Waterstones
This coverage focuses on Waterstones’ strategy, operations, and role within the UK bookselling and retail sector. Reporting highlights store performance, expansion plans, leadership decisions, marketing initiatives, and responses to consumer trends and industry challenges. Designed for retail executives, brand managers, and operations professionals, the content provides insights into how Waterstones maintains its position in a competitive market.
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Sep- 2023 -18 SeptemberNews
Today’s news in brief
Mike Ashley is reportedly in talks to sell the online clothing label Missguided to Shein, a Chinese-founded online fashion platform. If successful, this would mark Shein’s first acquisition of a British fashion brand. The deal is anticipated to cover Missguided’s brand and intellectual property, with Ashley’s company retaining its head…
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18 SeptemberHealth & Beauty
Waterstones owner tables Body Shop bid
The owner of Waterstones, Elliott Advisors, has reportedly joined a list of bidders looking to acquire The Body Shop after it was put up for sale by its owner. According to Sky News, the investment firm tabled an indicative bid for the cosmetic chain in recent weeks. However, Sky said…
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Jan- 2023 -23 JanuaryHigh Street
Waterstones profits rise by £40m in FY22
Waterstones has seen its profit-before-tax rise to £42.1m in the year to April 2022, up from £2.9m the prior year and £19.7 in FY20, as customers returned to the high street. The bookseller also reported that full-year revenues soared 73% to £399.8m, as Covid-related restrictions came to an end. Although…
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Aug- 2022 -10 AugustSupply Chain
Waterstones suffers stock shortages amid tech issues
Bookshop chain Waterstones is currently dealing with a backlog of unfulfilled orders after the brand’s warehouse technical systems were said to have led to stock shortages. The news comes as the retailer, which has more than 300 stores across the country, had reportedly upgraded to a new system called Blue…
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9 AugustGovernment
Retail Jobs Alliance calls on next PM to reduce business rates
The Retail Jobs Alliance, a coalition of retailers including Morrisons, Greggs and Tesco, has called on both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to pledge to cut business rates, which it said were “killing our high streets”. The group, also consisting of Co-op, Kingfisher,, RivingtonHark, Sainsbury’s, and Waterstones, said it feared…
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May- 2022 -4 MayHigh Street
Retail Jobs Alliance demands business rates reform
An alliance of retail companies including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Greggs and Waterstones are forging a new coalition to urge Rishi Sunak to move ahead with reforms to Britain’s decades-old business rates regime, according to Sky News. The group, which is calling itself the Retail Jobs Alliance, has written to the chancellor…
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Apr- 2022 -26 AprilComment
Why retailers must change their data approach to overcome Amazon
The post-pandemic business landscape has seen retailers fast-track their digital efforts in an attempt to become truly omni-channel – and safeguard against a repeat of 2020’s disruption. Conversely (and perhaps more interestingly), we’re also getting a better sense of where bricks and mortar fits into the strategies of the digital-first…
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Jun- 2021 -18 JuneEntertainment
Waterstones FY20 revenues decline 4.3% to £376m
Waterstones has reported a 4.3% year-on-year decline in revenues to £376m for the 52 weeks ended 25 April 2020. The books retailer also saw a contraction in profits after tax, falling 8.3% from £22.7m in FY19 to £20.8m in FY20. For consecutive years, no dividend was paid or declared during…
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May- 2021 -21 MayCoronavirus
Ikea and Primark most searched for brands since reopening, study finds
Ikea and Primark have been the most searched for brands following restrictions being lifted in April, according to new data from Dojo which has revealed the UK’s spending habits. The UK payment provider analysed Google search volumes to reveal the most in-demand brands post-lockdown, and which activities Brits were looking…
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Mar- 2021 -12 MarchFeatures
A look at what an online sales tax means for businesses
In last year’s Business Rates Review: Call for Evidence, Jesse Norman MP, financial secretary to the Treasury, said the government would explore the potential options of “alternative” property and online taxes which could act as “possible replacements” for rates to tackle the increases in businesses online presence. The proposition would…
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