Retail news

• Reopened retailers will face fight for survival, executive warns

  26-05-2020 21:35
  
  Fears physical distancing and reluctant shoppers mean many UK stores will not bounce back Coronavirus – latest updatesNo changing rooms: what to expect when non-essential UK shops reopen Many retailers given the go-ahead to reopen next month will face a “fight for survival” in the coming months, as they try to restore their fortunes with tough new physical distancing and health and safety requirements, a senior retail executive has warned.Clothes shops, toy stores, electronics
  
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• No changing rooms: what to expect when non-essential UK shops reopen

  26-05-2020 21:12
  
  Stores to follow example of supermarket and DIY chains when some open again in JuneCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageClosed changing rooms, oneway systems on the floor and restrictions on touching merchandise will greet shoppers when non-essential retailers reopen some stores next month.Stores are following the example of supermarkets, DIY chains and furniture retailers which have been limiting the number of shoppers with queue systems as well as installing perspe
  
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• No changing rooms: what to expect when non-essential shops reopen

  26-05-2020 21:12
  
  Stores to follow example of supermarket and DIY chains when some reopen in England in JuneCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageClosed changing rooms, one-way systems on the shop floor and restrictions on touching merchandise will greet shoppers when non-essential retailers reopen some stores next month.Stores are following the example of supermarkets, DIY chains and furniture retailers which have been limiting the number of shoppers with queue systems as well as inst
  
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• Reopening of shops will not end England’s woes

  26-05-2020 20:30
  Executives warn that sector will struggle to recover as return of shoppers announced
  
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• Reopening of shops in England will not end our woes, warn retailers

  26-05-2020 20:30
  Executives say that sector will struggle to recover as return of shoppers announced
  
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• Reopening the UK high street will not guarantee a rebound

  26-05-2020 19:52
  
  Recovery will depend on consumers’ personal finances and whether they feel safeDuring the coronavirus outbreak, deserted high streets across Britain have been one of the most potent reminders of the economic damage being inflicted by the health emergency.Retail accounts for about a third of consumer spending in Britain. With much of the high street closed and the economy slumping into the worst recession since 1706, Boris Johnson’s plan to reopen non-essential shops from 15 June is k
  
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• Reopening the high street will not guarantee a rebound

  26-05-2020 19:52
  
  Recovery will depend on consumers’ personal finances and whether they feel safeDuring the coronavirus outbreak, deserted high streets across Britain have been one of the most potent reminders of the economic damage being inflicted by the health emergency.Retail accounts for about a third of consumer spending in Britain. With much of the high street closed and the economy slumping into the worst recession since 1706, Boris Johnson’s plan to reopen non-essential shops from 15 June is k
  
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• Market Snapshot: South Korea

  26-05-2020 17:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The South Korean retail industry is one of the largest markets in Asia. Hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores and online retailing have rapidly grown over the years, and in terms of its economic size, South Korea ranks fourth in Asia and 12th worldwide, according to investment firm CBRE.
  South Korea’s retail market is saturated with domestic players, mainly conglomerates such as Lotte, Hyundai, Shinsegae, GS, CJ, and E-land, which own multiple retail channels. These firms are know
  
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• John Lewis prepares for phased re-opening from mid-June

  26-05-2020 17:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis preparing for a phased reopening after the government said non-essential shops could open again from June 15
  // It did not confirm when all the John Lewis stores would reopen
  // Preparations have been “informed” by social distancing measures at stablemate WaitroseJohn Lewis Partnership has said it is preparing for a phased reopening of its department stores after the UK Government said non-essential shops can reopen from June 15.
  The company did not confirm an exact ope
  
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• Greggs eyes target of 800 stores to reopen in mid-June

  26-05-2020 16:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Greggs hopes to reopen around 800 of its stores in the middle of June, when lockdown lifts for non-essential retailers
  // It was initially meant to ramp up its re-opening phase this month but ditched it after it customers expressed coronavirus fearsHigh street bakery chain Greggs hopes to reopen around 800 of its stores in the middle of June.
  The news comes a few weeks after it took u-turn on an initial decision to ramp up the re-opening stores this month over fears it could lead to large cro
  
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• Lockdown gives Cox & Cox a 64% sales boost

