Retail news

• Laura Ashley shares plummet as retailer seeks access to funding

  17-02-2020 18:53
  Struggling chain says it will ‘consider all appropriate options’ if unsuccessful
  
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• Laura Ashley shares plummet as it seeks funding

  17-02-2020 18:53
  Struggling chain says it will ‘consider all appropriate options’ if unsuccessful
  
  Read more

• Ikea launches ‘Which Ikea icon are you?’ Instagram filter

  17-02-2020 16:13 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Ikea has launched a new interactive Instagram app aiming to cash in on the “What X Are You” filter trend dominating the social media platform.
  ‘Which Ikea icon are you?’ allows users to determine which iconic Ikea product best defines their personality.
  By visiting Ikea’s UK Instagram account and clicking on the filters section, users will be matched with one of 12 Ikea items including its classic meatballs, its cult blue Frakta bags and its Billy bookcase. Swe
  
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• COMMENT: In-store mobile services is a boon for customer loyalty

  17-02-2020 14:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Convenience as part of the in-store experience is being improved by Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s with the launch of their new payment app. The time-saving mobile and checkout-free service is aimed in particular at the London lunchtime hour, where it counts the most.
  It can be asked if this improvement is actually building a competitive advantage. Is this a benefit which the competition can’t copy? Does this enhancement draw the customer more strongly into the unique value prop
  
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• Penhaligons & Kiehls join Liverpool One

  17-02-2020 14:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Liverpool ONE adds Penhaligon’s & Kiehls to its retail offering on Peter’s Lane.
  // The perfume retailer Penhaligon’s makes its regional debut at the siteLiverpool One welcomes two heritage beauty retailers to its offering, with the opening of British perfume house Penhaligon’s first North West flagship and the relaunch of skin-care brand Kiehl’s, both situated within Peter’s Lane.
  Penhaligon’s makes its regional debut with a 500sq ft store h
  
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• Jupiter agrees £370m deal to buy Merian Global Investors

  17-02-2020 13:50 via theguardian.com
  
  Deal will create second-biggest retail asset management group in Britain, managing £65bnThe investment manager Jupiter is to pay £370m to buy Merian Global Investors in a deal that will create the second-largest retail asset management group in the UK.The enlarged group will have £65bn under management, but some analysts said they regarded the deal as an essentially defensive merger of two struggling businesses. Continue reading...
  
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• Magento 2 Commerce vs. Open Source. 3 Key Factors to Consider

  17-02-2020 13:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  In less than 5 months, Magento 1 reaches its end of life. If you’re considering moving to Magento 2, you’re probably wondering which version is the best fit for your business. Download our guide to weigh up the pros and cons of Magento Commerce vs. Magento Open Source. We also outline 3 key factors to consider when making your decision.”
  DOWNLOAD NOW
  The post Magento 2 Commerce vs. Open Source. 3 Key Factors to Consider appeared first on Retail Gazette.
  
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• Shoe Zone CEO warns of 100 store closures

  17-02-2020 12:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Shoe Zone CEO warns of shop closures
  // Over 50 major retailers wrote to the government, urging ministers to overhaul business ratesShoe Zone chief executive Anthony Smith has reportedly warned about shutting down 100 stores unless urgent changes are made to business rates.
  Smith said that closing a fifth of the footwear retailer’s stores would be the only option because the government’s rating system was in “total turmoil”, The Times reported.
  Last week, over 50 major
  
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• Shoe Zone CEO threatens to shut 100 stores

  17-02-2020 12:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Shoe Zone CEO warns of shop closures
  // Over 50 major retailers wrote to the government, urging ministers to overhaul business ratesShoe Zone chief executive Anthony Smith has reportedly threatened to shut 100 stores unless urgent changes are made to business rates.
  Smith said that closing a fifth of his company’s stores was the only option because the government’s rating system was in “total turmoil”, The Times reported.
  Last week, over 50 major retailers wrote to the
  
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• Rent the Runway hires string of former Amazon executives after last year’s logistics collapse

  17-02-2020 12:48 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Rent the Runway has hired a raft of former Amazon executives to head up its supply chain operations after it was plagued with delivery chaos last year.
  Brian Donato is set to take on the role of chief supply chain officer on March 16, overseeing its reverse logistics, customer service, warehousing, inventory registration, transportation and distribution network expansion.
  Donato has previously spent seven years at Amazon where he held various senior roles including director of worldwide operatio
  
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• Hammerson appoints Simon Betty to lead City Quarters strategy

  17-02-2020 12:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Hammerson appoints Simon Betty to the newly-created role of MD for City Quarters & Developments
  // He is currently Hammerson’s Irish retail director
  // Through its City Quarters strategy, Hammerson aims to move beyond pure retailHammerson has announced the appointment of Simon Betty to lead its City Quarters strategy.
  In his newly-created role of City Quarters and developments managing director, Betty will be responsible for implementing and driving the shopping centre landlord&rsqu
  
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• Bicester Village suffers 85% shopper decline over coronavirus fears

  17-02-2020 12:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Bicester Village sees decline in footfall due to coronavirus fears
  // Chinese visitors dropped by around 85%Visitor numbers at luxury shopping outlet Bicester Village have reportedly dropped due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
  The Oxford Mail was “banned” from speaking to shoppers at the outlet earlier this month, after journalists tried to see what the site was like following the outbreak, the paper reported.
  At least ten staff were reported to have been wearing surgical
  
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• Arket hires H&M design exec as managing director

