Retail news

• British Gas owner needs more than cost-cutting and energy prices prayer | Nils Pratley

  22-04-2020 21:22 via theguardian.com
  
  Everything is going wrong at once. Sale of North American business may be only way out for CentricaSpare a thought, amid the oil price rout, for beleaguered Centrica, trying to flog its oil and gas exploration assets in a world where buyers have evaporated. The owner of British Gas “paused” its search for a buyer for its 69% stake in Spirit Energy a fortnight ago, but bowing to the inevitable has merely highlighted the financial strain across the group.Everything is going wrong at on
  
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• Sycamore tries to back away from Victoria’s Secret deal

  22-04-2020 18:44
  Private equity group says retailer’s parent L Brands broke promises with response to Covid-19
  
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• Sycamore tries to back away from $1.1bn Victoria’s Secret deal

  22-04-2020 18:44
  Private equity group says retailer’s parent L Brands broke promises with response to Covid-19
  
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• Boohoo teases rivals by busting out of the pandemic 

  22-04-2020 18:21
  Teen tailor’s growth; Fever-Tree remains resilient; a reader on road tax
  
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• Coronavirus: Boots hires over 500 drivers to deliver medicine

  22-04-2020 18:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boots drafts in more than 500 drivers to deliver medicine to vulnerable customers
  // The retailer said it has introduced the delivery service to another 40 UK storesBoots has hired over 500 drivers to deliver prescriptions to vulnerable people across the UK amid the coronavirus pandemic.
  The health and beauty retailer has introduced prescription delivery in another 40 stores across the UK.
  The new recruits will join Boots Pharmacy Delivery and Collection team, who continue to help local
  
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• Moss Bros: return of the MAC

  22-04-2020 16:53
  Prospect of a drawn-out process might encourage the menswear chain to go back to the negotiating table
  
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• Crew Clothing owner seeks to scrap £22m deal for Moss Bros

  22-04-2020 16:23
  Suit chain vows to ‘take all necessary action’ to block attempt to revoke takeover offer
  
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• Coronavirus: The Range named “worst of British” business for staying open

  22-04-2020 16:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Range faces backlash after staying open as most of its goods are non-essential
  // The retailer has 180 stores across the UKThe Range has faced criticism for remaining open amid the coronavirus pandemic.
  The retailer, which has 180 stores across the country, sells home, leisure and garden items, was “classified as an essential retailer” because it sells food, pet food and toilet rolls.
  One council leader described the retailer as an example of “the worst of British”
  
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• UPDATED: Morrisons customers can now order by phone for next-day delivery

  22-04-2020 16:16 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Morrisons has launched a dedicated telesales shopping service offering next day delivery on essential items for the “vulnerable and elderly”.
  Customers can now order from a list of 47 essential items over the phone and pay for goods with their credit card when their order is delivered.
  The “takeaway” menu of items available is listed below.This is the latest in a string of new measures introduced by the grocer to ensure “no customer gets left behind” and is ai
  
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• Oasis & Warehouse: What went wrong?

  22-04-2020 16:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  A BRIEF TIMELINE
  1976: Warehouse was founded as the Warehouse Utility Clothing Company with the first store opening on London’s Duke Street.
  1979: The retailer opened its second store on London’s Argyll Street, simultaneously announcing a change of name to Warehouse.
  1985: Warehouse launched its first catalogue.
  1991: Oasis was founded.
  1995: Oasis was floated on the London Stock Exchange.
  1998: Oasis purchased the Coast stores.
  1999: Warehouse opened its first international store in
  
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• Poundland sees surge in £1 pregnancy tests since lockdown

  22-04-2020 14:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Poundland sees surge in sales of its £1 pregnancy tests since the lockdown started March 24
  // Sales of the kits have gone up by 25 per cent since then
  // People seeking contraception have been advised by doctors to do so over the phone and not attend GPs in personPoundland has seen a surge in sales of its £1 pregnancy tests since a nationwide lockdown was introduced in the UK on March 24.
  The discount retailer, which has kept most of its stores open to sell essential items, said
  
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• Lululemon apologises after “racist” #batfriedrice t-shirt sparks calls for boycott