  26-05-2020 16:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Cox & Cox enjoys 64% increase in quarterly sales thanks to lockdown
  // Outdoor furniture sales up 170%, indoor furniture sales up 55%Cox & Cox has reported a 64 per cent year-on-year surge in sales in its first quarter after the coronavirus lockdown prompted a shift in customers shopping online.
  The furniture and homewares retailer also saw a 79 per cent increase in sales for the season to date.
  Since mid-March, around the time when the government ordered a nationwide lockdown, sales
  
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• Macy’s pledges stores as collateral in $1.1bn bond deal

  26-05-2020 16:11
  Latest sign that companies are turning to assets to raise much-needed cash
  
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• Retail sales bounce back in May but sector still “deeply depressed”

  26-05-2020 16:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Retail sales bounced back from April’s record lows but still remained “deeply depressed”, according to the CBI
  // CBI’s measure of retail sales volume picked up from -55% in April to -50% in May
  // 80% of retailers reported having difficulty with cashflow, although this was better than 96% in AprilRetail sales bounced back from April’s record lows but still remained “deeply depressed” over the last 12 months as four in five retailers say they are faci
  
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• Footfall spikes by a third over bank holiday weekend

  26-05-2020 14:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // High streets reported an increase in footfall of 49% on bank holiday Monday compared to Easter Monday
  // Footfall in retail parks increased by 42% on Saturday compared with Easter Saturday
  // Overall, bank holiday weekend footfall increased by one third compared to the Easter long weekendFootfall across the UK over the late May bank holiday weekend was a third higher than the same trading days over the Easter weekend last month, suggesting significant pent up demand among consumers.
  According
  
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• Kick Game secures £2.5m funding amid online sales boom

  26-05-2020 13:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Kick Game secures £2.5m cash injection from investor VGC Partners.
  // It enjoyed soaring online sales during the pandemic as its flagship store in Kensington remains closedKick Game has secured £2.5 million in funding to accelerate growth as shoppers move online in the face of high street store closures.
  The London-based luxury trainers retailer said it was still bullish about its growth plans despite the coronavirus pandemic after receiving the cash injection from investor VGC Pa
  
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• Lidl to test click & collect service amid ecommerce push

  26-05-2020 13:20 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Lidl is testing a new click & collect initiative as it continues its slow but steady push into online retail.
  The German discounter and its sister company Kaufland are trialling a new click & collect system at a select number of stores in Poland.
  Customers can order their items online to be picked by Lidl staff, and pay for items upon a collection time of their choice.
  Lidl has also begun introducing its own payment system Lidl Pay at some stores in Poland.
  Like the UK, until now Lidl on
  
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• Topshop mystery boxes sold to help factory workers left unemployed amid Covid19

  26-05-2020 11:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Mallzee launch mystery clothing boxes with profits going to Bangladeshi garment workers unemployed due to Covid19
  // Lost Boxes include garments from Topshop, New Look & GapStart-up fashion app Mallzee teams up with the Sajida Foundation to launch Lost Stock, a mystery clothing box service to help Bangladeshi factory workers.
  In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, billions of pounds worth of stock orders were cancelled by retailers, leaving tonnes of new garments unable to be sold and B
  
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• Aldi introduces “automated traffic light system” nationwide as it prepares for long-term social distancing measures

  26-05-2020 11:09 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Aldi is launching a new “automated traffic light system” across its entire UK store estate to limit the number of shoppers allowed instore at any one time.
  Following a successful trial of the technology, Aldi will roll the system out nationwide starting this week as it becomes the latest retailer to prepare to implement social distancing long after lockdown is lifted.
  Each individual store will have a specific number of customers it can allow in the store at any one time to enable tw
  
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• Burberry senior executive to step down

  26-05-2020 10:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Burberry’s senior independent director Jeremy Darroch is set to resign
  // Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive, will assume Darroch’s role from July 15Burberry independent non-executive director and senior independent director Jeremy Darroch is to step down due to other executive commitments.
  Darroch has been the chief executive at Sky since December 2007.
  He will not stand for re-election in July at Burberry’s annual general meeting.
  READ MORE: Burberry cancels dividend as s
  
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• Burberry Group senior executive to step down

  26-05-2020 10:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Burberry Group’s senior independent director Jeremy Darroch is set to resign
  // Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive will assume Darroch’s role from July 15Burberry Group independent non-executive director and senior independent director Jeremy Darroch is to step down due to other executive commitments.
  Darroch has been the chief executive at the British broadcaster and telecommunications company Sky since December 2007.
  He will not stand for re-election in July at the company&rsqu
  
