Retail news

• The biggest boardroom changes so far this year

  13-02-2020 15:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  1. Ikea brand owner appoints new CEO as Torbjörn Lööf steps down
  The company that controls Ikea’s intellectual property and supply chain appointed Jon Abrahamsson Ring as its new chief executive this week.
  Ring, who currently leads Inter Ikea Holding’s franchising division, is set to replace Torbjörn Lööf after he steps down later this year.
  2. Matchesfashion poaches Amazon exec Ajay Kavan as new CEO
  Matchesfashion raided Amazon’s senior ranks to a
  
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• Alibaba: germs and conditions

  13-02-2020 15:10
  Coronavirus has meant more people shopping online but an extended outbreak would hit revenues
  
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• Waitrose rolls out first coupons to customers since John Lewis merger

  13-02-2020 15:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Waitrose issues first coupons to its customers since “Future Partnership” was put into practice
  // The Future Partnership plan came after a management reshuffleWaitrose has begun issuing customers with coupons for money off products at John Lewis, following the establishment of the “Future Partnership” strategy.
  This marks the first time the grocer has offered coupons at the till for its John Lewis Partnership stablemate since the launch its Future Partnership plan, wh
  
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• Waitrose rolls out first coupons to customers since John Lewis merge

  13-02-2020 15:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Waitrose issues first coupons to its customers since “Future Partnership” was put into practice
  // The Future Partnership plan came after a management reshuffleWaitrose has begun issuing customers with coupons for money off products at John Lewis, following the establishment of the “Future Partnership” strategy.
  This marks the first time the grocer has offered coupons at the till for its John Lewis Partnership stablemate since the launch its Future Partnership plan, wh
  
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• Marks & Spencer depot closures put nearly 700 jobs at risk

  13-02-2020 14:59
  
  Ailing retailer to shut Nottinghamshire and Sheffield distribution centres next yearMarks & Spencer is closing two of its clothing distribution centres in a move that puts almost 700 jobs at risk.The struggling retailer is revamping its warehouse network to save money and improve stock availability, which is a long-running problem in its high street stores. Continue reading...
  
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• Coronavirus turbulence looms over Alibaba

  13-02-2020 13:46
  China’s Ecommerce giant posts 56% rise in profit but warns on quarters ahead
  
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• Alibaba warns of severe impact from coronavirus

  13-02-2020 13:46
  Merchants have been left without goods to sell or couriers to deliver packages
  
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• Alibaba posts 56% rise in profit as coronavirus turbulence looms

  13-02-2020 13:46
  Ecommerce giant says it is mobilising its technology to fight the outbreak
  
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• Red roses lose popularity this Valentine’s Day

  13-02-2020 12:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // This Valentines Day, 50% of people would choose to send brightly coloured bouquets over roses
  // 27% of participants surveyed in favour of other flowers that reflect the recipient’s personality over the traditional red roseA recent customer survey created by Bloom & Wild reveals that this Valentine’s Day, 50 per cent of people either will or plan to send a brightly coloured bouquet instead of red roses.
  Only 39 per cent of people would want red roses as the bouquet of choice.
  
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• 100,000 shop staff assaulted despite government intervention, Usdaw says

  13-02-2020 12:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // 100,000 shop workers have been assaulted in the past year
  // Usdaw expressed concerns over the pace of progress due to ongoing attacksNew research has found that 100,000 shop workers have been assaulted since a government consultation on violence and abuse towards retail staff took place last year.
  Usdaw has expressed its concerns over the pace of progress due to ongoing attacks against shop workers.
  The government’s response is due to be published next month.READ MORE: Retail violence
  
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• Meet the booksellers who are fighting back against the algorithm

  13-02-2020 12:00
  
  Could a bespoke book subscription service break you out of your reading rut or encourage you to explore new genres?Heywood Hill bookshop has stood on the same spot since 1936. It inhabits a Georgian townhouse at 10 Curzon Street in Mayfair, London, a blue plaque outside commemorating its most famous employee, Nancy Mitford. Behind its heavy wooden door, a customer explains that she is visiting the UK from Australia, and would like to speak to someone about the shop’s subscription service.
  
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• Intu forms performance team to speed up transformation

  13-02-2020 11:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Intu builds customer performance directorate as part of turnaround strategy to transform business
  // Former development director Martin Breeden will be leading as centre performance directorIntu has brought it asset management, operations, marketing and commercialisation teams into one directorate to accelerate the transformation of its centres.
  The customer performance directorate will aim to improve footfall, dwell time and rental performance within Intu centres.
  Intu’s former develop
  
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• The Body Shop introduces new “open hiring” practice with no interviews or background checks

  13-02-2020 11:53 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  The Body Shop is introducing a revolutionary new ‘open hiring’ strategy involving no interviews, background checks or drug tests.
  Its ‘open hiring’ strategy, set to launch this summer, where the first candidate that meets the most basic requirements for a job will get it, according to a Fast Company report.
  This follows a successful pilot at its distribution centre in North Carolina at the end of last year.
  “We’re not asking for your background check
  