  22-04-2020 13:00 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Lululemon is facing a monumental backlash on social media after one of its arts directors posted a t-shirt design featuring a box of “bat fried rice”.
  The athleisure giant has apologised for the “inappropriate and inexcusable” Instagram post, which has led to the hashtag “Lululemon insults China” to be viewed 204 million times on China’s Weibo.
  The t-shirt, designed by independent Californian artist Jess Sluder, featured an image of a takeaway box with b
  
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• Boohoo eyes struggling fashion brands after trading beats forecasts

  22-04-2020 12:38 via theguardian.com
  
  Online retailer reports 54% profit rise and says it is well-placed to assess opportunities Boohoo has said it is ready and able to buy up ailing brands after reporting better than expected trading.The online fashion specialist, which has been flagged as a potential buyer for the Oasis and Warehouse chains that collapsed into administration last week, reported a 54% rise in pre-tax profits to £92m as sales increased 44% to £1.2bn in the year to 29 February. Continue reading...
  
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• Canada Goose to end use of virgin fur

  22-04-2020 12:01
  Parka brand has no plans to change policy on down and says it is not bowing to pressure
  
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• Boohoo eyes deal opportunities as sales and profits jump

  22-04-2020 11:29
  Online retailer looks to snap up struggling brands as annual revenues hit £1.32bn
  
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• Coronavirus: Uniqlo owner commits to paying suppliers

  22-04-2020 11:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Uniqlo Owner Fast Retailing ensures suppliers will receive payment amid Covid-19
  // There will be no change to the payment schedules in place prior to the disruptionsUniqlo owner Fast Retailing has said that it is committed to ensuring suppliers get the money they’re owed amid the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak.
  It stated that protecting the security and safety of those who help to make its garments is one of its most important responsibilities.
  Fashion Network reported it has &
  
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• Animal to shut down all stores & cease business completely

  22-04-2020 11:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Poole-based fashion retailer Animal to be closed by owner H Young
  // All of its stores, website, concessions and business will shut down by 2021, seven years after initially filing for liquidation
  // Animal’s owner said it was was losing money and attempts to save or sell it had been unsuccessfulAnimal is slated to close down all of its stores permanently and will cease to operate as a business by next year, marking the latest blow to the sector amid the coronavirus crisis.
  The Poole-ba
  
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• Boots and Matalan in legal dispute over unpaid rents

  22-04-2020 11:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boots & Matalan under pressure from landlords to pay overdue rent
  // Some landlords have started legal action to reclaim money they are owedBoots and Matalan are reportedly under further scrutiny from commercial property landlords who are accusing them of failing to pay overdue rent, and in some cases they have started legal action to reclaim money they are owed.
  Boots, which has continued to trade throughout the lockdown after being recognised as an essential retailer, has been criticise
  
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• Boots & Matalan in legal dispute over unpaid rents

  22-04-2020 11:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boots & Matalan under pressure from landlords to pay overdue rent
  // Some landlords have started legal action to reclaim money they are owedBoots and Matalan are reportedly under scrutiny from property landlords accusing them of failing to pay overdue rent, and in some cases they have started legal action to reclaim money they are owed.
  Boots, which has continued to trade throughout the lockdown after being recognised as an essential retailer, was criticised for refusing to pay second qua
  
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• Google Shopping scraps seller fees in major challenge to Amazon

  22-04-2020 11:04 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Google is scrapping charged for retailers to place their products on the Google Shopping search page in a major challenge to Amazon.
  The tech giant has until now charged merchants a fee for showing their items in its “shopping” tab whenever the product is searched for.
  In a bid to win back both sellers and shoppers, the majority of which now start their product searches on Amazon, Google is scrapping listing fees in the US starting next week, rolling it out worldwide by the end of th
  
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• Mango reveals new finance boss amid Covid-19 chaos

  22-04-2020 10:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Mango management control director Margarita Salvans promoted to CFO
  // Salvans will replace Josep BarberáMango has promoted its management control director Margarita Salvans to the position of chief financial officer, replacing Josep Barberá.
  Salvans will also become a member of the fashion retailer’s management committee.
  She had joined Mango back in 2013, and has since held a variety of roles across store provisioning and management control.READ MORE:Mango promotes Toni
  
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• John Barton appointed as Ted Baker chairman

  22-04-2020 10:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Ted Baker has appointed John Barton has its new chairman
  // He replaces David Bernstein, who left in December, along with CEO Lindsay Page
  // The appointment means Ted Baker’s two key leadership positions have now been filledTed Baker’s two key leadership positions have now been filled after the fashion retailer appointed John Barton as its new chairman.
  Barton will take up his position as non-executive chairman of the Ted Baker board in July.
  His appointment comes after chief fin
  
