Retail news

• Monsoon Accessorize on the brink, putting 3,500 jobs at risk

  28-05-2020 20:15
  
  Report suggests fashion firm is ready to call in administrators as early as FridayCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMonsoon Accessorize is on the brink of calling in administrators, in a move that would put 3,500 retail jobs at risk.The fashion chain, which operates about 230 stores, is expected to file a notice of intention to appoint administrators – a legal process which gives the business 10 days’ protection from creditors – as early as Frida
  
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• Debenhams cuts more than 1,000 head office and service jobs

  28-05-2020 18:40
  
  British department store chain slims down with redundancies at headquarters and in outletsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDebenhams is cutting more than 1,000 jobs at its headquarters and in stores as it slims down its team in line with a swathe of store closures and new rules to control the spread of coronavirus.The redundancies in merchandising, buying, design and other administrative functions at head office, as well as in cafes and other services in stores t
  
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• Monsoon on brink of calling in administrators

  28-05-2020 18:22
  UK fashion chain struggles to find a buyer, leaving 3,500 jobs at risk
  
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• Debenhams cuts more than 1,000 jobs and will close 17 of its stores

  28-05-2020 17:55
  
  British department store chain slims down with redundancies at headquarters and in outletsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDebenhams is cutting more than 1,000 jobs at its headquarters and in stores as it slims down its team in line with a swathe of store closures and new rules to control the spread of coronavirus.The redundancies in merchandising, buying, design and other administrative functions at head office, as well as in cafes and other services in stores t
  
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• COMMENT: Retailers that innovate in omnichannel will succeed amid Covid-19

  28-05-2020 17:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  In today’s retail environment, the way many customers tend to shop has changed although their mindsets during decision-making have stayed the same.
  Before the Covid-19 pandemic, retailer strategic decisions included whether to integrate new channels into the existing mix; managing consumers across channels; and moving from a multichannel to an omnichannel environment.
  Given further digitalisation in retailing as well as the limits placed on traditional channels, retailers need to rethink h
  
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• 3500 jobs at risk with Monsoon Accessorize on brink of administration

  28-05-2020 17:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Monsoon Accessorize could fall into administration in the coming days
  // It has reportedly lined up FRP Advisory to file a notice of intention to appoint administrators
  // The move could place 3500 jobs at risk of redundancyMonsoon Accessorize is reportedly on the brink of falling into administration, which could place 3500 jobs at risk of redundancy.
  According to Sky News, the fashion retailer is readying FRP Advisory to file a notice of intention to appoint administrators in the coming days
  
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• Joules reveals phased store reopening plan

  28-05-2020 16:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Joules confirms plans to exit lockdown with phased store reopenings
  // Details on how many stores and the locations of those reopening have not yet been revealedJoules has said it will begin a phased reopening of its store network from June 15, the date for when lockdown measures will be lifted on non-essential retailers.
  While it has not yet released information regarding store opening numbers or locations, Joules outlined a range of safeguarding measures including social distancing and pers
  
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• Debenhams to cut hundreds of head office jobs amid reopening plans

  28-05-2020 15:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Debenhams unveils plans to reopen 90 stores from June 15, plus another 30 during summer
  // However, the reopening will be done with leaner head office staff, with “hundreds” of job cuts expected
  // Thousands of jobs have already been lost as Debenhams confirmed the permanent closure of 16 stores since administrationDebenhams is set to cut hundreds of head office jobs as it plans to reopen following lockdown, the department store has confirmed.
  The retailer, which is in administrat
  
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• Dollar stores emerge as winners from coronavirus crisis

  28-05-2020 15:40
  Sales jump at Dollar General and Family Dollar as thrifty shoppers safeguard budgets
  
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• Debenhams cuts 300 jobs but future of 11 stores remains in doubt

  28-05-2020 15:26
  
  Redundancies at headquarters reflect slimmed down British department store chain Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDebenhams is cutting more than 300 jobs at its headquarters as it slims down its back office team in line with a swathe of store closures.The redundancies in merchandising, buying, design and other administrative functions come after the British department store went into administration last month – the second time in a year. Continue reading...
  
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• Harrods to open Westfield outlet as part of reopening strategy

  28-05-2020 13:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Harrods to open Westfield London outlet store to shift excess seasonal stock unsold due to the coronavirus crisis
  // The new two-storey outlet store will open in July
  // Its Knightsbridge flagship will reopen on June 15 as per government guidelinesHarrods has unveiled its lockdown exit plans, which includes opening an outlet store in Westfield London to help shift excess seasonal stock unsold due to the coronavirus crisis.
  While the outlet store in the west London shopping centre will open in
  
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• Fashion retailer Boohoo buys out stake in Pretty Little Thing

  28-05-2020 13:26
  
  Online brand’s share price rebounds as it buys 34% stake owned by Umar KamaniBoohoo has bought out a minority stake in its Pretty Little Thing brand for more than £260m just days after criticism over a potential deal.The online fashion specialist said it was paying an initial £269.8m – potentially rising to £323.8m – for the 34% stake in Pretty Little thing owned by Umar Kamani, the son of Boohoo’s chairman and co-founder Mahmud Kamani, and business part
  
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• Alibaba is looking for 100,000 influencers to help brands sell their goods

  28-05-2020 12:32 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Alibaba is searching for over 100,000 influencers from across the globe to help brands sell their goods as it looks to replicate the success of TikTok and Instagram.
  AliExpress Connect, the groups recently launched platform dedicated to content influencer campaigns, is looking for hire 100,000 social media stars this year rising to 1 million by 2023.
  Influencers can connect with brands selling on AliExpress, the groups international retail platform, via a matchmaking service.
  To sign up, influen
  
