Retail news

• Struggling Ted Baker seeks respite with share offering

  29-05-2020 22:49
  UK retailer acts after poor trading last year and impact of coronavirus
  
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• Get in line: British shoppers set for lengthy waits as high streets reopen

  29-05-2020 19:27
  Consumers urged to stay calm and carry on spending as lockdown eases
  
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• Debenhams CEO Stefaan Vansteenkiste steps aside for consulting role

  29-05-2020 17:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Debenhams CEO Stefaan Vansteenkiste steps down from position but will continue working for the retailer
  // Now that Debenhams stores can reopen, he is making the long trailed transition from CEO back to consultant
  // Vansteenkiste was first appointed CEO last August on an interim basisDebenhams chief executive Stefaan Vansteenkiste has stepped down from his position but will continue to work for the department store chain as a consultant.
  Retail Gazette understands that Vansteenkiste is in th
  
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• The top 5 retailers we miss the most

  29-05-2020 17:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Woolworths
  It will come as no surprise that Woolworths tops the list for being one of the most missed retailers in the UK of all time.
  Well known for selling almost anything as well as being the UK’s largest buyer of pick ‘n’ mix sweets, Woolworths was once a firm high street staple.Back in 2018, Which? voted the retailer as the most missed shop from the 1990s.
  When the chain officially dissolved in October 2015, it left both shoppers and the market shocked.
  One member cited &l
  
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• The Entertainer reveals plans for re-opening

  29-05-2020 16:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Entertainer to reopen 173 of its stores with new “ready in 10” fast track service
  // Stores will reopen June 15 as per government’s guidanceThe Entertainer is set to reopen 173 of its stores on June 15 as per the government’s guidelines on lockdown restrictions being eased on non-essential retailers.
  The toy retailer, which has been trading online only since late March, said its re-opened stores would have social distancing measures in place, including a new &ldquo
  
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• Dobbies reopens 12 Scottish stores

  29-05-2020 16:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Dobbies reopens 12 Scottish stores today
  // Follows updated guidance from Scottish Gov that garden centres may open during lockdownDobbies has re-opened 12 of its garden centres on Scotland today following updated guidance from the Scottish Government that garden centres may open during the lockdown.
  The news comes after Dobbies first started to reopen its stores across England earlier this month, before stores in Wales and Northern Ireland also re-opened.
  The gardening retailer said the safe
  
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• UK lockdown rules: what you are allowed to do from Monday

  29-05-2020 15:11
  
  Varying rules for meeting outside will apply in England, Wales and Scotland Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe prime minister announced on Thursday that groups of up to six people could meet outdoors in England from Monday, permitting what he described as “a long-awaited and joyful moment” as family and friends reunite after 10 weeks in lockdown. He set out the next stage in the easing of restrictions with a caveat that “there may still be som
  
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• UK lockdown rules: what are the key changes?

  29-05-2020 14:54
  
  From 1 June, varying rules for meeting outside will apply in England, Wales and Scotland Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe prime minister announced on Thursday that groups of up to six people could meet outdoors in England from Monday, permitting what he described as “a long-awaited and joyful moment” as family and friends reunite after 10 weeks in lockdown. He set out the next stage in the easing of restrictions with a caveat that “there may
  
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• Chancellor to outline changes to furlough scheme

  29-05-2020 14:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Chancellor Rishi Sunak set to outline details of how much employers must contribute to furlough scheme for their staff
  // The scheme was previously extended until the end of October, but the govt said it would only pay the 80% until JulyChancellor Rishi Sunak is set to tell employers they must contribute to their furloughed workers’ salaries from August as the government admitted the scheme cannot run “indefinitely”.
  Sunak will use the daily Downing Street press conference t
  
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• Frasers Group to reopen House of Fraser after Sports Direct & Jack Wills

  29-05-2020 13:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Frasers Group says Sports Direct, Flannels and Jack Wills to reopen on June 15
  // House of Fraser stores will reopen later in the week, depending on guidance advice
  // Frasers Group has already reopened 233 European stores over the last few weeksFrasers Group has said it will reopen its Sports Direct, Flannels and Jack Wills stores in England from June 15 but its House of Fraser stores won’t reopen until a few days later.
  The Mike Ashley-owned company said the stores reopening will be d
  
