Retail news

• Firms receiving coronavirus help told to cut executive pay

  27-04-2020 17:21
  
  UK investor group also advises companies suspending dividends to review bonusesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCompanies that have received government support to help them through the coronavirus crisis should cut executive pay and consider clawing back bonuses from bosses, according to a group representing the biggest British investors.Executives at listed businesses where pay awards remain high after receiving taxpayer-funded assistance risk “significant
  
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• Greggs to start reopening stores during lockdown

  27-04-2020 16:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Greggs to reopen 20 stores for takeaway and delivery next week as part of a trial
  // If successful, 700 stores will re-open with new operational measures in place from June 8
  // Greggs then intends to open all of its 2050 stores by July 1, when the government’s furlough support is due to endGreggs has become the latest high street chain to put forward plans to reopen its stores amid the coronavirus lockdown.
  It comes after retailers such as B&Q have reopened their doors to shoppers,
  
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• Debenhams takes advantage of unwanted, discounted stock

  27-04-2020 16:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Debenhams pursuing discounted, unwanted stock from suppliers in order to help fill gaps in its seasonal ranges
  // Follows a wave of retailers cancelling orders with suppliers amid the coronavirus crisis
  // Debenhams would not confirm if the discounted stock came from new partners or existing suppliersDebenhams has reportedly taken advantage of clothing stock unwanted by other retailers by snapping them up at discounted rates.
  According to Drapers, the retailer was pursuing discounted, unwante
  
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• UK economy not likely to recover for 3 years after COVID-19

  27-04-2020 15:21 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  The UK’s economy is not expected to return to normal until 2023 following the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.
  EY Item Club, a leading economic forecasting group, has warned that it is likely to take three years for the UK’s economy to return to the same size as the final quarter of 2019.
  According to its report, the huge drop in consumer spending and business investment will see the UK’s gross domestic product drop by 6.8 per cent this year.
  Unemployment is exp
  
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• M&S launches new campaign backing British farmers

  27-04-2020 14:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // M&S launches 6-week TV, digital & in-store campaign to encourage support for British farmers
  // New sales initiatives in place to support farmers including 100% British meat food box & new bedding plants
  // M&S to address challenges facing farmers due to hospitality lockdown – confirming commitment to Milk Pledge price promiseMarks & Spencer is set to launch a campaign that aims to champion the efforts of British farmers amidst the coronavirus pandemic and encourage
  
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• High-flying Alibaba executive demoted over personal scandal

  27-04-2020 14:15
  Weibo post by influencer Zhang Dayi sparked speculation over Tmall and Taobao president Jiang Fan
  
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• John Lewis reopens Lancashire factory to make NHS gowns

  27-04-2020 14:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis reopens Lancashire textiles factory to make gowns for NHS coronavirus frontline workers
  // It is also donating over 20,000 metres of fabric for scrubs from its haberdashery departments & distribution centres
  // John Lewis also donating 250 electrical items such as coffee machines & kettles for staff rooms & wellbeing areas at 25 hospitalsJohn Lewis has announced that it will reopen its Herbert Parkinson textiles factory in Lancashire to make protective gowns for the NHS
  
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• Directors “clamouring” for info on easing of lockdown measures

  27-04-2020 12:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Institute of Directors said a survey showed fewer than 1/4 were optimistic about prospects for the coming 12 months
  // IoD said the gov’t should publish, even in outline, the stages that the UK would go through to re-open the economyCompany directors are “clamouring ” for information about how the economy is going to be reopened, amid pessimism over their future prospects beyond the lockdown, according to a new report.
  The Institute of Directors (IoD) said a survey of mo
  
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• Atterley launches crowdfunding campaign after 200% sales growth

  27-04-2020 12:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Atterley presents new crowdfunding campaign
  // The online fashion retailer recorded sales growth of 200% amid Covid-19 chaosAtterley has launched a new campaign in a bid to start crowdfunding after recording a year-on-year sales growth of 200 per cent during the coronavirus lockdown.
  The online fashion retailer has over 2000 brands on its platform and is used by more than 250 independent boutiques worldwide.
  It launched the new crowdfunding campaign to raise £500,000 to support fur
  
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• UK supermarkets to add 300,000 more delivery slots but it will “still not be enough to meet demand”

  27-04-2020 11:22 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Supermarkets across the UK will add an extra 300,000 delivery slots in the coming weeks, but this will “still not be enough to meet demand”.
  Environment secretary George Eustice told reporters at a daily coronavirus briefing over the weekend that hundreds of thousands of new delivery slots across the UK’s largest supermarkets will be added in efforts to meet staggering demand.
  Delivery slots have already grown from 2.1 million at the beginning of the nationwide lockdown to 2.6
  