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• Marks & Spencer boss Steve Rowe slashes his bonuses

  26-05-2020 10:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // M&S boss Steve Rowe slashes bonuses
  // Rowe could still receive a long-term performance-related bonusMarks & Spencer chief executive Steve Rowe has reportedly slashed his bonuses after ditching dividends worth £470 million.
  Rowe defied calls to give up his full £810,000 salary plus bonuses, which paid out a total of £1.6million last year, This is Money reported.
  However, this week M&S said he would not take annual bonuses for 2019/20 or 2020/21.READ MORE:M&a
  
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• Store reopenings place ScS in strong position to survive Covid-19

  26-05-2020 09:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // ScS said it is “well-positioned” to survive the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to store reopenings
  // The furniture retailer reopened 80 stores in England as of May 23ScS has said its store reopenings and distribution network for deliveries have put it in a good position to survive the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
  The furniture retailer said on Tuesday that as of May 23, it had reopened 80 of its stores in England and had also begun making deliveries to customers in the country afte
  
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• Moss Bros deal salvaged as Crew Clothing owner does u-turn

  26-05-2020 09:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Crew Clothing owner Brigadier Acquisition Company to complete Moss Bros takeover deal
  // The transaction is expected to be confirmed by the Takeover Panel in a statement on TuesdayCrew Clothing owner Brigadier Acquisition Company has reportedly abandoned an attempt to scrap its £22 million Moss Bros takeover deal.
  The company has decided to complete the deal just three days after vowing to appeal against the City mergers watchdog’s verdict that it should do so, Sky News repor
  
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• Poundland reveals list of further 26 stores to reopen this week

  26-05-2020 09:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Poundland to reopen a further 26 stores this week
  // The retailer had reopened 51 stores last weekPoundland has announced it will reopen another 26 stores which have been closed since the government-mandated lockdown.
  The discount retailer said trade will resume in the stores again this week after 51 shops reopened last week.
  Around 100 stores were temporarily shut in March, despite the retailer keeping most of its stores open for essential shopping.READ MORE:Poundland reveals 36 stores due t
  
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• Non-essential retailers to reopen from June 15, government says

  26-05-2020 08:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boris Johnson said non-essential retailers can reopen in England from June 15
  // The stores will have to lay out social distancing measures as part of reopeningNon-essential retailers will be able to reopen stores in England from June 15 as long as social distancing measures are implemented, the government announced.
  Boris Johnson said on Monday that open air markets and car showrooms would be allowed to open from June 1, and that all other non-essential retailers could open from June 15
  
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• Will lockdown permanently change the way we shop?

  26-05-2020 06:00
  Clicking a few buttons and seeing items appear on your doorstep quickly becomes a hard habit to break
  
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• Webinar – Reopening Plans: Retail Trends Around the World

  26-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wed, May 27, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM BST As retailers and property owners navigate store closures, re-openings, and keeping employees and customers safe, these... View Article
  
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• ScS re-opens 80 stores in England

  26-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  ScS has re-opened 80 of its stores in England after introducing new Covid-19 health and safety measures to protect customers and staff. The furniture retailer’s distribution... View Article
  
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• Government unveils timetable for non-essential retail business re-openings in June

  26-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The government has set out a timetable for non-essential retail businesses to re-open in June as long as they can keep staff and customers safe. In... View Article
  
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• Gen Z POV: In-the-Trenches Insights From Retail’s Next-Gen Workforce

  26-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Guest post from Elizabeth Lee, Logile: Picture this. It’s 2015 and you open the door to your early 2000s sedan. You start the ignition and drive... View Article
  
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• Experian: UK Retail Sales Alert – May 2020 Release

  26-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Guest Post – Michella Cha – Head of Sales – Market Intelligence at Experian: Today’s figures published by the Office for National Statistics showed that retail... View Article
  
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• Cox & Cox reports strong first quarter and lockdown trading

  26-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online homewares retailer Cox & Cox has increased its sales by 64% year-on year in its first quarter and by 79% in the season to date. Furthermore,... View Article
  
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• Aldi implements traffic light system for store access

  26-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi is introducing a new automated traffic light system at the entrance to its stores to help control the number of customers going in and out during... View Article
  
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