Store Estate
This coverage examines UK retailers’ store estate strategies, including site selection, portfolio optimisation, leasing decisions, openings, closures, and location analytics. Reporting highlights how businesses shape physical footprints to balance cost efficiency, customer accessibility, and market growth — offering insight for executives, real estate managers, and operations professionals responsible for retail property planning.
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Apr- 2020 -7 AprilClothing & Shoes
Clarks confirms ‘small number’ of permanent closures
Footwear retailer Clarks has confirmed it is to close a “small number of stores’ following a review of its store estate. The permanent closures are said to be unrelated to the current coronavirus pandemic, with the stores selected from its 367 strong portfolio already chosen due to having leases set…
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Mar- 2020 -30 MarchAdvice
Covid 19: The future health of the high street
The health of the high street is up for debate now more than ever. If retailers were struggling before coronavirus set its sights on our shores, following last week’s forced government closure of non-essential brick & mortar stores throughout the UK, it’s likely that many will have pulled down their…
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Feb- 2020 -17 FebruaryHigh Street
M&S warns landlords it may close loss-making stores
Marks and Spencer has reportedly warned landlords that it will shutter loss-making stores, in a move that may see the department store close more sites than the previously announced. According to the Sunday Times, the warning came at a dinner hosted by M&S chairman Archie Norman and chief executive Steve…
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17 FebruaryAnalysis
The evolution of the Ikea experience: What’s next?
With the news last week that Ikea is to shut its first big UK outlet in Coventry, we can take this as a sign that the Swedish furniture retailer – the world’s largest – needs to accelerate the evolution of its customer experience. Arguably, the first of the real experiential…
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10 FebruaryHigh Street
WH Smith seeking overhaul on rent payment to landlords
WH Smith is reportedly urging its landlords to allow the retailer to delay its rent payments as it looks to improve its cashflow. According to The Sunday Times, the newsagent chain is set to ask landlords to switch from receiving rent payments in advance – which is the current industry…
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Jan- 2020 -8 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Shoe Zone profits slip due to ‘government imposed’ cost increases
Shoe Zone has reported a decrease in profits before tax to £9.6m, down from £11.3m the previous year, attributed to “government imposed increases” in its operating costs, primarily through the impact of increasing business rates. For the year ended 5 October 2019, the shoe retailer reported a 0.9% increase in…
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Dec- 2019 -11 DecemberOnline & Digital
Naked Wines completes £95m Majestic Wine disposal
Naked Wines has confirmed it has completed the £95m sale of Majestic Wines to the US-based Fortress Investment Group. The deal will see Majestic Wine Warehouses Limited and Les Celliers de Calais S.A.S, which together comprise the Majestic retail and commercial business, keep all 190 stores open. Under its previous…
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10 DecemberHigh Street
Mothercare losses widen amid declining sales
Embattled retailer Mothercare has reported statutory losses before tax of £21.2m in its half-year trading update, amid declining worldwide sales. For the 28 weeks to 12 October 2019, worldwide sales decreased by 8.4% to £452.3m, and international retail sales were also down 5.3% in constant currency. The retailer’s net debt…
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Nov- 2019 -25 NovemberHigh Street
Clarks calls in advisors to review business
Shoe retailer Clarks has called in management consulting firm McKinsey & Co to review its business. A spokesperson told Retail Sector that the company is “unable to share any specific details” of its new strategy, but did confirm that it is “transforming” the brand to “reconnect” with its consumers by…
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7 NovemberSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s profits plummet 91% in half-year results
‘Big Four’ grocer Sainsbury’s saw underlying profits slump by £41m to £238m for the six months to 21 September 2019. The retailer attributed the decline in profits to the combined impact of its £500m cost savings scheme and higher marketing costs. In addition to that, a series of store closures…
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