Retail news

• Amazon websites added to US’s ‘notorious markets’ list

  29-04-2020 22:29
  Ecommerce group calls move regarding foreign-listed domains a ‘political act’
  
  Read more

• Some John Lewis stores may not reopen after lockdown, admits boss

  29-04-2020 21:17
  
  Sharon White says she is looking at offering new services to offset likely drop in footfallThe new chairman of John Lewis has refused to rule out the permanent closure of some department stores when the government’s high street lockdown ends.Sharon White, who took over in February and immediately warned of potential store closures and job cuts at the group which also owns Waitrose, said she could not confirm any plans until it was clear when department stores would be allowed to reopen und
  
  Read more

• John Lewis’s new chair reverses changes to executive roles

  29-04-2020 17:52
  Sharon White restores divisional management structure at Waitrose and department stores
  
  Read more

• Big Interview: Natalie Brewster, Global Creative Operations Director, The Body Shop

  29-04-2020 17:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  “Anita Roddick started an incredible brand ahead of its time 44 years ago. The amazing thing is the heritage that we’ve got and all of the things that we stand for now, and all of the things that we’ve redefined through our rejuvenation couldn’t be any more relevant.”
  As part of her role as global creative operations director at The Body Shop, Natalie Brewster oversees campaigns, whereby she and her team define the “verbal and visual stance” of each one
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Shops & garden centres may continue click-and-collect, govt confirms

  29-04-2020 17:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Non-essential retailers’ click-and-collect services can continue to operate during the pandemic, the government has confirmed
  // However, customers must not enter the stores to collect the services
  // Comes after questions were asked to Downing Street about garden centres offering click-and-collectNon-essential retailers’ click-and-collect services can continue to operate as long as customers do not enter stores to collect purchases, the UK Government has confirmed.
  The clarificat
  
  Read more

• Dixons Carphone plans drive-through and contactless shops

  29-04-2020 16:12
  
  Retailer views Nordic outlets, which remain open, as model for UK stores post-lockdown Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDixons Carphone is developing drive-through stores and zero-contact shops, as well as livestreaming its sales assistants, as it battles to continue trading during the Covid-19 pandemic.Shares in the retail group, which owns the Currys, PC World and Carphone Warehouse chains, rose by 16% on Wednesday after it reported a sales decline of just 3% i
  
  Read more

• JD.com eyes $3bn Hong Kong listing

  29-04-2020 15:10
  Ecommerce group pursues secondary listing as chairman steps back from subsidiaries
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation creates £1.7m fund

  29-04-2020 15:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // TK Maxx and Homesense create a £1.7 million programme amid the Covid-19 outbreak
  // The programme includes donations to local grass roots charities & the British Red Cross Disaster Relief AllianceIn line with many other retailers, the TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation has created a £1.7 million programme in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
  The foundation will be providing a special Community Fund of £1 million, dedicated to the funding of local grass roots charities
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Coronavirus: TK Maxx & Homesense Foundation creates £1.7m fund

  29-04-2020 15:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // TK Maxx & Homesense create a £1.7m programme amid the Covid-19 pandemic
  // Programme includes donations to local grassroots charities & the British Red Cross Disaster Relief AllianceIn line with many other retailers, the TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation has created a £1.7 million programme in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
  The fund includes a special Community Fund of £1 million, dedicated to the funding of local grassroots charities which are mobilising in th
  
  Read more

• Missguided launches “Heroes” t-shirt with 100% profits going to NHS charities

  29-04-2020 14:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Missguided launches “Heroes” t-shirts to thank keys workers keeping the nation safe
  // 100% of the profits will go towards NHS charities in support of the fight against Covid-19To thank the nations key workers working on the front line against coronavirus, Missguided has launched a limited-edition “Heroes” t-shirt with all of the profits going towards support NHS charities.
  The unisex t-shirt, retailing for £15 features applauding hands, referencing the countries
  
  Read more

• Dixons Carphone ready to reopen next week

  29-04-2020 14:27
  Ecommerce recoups two-thirds of lost store sales in UK
  
  Read more

• BRC appoints Tony DeNunzio as new chairman, replacing Richard Pennycook

  29-04-2020 13:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // British Retail Consortium appoints Tony DeNunzio as new chairman
  // He succeeds Richard Pennycook, whose tenure comes to an end on May 20The BRC has announced the appointment of Tony DeNunzio as its new chairman.
  He will succeed Richard Pennycook whose tenure comes to an end on May 20.
  DeNunzio has over 25 years of experience in the retail industry both in the UK and internationally, covering the food, fashion, department store, DIY and speciality retail sectors.
  He is a former president and
  