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• Coronavirus: Fashion retailers urged to protect garment workers

  22-04-2020 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Fashion retailers called on to protect factory workers from Covid-19
  // NGOs urged brands to take action to support workers who may have lost their jobsFashion retailers have been urged to intervene further in protecting garment workers from unsafe working conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
  Non-governmental organisations have called on international governments and retailers for “urgent action” to support factory workers who may have also lost their jobs due to Covid-19.
  In
  
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• Fast Retailing founder rounds on Japan over coronavirus response

  22-04-2020 09:57
  Head of clothing retailer criticises inadequate testing and warns economy risks collapse
  
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• Boohoo full year profits & sales surge as it weathers coronavirus storm

  22-04-2020 09:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boohoo Group’s full-year pre-tax up 54% to £92.2, sales up 44% to £1.23bn
  // Since the start of the current year trading was mixed due to coronavirus but trading has since improve in April
  // Boohoo’s warehouse teams have adapted to a new way of working to comply with social distancing measuresBoohoo Group suffered a “marked” fall in sales last month as the coronavirus crisis deepened but trading has since improved, as it posted a surge in full year profits
  
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• UK inflation falls to 1.5% as stay-away shoppers shun spring clothing

  22-04-2020 09:28 via theguardian.com
  
  Coronavirus lockdown causes fashion prices to decline for only second time since 1988Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageFalling demand for clothes as shoppers stayed away from the high street in March amid the unfolding coronavirus crisis has pushed down UK inflation, according to official figures.Highlighting the economic fallout from the global health emergency, the Office for National Statistics said the consumer price index (CPI) fell to 1.5% last month, from 1
  
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• Moss Bros buyer wants to retract £22.6m takeover

  22-04-2020 09:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Crew Clothing owner looking to pull £22.6m takeover deal of Moss Bros
  // Brigadier Acquisition Company seeking a ruling from the City Takeover Panel to invoke a condition of its offer to scrap the deal
  // Moss Bros believes its suitor does not have grounds under City takeover rules to lapse the offerThe owner of Crew Clothing is looking to pull its £22.6 million deal to take menswear chain Moss Bros private just over a month after agreeing the takeover.
  Moss Bros said Brigadier Ac
  
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• Corner shops describe life under lockdown as they stay open for their community

  22-04-2020 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Change in buying habits means many small shops are struggling to survive, while some are hit by shopliftersSome are doing home deliveries for the first time and tell of a heightened sense of caring in the community; others tell of a rise in shoplifting, staff being spat at and a devastating collapse in grocery sales.As a third independent retailer dies from Covid-19, owners of corner shops across the UK tell the Guardian about just how hard it is to cope in the pandemic. Continue reading...
  
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• Amazon’s ‘non-essential’ sellers return but still face an uphill struggle

  22-04-2020 05:00
  Third-party vendors must battle order backlogs, quantity limits and an arbitrary algorithm
  
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• Webinar: Online Conversion 2020 (partnered with IMRG)

  22-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  10am / April 30 / 2020: Retail is going through a period of seismic change at present, with growth proving hard to come by for many... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Ben Stirling, Managing Director, Webloyalty

  22-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Webloyalty’s market-leading reward platforms deliver customer value through a breadth of relevant rewards and shopping benefits while generating secondary revenue for businesses. By making customer interactions more... View Article
  
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• Mango appoints new chief financial officer

  22-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion retailer Mango has promoted Margarita Salvans to the position of chief financial officer. She will also become a member of the company’s management committee. Replacing... View Article
  
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• Join us online at Future of Retail Marketing

  22-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Retail Bulletin is keen to support retailers in whatever way we can through the coronavirus crisis. With this in mind, we are turning our Future of Retail... View Article
  
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• John Lewis Partnership gives covid-19 trading update

  22-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The John Lewis Partnership has said that the coronavirus crisis has had a significant impact on the trading patterns of both its Waitrose and John Lewis... View Article
  
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• Boohoo full year profits climb by 54%

  22-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online fashion group Boohoo has increased its annual pre-tax profit by 54% to £92.2 million in what it described as a great year. In the 12... View Article
  
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