Wales
This coverage highlights retail developments and economic trends specific to Wales, examining store openings and closures, regional sales performance, employment issues, and policy changes affecting the retail sector. Reporting provides retail managers and executives with insights into the unique challenges and opportunities shaping retail operations across Welsh towns and cities.
-
Jul- 2023 -28 JulyHigh Street
UK loses 6,000 storefronts in five years
The UK high street has lost over 6,000 storefronts in the past five years as the vacancy rate increased to 13.9% in Q2 2023, according to the latest figures from the BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor. The Q2 performance was 0.1 percentage points worse than Q1, however it is 0.1 percentage point…
Read More » -
11 JulyNews
Waitrose announces partnership with UberEats
Waitrose has announced plans to grow its position in on-demand grocery shopping and the convenience sector with a new multi-year partnership with UberEats. The partnership has now launched on the UberEats platform in five initial London stores, including John Barnes in Finchley Road, West Hampstead, Clerkenwell, St Katharine Docks and…
Read More » -
7 JulyNews
Argos to close 100 stores over the next year
Argos is reportedly planning to shut down more stores next month as part of plans to close 100 sites over the next year, according to The Sun. The retailer has already shut down 37 shops this year, including all the branches in Ireland. Owned by Sainsbury’s, Argos is now planning…
Read More » -
7 JulyHigh Street
Heatwave dampens June footfall
Footfall fell -1.9% in the five weeks from 28 May to 01 July 2023 as hot weather meant that shoppers strayed from the high street, according to BRC-Sensormatic IQ data. The fall was worse than the three-month average increase of -1.1% and comes as high street footfall increased by 0.6%…
Read More » -
Jun- 2023 -30 JuneHigh Street
WH Smith to not open any more high street stores
WH Smith chief executive Carl Cowling has told the BBC that the retailer will not open any more UK high street stores, instead focusing on UK airports and train stations, as well as openings in the US and European markets. This comes as, over the past 20 years, the retailer…
Read More » -
12 JuneHigh Street
Footfall records highest annual rise since easter despite 5.2% decline
MRI Springboard has recorded the highest rise in annual footfall since Easter with a +6.3% increase versus 2022 despite footfall across UK retail destinations declining by -5.2% last week from the week before. Across the week, footfall was lower than the week before on every day between Sunday and Friday,…
Read More » -
Apr- 2023 -28 AprilProperty
Retailers cautious to invest as retail vacancies plateau
The overall vacancy rate for retail units in the UK remained at 13.8% of Q1 in 2023, the same rate it was at for Q4 2022, according to data from the British Retail Consortium. However, this figure was 0.3 percentage points better when compared with the same period last year.…
Read More » -
24 AprilFeatures
Is Labour’s five-point plan a starting point to revive high streets?
Can you tell me about yourself and your experience in the retail sector? I‘ve been working in retail for the past three years, having joined BRC the week before lockdown in March 2020. I work in our corporate affairs team, which has responsibility for running the BRC’s public affairs and…
Read More » -
11 AprilHigh Street
Footfall surges 18.6% on Good Friday
Good Friday footfall (up to 5pm) has provided a welcome boost to retailers as it surged by 18.6% compared with the previous week, according to a new report by Springboard. The footfall in high streets was 26% higher than the previous Friday by 5pm and 8.5% higher than the week…
Read More » -
Mar- 2023 -30 MarchClothing & Shoes
Primark boosts hourly pay for retail assistants
Primark is to increase the pay of its retail assistants in Great Britain, giving around 26,000 retail colleagues an average pay rise of 12%. The retailer is increasing the rates of pay for all hourly-paid store colleagues across England, Scotland and Wales to £11 an hour and £11.51 in London.…
Read More »
