenues rose by 4.7% in line with expectations in November and December, thanks to higher average basket values due to expanded ranges and sales of gifts and celebration essentials. For the 11 months to 31 December 2024, the retailer saw total sales rise 6.2%…
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Dec- 2024 -17 DecemberPeople Moves
Retail loses 225,000 jobs in five years
The retail industry has lost 225,000 jobs in the last five years, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). On a four-quarter average there were 40,000 less jobs in the industry compared with last year. Overall there were 2.81m jobs in retail in September 2024, although this…
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11 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Zara owner Inditex misses expectations despite 7% surge in revenues
Inditex, the owner of fashion brands Zara, Stradivarius and Berksha, has seen its shares slide 6% in trading after its performance in the first nine months of the year came in below analysts expectations. Inditex reported revenues for the period of €27.4bn (£22.6bn) up 7.1% YOY and revealed that sales…
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5 DecemberNews
Card Factory enters US market with £20m Garven Holdings acquisition
Card Factory is set to enter the US market after announcing the acquisition of Garven Holdings for $25m (£20m). The acquisition is a step in the UK retailer’s growth ambitions, thanks to the acceleration of its partnerships strategy in one of its “key” international target markets. The celebration essentials market…
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Oct- 2024 -30 OctoberComment
How does a turnaround specialist help retailers improve their performance?
Erin Brookes’ journey into the world of retail consultancy is a testament to how passion, experience, and adaptability can shape a career in an ever-evolving industry. Now managing director and head of Retail at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), Brookes’ career has spanned across operational and consulting roles, from working on…
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28 OctoberAdvice
Behind the curtain of retail logistics at DHL Supply Chain
Most consumers think of the shopping experience as the final click online or the moment they walk out of a store with bags in hand. But what happens behind the scenes to ensure that products are on the shelf, or that parcels arrive at our doorsteps on time, is a…
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Sep- 2024 -23 SeptemberNews
Today’s news in brief-23/9/24
Frasers Group is facing audit issues with two brands, I Saw It First and Choice, revealing significant payroll data discrepancies. Auditors struggled to verify £7m in payments for I Saw It First due to lost data during system transitions. Similarly, Hart Shaw encountered missing crucial information for Choice. These revelations…
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