West Midlands
This coverage examines retail developments across the West Midlands, focusing on store openings and closures, shopping centre activity, high street performance, and consumer behaviour shifts. Reporting includes updates on major hubs like Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, as well as regeneration projects and local retail investment. The content is tailored for retail professionals overseeing regional estate strategy, operations, and market expansion.
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Aug- 2022 -30 AugustHigh Street
Store closures drop to lowest rate in seven years
Store closures have stabilised to the lowest rate in over seven years, with 6,146 store closures in H1 2022 (-30%) year-on-year from multiple retail operators, compared to 3,888 openings (+11%). According to PwC’s latest Store Openings and Closures report for H1 2022, there were 34 closures, 21 openings, and a…
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Jul- 2022 -1 JulyEconomy
UK SMEs hit by hiring woes despite ‘record’ wage rise
SMEs across the UK are “facing more woes” as they struggle to fill vacancies despite a strong 14.3% increase in year-on-year sales growth and a “record” 5% rise in wages, according to new data from Xero. It found that SMEs are “struggling to compete with big business” when it comes…
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Sep- 2021 -16 SeptemberSupermarkets
Lidl reveals plan to reduce in-store plastic
Lidl has announced a series of new initiatives as part of its REset Plastic strategy, in order to eliminate plastic waste and support the continued reduction and recyclability of plastics in its stores. The discounter has confirmed plans to replace all single use fruit and vegetable plastic bags with compostable…
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Apr- 2021 -12 AprilShopping Centres
McArthurGlen opens £160m designer outlet destination
McArthurGlen has announced the opening of a new £160m designer outlet fashion destination in the West Midlands. The centre marks McArthurGlen’s seventh British designer outlet, joining its other destinations in Ashford, Bridgend, Cheshire Oaks, East Midlands, Swindon and York, and it is the group’s 26th across Europe and in Canada.…
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Jul- 2020 -9 JulyCoronavirus
West Midlands man arrested on suspicion of £495,000 furlough fraud
A West Midlands man has been arrested as part of an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation into a suspected £495,000 Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) fraud. HMRC officers executed a search warrant on 8 July 2020 in the Solihull area and arrested the 57-year-old. This is the first arrest…
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May- 2020 -18 MayCoronavirus
Central England Co-op reports rise in ‘violent’ threats to staff during lockdown
Central England Co-op has reported a rise in “violent” offences being carried out against its staff amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The company reported problems which include verbal abuse and threats, alongside customers threatening to cough and spit on employees. Figures for the past four weeks have revealed an increase in…
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Apr- 2019 -11 AprilClothing & Shoes
World’s largest Primark opens in Birmingham
Primark has opened the biggest store in its worldwide portfolio, in Birmingham. The new 161,000 square foot store will be spread across five floors and will feature a Disney cafe, two restaurants, a barber shop and a beauty studio. For the first time, the new Primark will feature a homeware…
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Mar- 2019 -28 MarchClothing & Shoes
Arcadia ‘draws up list of 67 store closures’
Arcadia has listed 67 stores it wishes to close across all of its brands, the Financial Times has reported. As seen by the publication, stores of varying sizes across the UK and Ireland with a total annual rent of £11m are set to be shut. These include Burton, Topshop, Evans,…
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Dec- 2018 -4 DecemberHigh Street
Footfall slumps following Black Friday weekend
High street footfall slumped by 5.5% in the week following the Black Friday weekend, according to figures from retail analysts Springboard. The group said the decline was “inevitably”, given that the week followed directly on from the “furore of Black Friday and included the online focussed Cyber Monday”. Furthermore, all…
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Oct- 2018 -18 OctoberEconomy
Retail sector ‘to face £186.45m business rates increase next April’
Retail firms will see business rates increase by £186.45 next April for the year 2019/20, according to real estate advisor Altus Group. September’s Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation, announced on 17 October at 2.4% will determine business rate rises in England for the next year. It is its…
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