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• Adidas named global leader in sourcing sustainable cotton

  13-02-2020 11:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Adidas ranked as the top business for sourcing sustainable cotton
  // The retailer jumped from sixth place back in 2017 to the topAdidas has become a global leader in sourcing sustainable cotton, according to a ranking of companies buying the material.
  The “cotton ranking 2020” report published by three organisations, Pesticide Action Network UK, Solidariadad and WWF, is based on independent research looking at 77 major cotton-using companies.
  Adidas went from sixth place in the la
  
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• 250 jobs at risk as M&S closes major distribution centre

  13-02-2020 11:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S to close major UK distribution centre, putting 250 jobs at risk
  // Staff have now entered a 30-day consultation period
  // M&S said it was looking to change its supply chain to address flow of product and availability for customersMarks & Spencer is set to close down one of its major distribution centres next year, putting 250 staff at risk of losing their jobs.
  The retailer said it would shut down its Thorncliffe distribution centre in Sheffield in summer 2021.
  The warehouse i
  
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• Forever 21 rescued for £62m

  13-02-2020 10:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Forever 21 is rescued by US property companies for £62m
  // Before its collapse, Forever 21 employed 32,800 peopleForever 21 has been bought out of bankruptcy for $80 million (£62 million) by two of its largest landlords.
  Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners, have linked up with Authentic Brands, a licensing specialist that owns Sports Illustrated magazine, to rescue the US fast-fashion retailer, The Times reported.
  The new owners have agreed to assume some of Fore
  
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• Iceland MD criticises retailers’ refill trials for accelerating food waste

  13-02-2020 09:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Iceland MD Richard Walker criticises retailers’ refill offerings as an “impractical” way of shopping
  // Last month, it introduced a new trial to remove 93% of plastic packaging from fruit & vegIceland managing director Richard Walker has called out retailers’ loose produce and refill station trials for increasing food waste.
  Many retailers, including Waitrose and Marks & Spencer have offered customers a way to purchase loose produce by filling their own contain
  
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• Westfield’s UK centres posts drop in net rental income

  13-02-2020 09:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Net rental income across Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s UK shopping centres down 4.2%
  // This makes it the worst performing region in the shopping centre group, as continental Europe & the US saw growth
  // However, footfall across UK centres through December 31 was up 2.8%Westfield’s parent company has scaled back its development pipeline and ramped up its disposal programme as net retail income fell across its UK centres last year.
  Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield reported a 4.2 per ce
  
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• Majestic Wine hires Alex Jablonowski as new CFO

  13-02-2020 09:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Majestic Wine appoints Alex Jablonowski to CFO
  // He joins from the Oasis & Warehouse Group, and previously worked at Hamleys & Tesco
  // The appointment follows a series of changes to Majestic Wine’s retail boardMajestic Wine has raised the senior ranks of Oasis & Warehouse to hire Alex Jablonowski for the new role of chief financial officer.
  The appointment is the latest in a string of new hires at the alcohol retailer, as it looks to establish itself as an independent busi
  
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• Greggs pens concession partnership with Asda

  13-02-2020 09:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asda and Greggs team up in shop-in-shop partnership
  // The trial phase will see Asda add Greggs counters within its stores, bringing the brand’s range in-store for Asda customers
  // Asda will become the first supermarket to open Greggs concessionsCustomers in selected Asda stores will soon be able to pick up food from a Greggs counter in-store as part of a new concession partnership.
  As part of the new deal, Greggs will trial shop-in-shops in five Asda stores in Boldon, Corby, Huyton, E
  
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• 50+ retailers write to Chancellor demanding business rates overhaul

  13-02-2020 08:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // More than 50 major retailers write to Chancellor demanding business rates overhaul in the Budget next month
  // Letter was coordinated by the BRC and signatories include Asda, B&Q, Greggs and Ann Summers
  // The BRC coordinated a similar type of letter last AugustMore than 50 major retailers have written to the government, urging ministers to overhaul business rates in the Budget next month.
  The letter – signed by chief executives of retailers including Asda, B&Q, Greggs and Ann S
  
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• The Very Group to raise funds for children’s reading charity

  13-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Very Group has announced that children’s reading charity Coram Beanstalk has become its new charity partner. The news was unveiled at a dinner at the... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s launches new city convenience format

  13-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has unveiled a new city convenience store format with the opening of a shop in London’s Mansion House. The shop is the retailer’s first On... View Article
  
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• H&M introduces men’s athleisure collection

  13-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion retailer H&M has a launched a new men’s athleisure collection. Available in selected stores and online, the range includes outerwear, tops, bottoms and accessories. The... View Article
  
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• Angling Direct opens new Warrington store

  13-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Angling Direct, the fishing tackle and equipment retailer, has launched a new store in Warrington in Cheshire. The opening means the retailer now has a total... View Article
  
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