  Read more

• Next warns coronavirus recovery will be slower than expected

  29-04-2020 13:29
  Sales of full-price clothing in shops drops by more than half in first quarter
  
  Read more

• Shopify launches its own shopping app allowing users to browse local businesses

  29-04-2020 13:10 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Shopify has launched its own consumer shopping app allowing users to browse goods from local independent businesses.
  Shop is a new shopping platform from Shopify, which provides the foundation for over 1 million ecommerce websites across the world, now available to download on iOS and Android.
  According to Tech Crunch Shop is essentially an updated version of Shopify’s Arrive app, which allows customers to track packages from Shopify sellers, which has reportedly been used by 16
  
  Read more

• Aldi provides face masks for all shop floor staff

  29-04-2020 12:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Aldi says it will provide all shop floor staff with face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic
  // This is in addition to the provision of gloves & clear screens at more than 7000 checkoutsAldi has announced that it will provide all of its UK shop floor staff with a face mask to further support their safety amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
  The face masks come after the German discount grocer recently announced the provision of gloves and clear screens that are being installed at more than 700
  
  Read more

• The future of fashion — focus on sustainability

  29-04-2020 12:49
  In the first of a new series, we look at how the crisis will revolutionise brands, fashion weeks and personal style
  
  Read more

• Light after the lockdown — the future of fashion

  29-04-2020 12:49
  In the first of a new series, we look at how the crisis will revolutionise brands, fashion weeks and personal style
  
  Read more

• Homebase re-opens 50 extra stores, with plans to reopen all this weekend

  29-04-2020 12:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Homebase reopens an additional 50 stores after a successful trial phase
  // It initially reopened 20 stores after shutting them in March due to the coronavirus lockdown
  // It will re-open all other stores from Saturday, May 2Homebase has reopened an additional 50 stores following a successful trial phase that saw it open 20 stores after a few weeks of trading online only.
  The home and DIY retailer said it also plans to reopen the rest of its store estate for “customers to browse and shop
  
  Read more

• 58% Brits pledge to be “nicer” to retail workers after Covid-19

  29-04-2020 12:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // 72% Brits prefer store staff to robots
  // 58% say they will show more gratitude towards retail workers following Covid-19New research has found that 72 per cent of Brits said they would reconsider shopping in store if there were no retail staff available.
  The figure rises to 83 per cent of those aged 55 and above, jobs site Retail Choice found.
  The research also found that 62 per cent of retail workers are confident that they will not be replaced by a robot, while 44 per cent feel that their
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: Adidas warns of 40% drop in Q2 sales

  29-04-2020 11:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Adidas warns on heavy Covid-19 impact on business in second quarter
  // The retailer expects a 40% drop in salesAdidas has warned that its second quarter sales and profits will be heavily impacted by the coronavirus lockdowns, after its first-quarter earnings were almost wiped out.
  It expects a possible 40 per cent fall in second-quarter sales and a drop in second-quarter operating profit that could run into the hundreds of millions of euros.
  The sportswear giant has already lost more than &eu
  
  Read more

• COVID-19 obliterates hopes of improved retail health for the foreseeable future, the KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank says

  29-04-2020 11:16
  
  28 April 2020The Retail Health Index fell by 3 points to 71 in the first quarter of 2020, a new record lowHealth is predicted to deteriorate further and even more sharply in the second quarter of 2020 – by 9 points to 62 – although this is highly dependent on the length and form of the UK’s lockdown measures
  There was little doubt that retail health was in a far worse position than that experienced in the shadows of the 2008/09 financial crisis.
   
