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.
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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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12 MayEconomy
UK economy shrinks 1.5% in Q1 despite signs of recovery
The UK economy shrank by 1.5% during the first three months of the year due to the impact of the national lockdown. According to the latest figures by the ONS however, the contraction shows a marked improvement on the first lockdown last year when gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by…
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Apr- 2021 -30 AprilHigh Street
Card Factory trading performance ‘exceeds expectations’
Card Factory has announced that its performance following the reopening of stores in England and Wales “exceeded its expectations”. The company has also revealed that it has agreed headline terms for refinancing of the group with its current syndicate of commercial lending banks, with a further update due in the…
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20 AprilClothing & Shoes
Primark to repay furlough relief despite seeing HY profits halve
The owner of Primark, Associated British Foods (ABF), has revealed that it intends to repay £121m in relief repayment, despite profits falling 50% to £319m for the 24 weeks ended 27 February 2021. The government support schemes enabled the company to preserve its entire 65,000 workforce for Primark. While overall…
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9 AprilHigh Street
Total UK footfall decreases by 69%, BRC tracker finds
Total UK footfall decreased by 68.7% in March (Yo2Y), marking only a 4.9% improvement from February, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) Sensormatic tracker. The data, which covered the five weeks from 28 February to 3 April 2021, showed that the footfall drop in March was above the…
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8 AprilDepartment Stores
Debenhams to reopen its stores one last time
Debenhams has announced that it will reopen its stores in England and Wales on 12 April to complete its final closing down sale. The sale will offer limited-time bargains, with up to 70% off fashion and home products and up to 50% off beauty and fragrance lines. The reopening is…
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8 AprilSupermarkets
M&S outlines lockdown reopening plans
Marks and Spencers has announced its plans to reopen ahead of the retail sector’s return in England and Wales on 12 April 2021. From 12 April, the supermarket chain will reopen its clothing and home spaces to customers for the first time since the most recent outline. As part of…
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6 AprilHigh Street
Poundland set for 30 new store openings
Poundland has announced that it is set to open up to 30 Poundland and Dealz stores across the UK and Ireland over the 12 months to 30 September 2021. The discount retailer also revealed that it brought 29 stores out of “hibernation” in February, and plans to reopen a further…
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6 AprilDepartment Stores
John Lewis to reopen stores
John Lewis has confirmed that it will reopen its shops in England and Wales on 12 April following the latest government guidance. The group will also reopen its newly refurbished Edinburgh shop on 14 May and plans to reopen its Glasgow shop from 26 April. After more than three months…
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Mar- 2021 -31 MarchHigh Street
Carpetright owner acquires Carpet and Flooring
Nestware Holdings Limited (NHL) has announced it has acquired Carpet and Flooring (C&F) for an undisclosed sum. NFL, which is part of Meditor Holdings Limited also owns a number of flooring businesses including Carpetright and FlooringSupplies.co.uk, an ecommerce flooring business. C&F was established in 1992, it distributes floor covering products…
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