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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Mar- 2021 -23 MarchHigh Street
High street footfall rises 4% ahead of lockdown anniversary
Footfall across UK retail destinations rose by +0.5% last week ahead of the one-year anniversary of the first national lockdown , wholly driven by a +4% increase in high streets according to the latest data from retail experts Springboard. During the week, footfall in both retail parks and shopping centres…
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23 MarchEconomy
Gov to create hubs to boost international trade
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has announced the creation of four new trade and investment hubs which will channel the economic benefits of international trade directly into Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the North of England. The trade hubs in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and a new site in Darlington,…
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23 MarchSupermarkets
Waitrose bans magazines containing plastic toys
Waitrose has announced that it will no longer sell children’s magazines which contain plastic toys – in a bid to cut down on the use of single-use plastics in its stores. The group said it was inspired to introduce the ban after it learned about a 10-year old girl from…
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19 MarchCoronavirus
Non-essential Welsh retail to begin reopening from 22 March
Mark Drakeford, first minister of Wales, has announced an easing of lockdown restrictions, starting with the reopening of non-essential retail on Monday (22 March). While historic sites and gardens are currently under review with a final decision expected next week, garden centres will open first alongside the rest of non-essential…
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15 MarchCoronavirus Featured Content
Covid-19 forced over 17,500 chain stores to close in 2020
More than 17,500 chain stores were forced to close last year across the UK, as Covid-19 has created one of the worst declines for retail on record. According to research by PwC and the Local Data Company, 2020 saw an average of 48 shops, restaurants and leisure venues close every…
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3 MarchGovernment
NI Executive reveals phased lockdown exit plan
Ministers for Northern Ireland’s devolved government have announced phased plans to take the country out of its current lockdown restrictions. Yesterday (2 March), the Executive agreed on a final version of the ‘Pathway to Recovery’ strategy, which will focus on reopening key areas of the economy, such as retail and…
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Feb- 2021 -18 FebruaryDepartment Stores
John Lewis signs up to HRH Terra Carta initiative
John Lewis has announced it has become the first retailer to sign-up to HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta, which forms part of HRH’s Sustainable Markets Initiative. Launched by HRH on 11 January 2021, the Terra Carta lists 10 action articles for the decade and aims to provide an…
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18 FebruarySupermarkets
Iceland sacks director over offensive comments about Wales
Iceland has sacked its director of corporate affairs, Keith Hann, after he made a series of offensive comments about Wales. Hann who joined the supermarket in 2017 was fired from his position after he stated on Twitter: “Your periodic reminder that the inhabitants of the UK’s Celtic fringe loath all…
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Jan- 2021 -19 JanuaryHigh Street
Footfall continues to decline but stays above Lockdown 1 levels
Footfall across UK retail destinations declined by -10.9% last week from the week before, but has managed to stay above levels seen during the first lockdown last year. According to the latest data from Springboard, the 10% decline was less than half the drop of -27.1% in the previous week.…
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Dec- 2020 -24 DecemberCoronavirus
Boxing Day sales set to plummet for third year in a row
Retailers must prepare to be “hard hit” during this year’s Boxing Day sales period, with spending expected to be down for the third year in a row, according to a new retail report by VoucherCodes.co.uk. Its latest Shopping for Christmas 2020 report, carried out by the Centre for Retail Research,…
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