  Following its latest heal
  
  Read more

• Amazon expected to post 25% boost in revenues as it’s accused of potentially violating safety laws

  29-04-2020 10:57 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon’s labour practices “may violate several provisions” of official health and safety laws according to New York’s attorney general Lititia James.
  The online giant has come under further criticism from authorities over its safety practices during the pandemic, while it prepares to announce record earnings later this week.
  Following weeks of staff protests, numerous controversial sackings and a call from New York mayor Bill De Blasio to launch a human rights investigati
  
  Read more

• Next warns hit from coronavirus worse than expected

  29-04-2020 10:53
  Sales of full-price clothing in shops drops by more than half in first quarter
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus wipes 41% off Next’s quarterly sales

  29-04-2020 10:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Next says impact of coronavirus lockdown on trading has been “faster & steeper” than expected
  // It warned sales will remain under pressure throughout 2020
  // Total sales plunged 41% in first quarter, with in-store sales diving 52% & online sales down 32%Next has said the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on trading has been “faster and steeper” than expected and warned that sales will remain under pressure throughout 2020.
  The fashion retailer – which r
  
  Read more

• Lockdown drives Dixons Carphone online sales by 166%

  29-04-2020 09:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Dixons Carphone’s online sales offsets loss made from closed stores due to Covid-19 lockdown
  // The electricals retailer cancelled its full-year dividend for shareholders
  // Online channels saw a colossal 166% sales growthDixons Carphone has said its online sales in the UK and Ireland have recovered around two-thirds of sales lost to store closures due to the coronavirus lockdown.
  The electricals retailer cancelled its full-year dividend for shareholders and has released a trading updat
  
  Read more

• Next warns sales will fall 'faster and steeper' than expected in pandemic

  29-04-2020 09:49
  
  Retailer cancels dividend and share buyback scheme ahead of projected 40% slump this year Next is cancelling its dividend and share buyback programme to save £480m as it warned sales would fall “faster and steeper” than previously feared during the coronavirus crisis.The fashion and homewares retailer warned it could suffer losses of £150m – from a profit of almost £600m last year – as full price sales collapse by up to 40%. The prediction is a significa
  
  Read more

• Shop prices drop at steepest rate since 2017 as Covid-19 hits retail

  29-04-2020 09:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Shop prices dropped at their steepest rate in over 3 years due to Covid-19 impact
  // Shop prices in the UK fell by 1.7% in April, compared with the 0.8% recorded in MarchUK shop prices in April have dropped at their steepest rate in over three years as retailers struggled with the impact of Covid-19.
  Shop prices fell by 1.7 per cent in April, compared with the 0.8 per cent recorded in March, making it the steepest rate of decline in shop prices since January 2017, the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price I
  
  Read more

• Waitrose hires former Sainsbury’s exec as new boss

  29-04-2020 08:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Waitrose hires Sainsbury’s exec James Bailey as managing director
  // He will join office on Wednesday, replacing Rob CollinsWaitrose has reportedly appointed former Sainsbury’s executive James Bailey as new managing director in a bid to bolster and drive the grocer through the Covid-19 crisis.
  The appointment was approved by the chairwoman of John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon White, Sky News reported.
  Bailey will join office on Wednesday and will replace Rob Collins, who st
  
  Read more

• Shoe Zone donates £20k to National Emergency Trust

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Footwear retailer Shoe Zone has donated £20,000 to the National Emergency Trust Coronavirus Appeal and is also making it easy for customers to make donations. The... View Article
  
  Read more

• Retail Lens – the insider track on the Retail Industry

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Our friends at RedEye are inviting retail marketers to sign up to become a member of their Retail Lens portal. The Retail Lens is a digital... View Article
  
  Read more

• Online grocery market set to grow by 33% in 2020

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  A new study has predicted that the online grocery market will grow by 33% in 2020 to reach £16.8 billion. The research by Mintel has also led... View Article
  
  Read more

• John Lewis Partnership appoints James Bailey to head up Waitrose

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The John Lewis Partnership has appointed James Bailey as its new executive director for Waitrose. Previously grocery buying director at Sainsbury’s, he has taken up his... View Article
  
  Read more

• Introducing the RedEye Retail Lens – the insider track on the Retail Industry

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Our friends at RedEye are inviting retail marketers to sign up to become a member of their Retail Lens portal. The Retail Lens is a digital... View Article
  
  Read more

• Homebase re-opens 50 further stores

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Homebase has re-opened a further 50 stores today following a successful trial of 20 shop re-openings earlier this week. Despite being classifed as an essential retailer... View Article
  
  Read more

• Dixons Carphone’s online sales uplift partially offsets lost store sales

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Dixons Carphone saw its electrical like-for-like sales climb by 10% in the 11 weeks to 21 March in the UK and Ireland, but sales declined by... View Article
  
  Read more

• An Update on Aptos’ Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19): Aptos CEO and Culture Leader Noel Goggin

  29-04-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The health, safety and success of our customers, partners and colleagues is a priority for Aptos. In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, we would like to... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!