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• Debenhams warns Welsh stores may be forced to shut permanently

  27-04-2020 10:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Debenhams says its Welsh stores may be forced to shut permanently
  // It says the Wales finance minister has made it “unviable” to continue trading the majority of its Welsh businessDebenhams has reportedly warned that its Welsh stores may be forced to shut permanently unless the government reverses a decision on business rates relief.
  Chancellor Rishi Sunak has granted a rates holiday to all retail, leisure and hospitality firms for a year just as the coronavirus crisis escalated
  
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• John Lewis may never reopen some stores post lockdown

  27-04-2020 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis is considering an outside investor to finance a joint venture
  // Some department stores may never reopen after coronavirus lockdownJohn Lewis Partnership is reportedly considering an outside investor to help to finance and launch a joint venture that would reduce its reliance on retailing.
  It is also mulling the possibility of never reopening some of its less profitable department stores once the coronavirus lockdown is lifted.
  The group’s chairwoman Dame Sharon White is behi
  
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• Co-op costs expected to increase by £200m due to Covid-19

  27-04-2020 09:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Co-op expects to face a £200m bill due to Covid-19
  // CEO Steve Murrells said no part of business has been left unaffected by the pandemicThe Co-op has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is expected to increase its costs by more than £200 million.
  However, it expects the uplift to be partly offset by more food sales and the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s business rates holiday.
  Co-op chief executive Steve Murrells said each part of the business has been affected by the
  
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• Coronavirus: High streets to continue struggling next year, retailers warn

  27-04-2020 08:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // High streets will struggle if a new rule on business rates is allowed to pass through parliament unchanged
  // Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the tri-annual revaluation by HMRC officials, which took place in April 2019, may now be out of dateThe UK’s high streets are expected to continue struggling next year if a new rule on business rates is allowed to pass through parliament unchanged, retailers have warned.
  Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget includes plans for a £22 billion
  
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• Bosses appeal to the government for a lockdown exit plan

  27-04-2020 01:01
  
  Institute of Directors says its members are ‘clamouring’ for details so they can make plansCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe government must set out its lockdown exit plans to restore confidence among British businesses that have become increasingly bleak about the economy’s future, a leading employers’ group has warned.The Institute of Directors said its 28,000 members were “clamouring” for information so they could start d
  
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• Waitrose and John Lewis report surge in haircare sales

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Waitrose has reported a surge in sales of hair dye and haircare products since lockdown began in March. The supermarket saw sales of hair colour climb... View Article
  
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• UK businesses pessimistic about their future after lockdown

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  A new poll has shown that business leaders are pessimistic about the future of their firms well beyond the current lockdown period. The survey by the... View Article
  
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• Pret a Manger extends delivery service to Uber Eats and Just Eat

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Pret a Manger sandwich shop chain has extended its home delivery service to Uber Eats and Just Eat. The move follows the re-opening of ten... View Article
  
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• M&S launches campaign to support UK farmers

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S is supporting its network of 10,000 UK farmers through the launch of a new campaign. Lasting six weeks, the TV, social and in-store package aims... View Article
  
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• John Lewis to make protective gowns for the NHS

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  John Lewis is reopening its Lancashire textiles factory to enable it to make protective gowns for the NHS. Staff at the Herbert Parkinson factory usually sew... View Article
  
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• John Lewis and Waitrose launch soft toy competition for children

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  John Lewis and Waitrose have launched a soft toy design competition for children as they look to raise funds for the NHS. With children staying at... View Article
  
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• Co-op expects coronavirus crisis to cost business more than £200m

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Co-op has said that the coronavirus crisis is likely to increase its costs by more than £200than  million. However, it expects the uplift to be... View Article
  
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• Co-op expects coronavirus costs to come in at more than £200m

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Co-op has said that the coronavirus crisis is likely to increase its costs by more than £200 million. However, it expects the uplift to be... View Article
  
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• Boohoo appoints new non-executive director

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online fashion retailer Boohoo has appointed Kath Smith as an independent non-executive director. Due to take up her position on 1 May, Smith is currently a... View Article
  
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• 12 examples of brand marketing campaigns adapted to the Coronavirus

  27-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Life has changed rapidly over the past few months. We’ve gone from spending our days with colleagues, clients and, well, everyone, to considering the houseplant a... View Article
  
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