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• Boohoo to buy remaining stake in PrettyLittleThing for up to £324m

  28-05-2020 11:54
  Subsidiary is at the centre of claims by UK hedge fund Shadowfall
  
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• Boohoo stitches up ownership of PrettyLittleThing for £324m

  28-05-2020 11:54
  Online fashion subsidiary at the heart of claims by UK hedge fund Shadowfall
  
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• Boots turns to tech as it prepares beauty counter reopenings

  28-05-2020 11:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boots preparing to reopen its No7 counter and branded beauty lines to the public
  // It said it is relying on digital innovation to launch its latest No. 7 productBoots has said it is preparing to reopen its No7 counter and branded beauty lines to the public following a lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The health and beauty retailer has laid out its plans to keep staff and shoppers safe when these sections reopen.
  It said it is relying on digital innovation to launch its latest No. 7 pro
  
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• UK regulator tells retailers to halt Covid-19 home antibody test deliveries

  28-05-2020 10:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // MHRA warns unvalidated samples using finger prick may lead to unreliable results
  // PHE has approved the testing kits for use by health professionals the NHS, but not for use at homeUK regulators have told retailers to halt the sale and deliveries of home testing kits for coronavirus antibodies as doubts persist over their accuracy.
  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said labs must stop processing the blood samples derived from finger prick tests while it examines
  
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• UK regulator tells retailers to halt Covid-19 antibody test deliveries

  28-05-2020 10:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // MHRA warns unvalidated samples using finger prick may lead to unreliable results
  // PHE has approved the testing kits for use by health professionals the NHS, but not for use at homeUK regulators have told retailers to halt the sale and deliveries of home testing kits for coronavirus antibodies as doubts persist over their accuracy.
  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said labs must stop processing the blood samples derived from finger prick tests while it examines
  
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• Boohoo acquires 34% stake to wholly own PrettyLittleThing

  28-05-2020 10:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boohoo acquires remaining 34% stake in PrettyLittleThing
  // The acquisition will be made for an initial consideration of £269.8mBoohoo has acquired the minority 34 per cent stake to own PrettyLittleThing in its entirety after defending its ownership of the brand against a recent short-seller attack.
  The online fashion retailer said the acquisition, which will be made for an initial consideration of £269.8 million, will drive further growth.
  Boohoo added that it would retain a stro
  
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• Mike Ashley fails to prompt inquiry into Debenhams’ finances

  28-05-2020 09:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Frasers Group boss Mike Ashley fails in court to trigger investigation into Debenhams’ finances
  // Ashley’s Frasers Group owns nearly a third of Debenhams’ sharesMike Ashley has become unsuccessful in his bid to prompt an investigation into the financial affairs of struggling department store chain Debenhams.
  Ashley’s Frasers Group, which owns nearly a third of Debenhams’ shares, had its lawyers request a judge to appoint a “provisional liquidator”.
  H
  
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• Costcutter sales reach £426m in “outstanding year”

  28-05-2020 08:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Costcutter profits increased by over £9m in 52 weeks to December 31
  // The convenience retailer has over 1500 stores across the UKCostcutter has seen its profits rise in what the convenience retailer described as “one of its best-ever years”.
  EBITDA increased by over £9 million in the 52 weeks to December 31, to finish at £5.1 million for the financial year.
  Costcutter, which has over 1500 independent stores across the UK, said the growth was thanks to a surge in
  
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• McColl’s welcomes restaurant veteran Giles David as finance boss

  28-05-2020 08:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // McColl’s hires new chief financial officer
  // Giles David joins from Casual Dining Group, which recently fell into administrationMcColl’s has appointed Giles David to its executive and non-executive board as chief financial officer.
  David joins the convenience retailer from Casual Dining Group, where he has led the financial division since 2017.
  He replaces Robbie Bell, who is leaving the company for a similar role at Holland & Barrett having joined the convenience store chain
  
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• Businesses get creative to battle Covid-19 drop-off

  28-05-2020 06:01
  
  Switching from bulk service sector to retail is a steep learning curve for many companies
  
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• McColl’s appoints chief financial officer

  28-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Convenience retailer McColl’s has appointed Giles David as its new chief financial officer. Due to join the business on 1 June, David previously held the same... View Article
  
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• Macknade launches fish butchery

  28-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Macknade, the Kent based Anglo-Italian food hall, has launched a new fish butchery. The company has become the first retailer to team up with the Pesky... View Article
  
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• Halfords to reopen further 53 stores

  28-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Cycling and car parts retailer Halfords is to reopen 53 of its stores following successful trials at its Peterborough and Bristol Cribbs Causeway shops. The stores... View Article
  
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• Dobbies to reopen 12 Scottish garden centres

  28-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Dobbies Garden Centre chain is to reopen 12 stores in Scotland on 29 May. The news follows updated guidance from the Scottish Government that allows... View Article
  
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• Central England Co-op launches new call and collect service

  28-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Central England Co-op has launched a new call and collect service as it looks to support members who need help with their shopping. Introduced as further measure... View Article
  
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• Boots uses lockdown learnings to keep customers and staff safe

  28-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Boots has said it wants to reassure customers and staff that it will continue to provide a safe shopping experience as Covid-19 lockdown restrictions begin to... View Article
  
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• Boohoo acquires remaining stake in Pretty Little Thing

  28-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Boohoo online fashion group has acquired the remaining 34% stake in Pretty Little Thing that it does not already own for £269.8 million. However, this... View Article
  
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