  17-02-2020 11:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Arket hires new MD
  // Pernilla Wohlfahrt will replace Lea Rytz Goldmann
  // Wohlfahrt is Arket’s 3rd managing director in the space of 3 yearsArket has poached the design and collaborations director of H&M, Pernilla Wohlfahrt, as its new managing director.
  The H&M-owned retailer has drafted in Wohlfahrt to lead the business’ further development.
  Wohlfahrt is Arket’s third managing director in the space of three years, after Lea Rytz Goldmann moved on to the group
  
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• Adidas promotes existing board member Thomas Rabe to chairman

  17-02-2020 10:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Adidas promotes deputy chairman Thomas Rabe to chairman
  // Rabe has been serving as deputy since May 2019
  // He will replace Igor Landau, who is exiting after more than 15 yearsAdidas has appointed Thomas Rabe as its new chairman after a board meeting on February 13.
  Rabe, who has been serving as deputy chairman since May 2019, will replace Igor Landau, who is leaving the business after its AGM on May 14.
  “In the interests of a smooth handover and in line with the transition of the
  
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• BRC warns on higher prices for shoppers without EU trade deal

  17-02-2020 10:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // The BRC launches report on UK-EU negotiations: A Fair Deal for Consumers
  // Without a pragmatic agreement, consumers face higher costs and reduced availability of goods, BRC says
  // Lobby group also urges government to establish import/export processes and all necessary infrastructure nowConsumers face higher prices and reduced availability of goods if the government fails to make a pragmatic agreement with the EU, the BRC has warned.
  The agreement pertains to regulatory checks at ports in an
  
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• Ted Baker purges 4 executives after “challenging year”

  17-02-2020 09:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ted Baker cuts down exec team to reshape leadership strategy
  // The retailer has axed 4 executives
  // The changes come after Ted Baker was embroiled in controversy last yearTed Baker has made changes to its executive team in a bid to streamline its senior management structure.
  The fashion retailer’s boss Rachel Osborne has cut down the executive board from 13 to nine members to reshape her leadership team, Retail Week reported.
  Osborne joined Ted Baker from Debenhams as finance boss las
  
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• Laura Ashley owner in crisis talks to secure emergency funding

  17-02-2020 09:54 via theguardian.com
  
  Retail chain, which employs 2,700 people, will ‘consider all options’ amid sales slumpLaura Ashley has confirmed that its Malaysian owner is locked in make-or-break talks with its bank over access to emergency funding as the fashion and furniture retailer revealed a steep drop in sales amid “challenging” conditions for the sector.The company, which is listed in the UK, said it would have to “consider all appropriate options” if it could not get hold of more ca
  
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• Primark to open first ever pop-up store at Boxpark Shoreditch

  17-02-2020 09:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Primark is set to open its first ever pop-up store
  // It will be located at Boxpark Shoreditch in East London
  // It will mark the launch of Primark’s ethically-sourced Wellness collectionPrimark has chosen East London for the location of its first ever pop-up store.
  The 1500sq ft store will be located at Boxpark’s Shoreditch premises and will open from tomorrow (February 18) until March 8.
  The main purpose of the Primark pop-up is to launch its new Wellness collection.READ MORE:&n
  
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• M&S bosses warns landlords over loss-making stores

  17-02-2020 09:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S warns landlords it will shut down loss-making stores
  // Landlords now expect M&S to close down more than the 110 stores it has already earmarked as part of its turnaround scheme
  // Landlords were reportedly given the warning by CEO Steve Rowe & chairman Archie NormanMarks & Spencer landlords have been placed on high alert after the retailer’s bosses reportedly hinted that more stores than originally planned will shut down.
  According to The Sunday Times, M&S
  
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• Laura Ashley to “consider all options” if funding not secured

  17-02-2020 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Laura Ashley’s main shareholder in talks to raise £20m from lender Wells Fargo
  // The retailer said it will “consider all appropriate options” if it is unable to secure a deal
  // MUI Asia was not considering putting cash into the company to keep it afloatLaura Ashley has confirmed that it will “consider all appropriate options” if it is unable to secure a deal to borrow additional cash from its lenders to meet funding requirements.
  The fashion and lifestyle
  
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• Retailers say Brexit friction will hit food supplies

  17-02-2020 01:01
  Industry body calls for EU trade deal as survey shows further slump in exports
  
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• Reducing customer acquisition cost with data

  17-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  How to Maintain a Profitable E-commerce Business In this whitepaper, Adverity take a closer look at some of the biggest challenges e-commerce businesses are facing, namely... View Article
  
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• Penhaligon’s and Kiehl’s launch new stores at Liverpool ONE

  17-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Liverpool ONE has seen two beauty brands open new stores at the shopping destination. British perfume house Penhaligon’s has chosen Liverpool One as the location for... View Article
  
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• Laura Ashley seeks fresh capital to meet funding requirements

  17-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion and homewares retailer Laura Ashley is in talks with its lender as it looks to secure new funds to keep on trading. In a statement,... View Article
  
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• Join us at the future of retail marketing

  17-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Do you want to discover what’s next for the future of retail marketing? Would you like to find out what other retailers are doing to attract... View Article
  
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• BRC warns that UK shoppers will suffer if there is no comprehensive EU trade deal

  17-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The British Retail Consortium has warned that shoppers will face higher costs and reduced availability of goods if the UK and EU fail to negotiate a... View Article
  
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• Arket appoints new managing director

  17-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M owned Arket has hired Pernilla Wohlfahrt as its new managing director. Previously director of design and collaborations at H&M, she will be responsible for leading... View Article
  
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