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• Zalando to make sustainability assessment mandatory for all sellers in landmark move

  29-05-2020 11:47 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Zalando is set to make sustainability assessments mandatory for brands selling on its platform in a bold new initiative aimed at accelerating sustainability in the fashion industry.
  In partnership with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and technology company Higg, Zalando is launching this new initiative to “raise the bar, act first and bring our partners on the journey to address today’s most important issues: climate change, use of resources and worker rights.”
  It will
  
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• McArthurGlen waives rents for tenants to alleviate Covid-19 stress

  29-05-2020 11:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Designer outlet group McArthurGlen introduces rent relief package to support its brand partners
  // It is waiving all minimum base rent, turnover-based rent and marketing charges for tenantsMcArthurGlen group has launched a rent relief package to support its brand partners until the end of the year.
  The designer outlet group is waiving all minimum base rent, turnover-based rent and marketing charges for tenants in all of its centres closed from April 1 to June 30.
  Once a centre reopens, the gr
  
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• Abercrombie & Fitch posts steep quarterly losses as stores stay closed

  29-05-2020 11:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Abercrombie and Fitch’s shares have dropped 10% as stores remain closed amid Covid-19
  // The retailer will not be providing a detailed forecast for the second quarter or the full yearAbercrombie & Fitch Co reported a steeper-than-expected quarterly loss on Thursday, hurt by plunging demand as the majority of its stores were forced to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, sending the retailer’s shares down as much as 10 per cent.
  The temporary closures of its newly remodelled st
  
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• Ted Baker recalls furloughed staff as it prepares reopenings

  29-05-2020 10:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Ted Baker preparing for reopening of stores from mid-June
  // It has recalled all furloughed staff to begin operationsTed Baker is reportedly preparing for a gradual reopening of its stores from mid-June as it recalls furloughed staff based on the needs of its operations.
  The fashion retailer shut its doors to the public in late March when the lockdown was implemented, and it furloughed 75 per cent of staff.
  The UK government said earlier this week that outdoor markets and car showrooms in Eng
  
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• Matalan close to securing £50m funding from stakeholders

  29-05-2020 10:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Matalan is one step closer to securing £50m funding to help manage effects of Covid-19
  // Of that funding, £25m is to come from bondholders while the other £25m will come from a government schemeMatalan has said it is one step closer to securing £50 million in additional funding from existing stakeholders to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the business.
  The funding is split between £25 million from Matalan’s existing bondholders via a newly issued n
  
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• B&M buoyed by DIY sales boom in UK coronavirus lockdown

  29-05-2020 10:01
  
  Retailer reports 23% surge in demand for gardening and home improvement itemsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe discount retailer B&M has said exceptionally strong demand for DIY and gardening products in the coronavirus lockdown drove a 22.7% jump in underlying UK sales over the last eight weeks.The group, which has traded throughout, said UK like-for-like sales growth had accelerated from 6.6% in the final quarter of its 2019-20 year, which benefited from
  
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• Shoppers bought more bedding during lockdown, Eve Sleep says

  29-05-2020 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Eve Sleep group revenues in line with expectations
  // Trading improved in April as customers bought more pillows, bedding, toppers and single mattressesEve Sleep has seen its group revenues remain in line with expectations in the four months to 30 April, despite varied trading patterns.
  The online mattress retailer said trading improved in April and continued into May following a period of disruption during the initial lockdown period in March.
  Sales of premium mattresses and bedframes increa
  
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• Boohoo under second attack by short-seller in less than a week

  29-05-2020 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boohoo has been attacked for its deal to buy out PrettyLittleThing for up to £323m
  // The online retailer initially purchased two thirds of its smaller rival in 2017 for just £3.3mBoohoo has reportedly been attacked for its “scandalous deal” to buy out fellow owners of fashion retailer PrettyLittleThing for up to £323 million, days after being attacked by a short-seller.
  The online fashion retailer initially purchased two thirds of its smaller rival in 2017 for j
  
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• Covid-19 drives “exceptionally strong” performance in B&M sales

  29-05-2020 09:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // B&M posts rise in like-for-like sales in its fourth quarter
  // The rise was due to customers shopping in its grocery, DIY & gardening categories during lockdownB&M has recorded an “exceptionally strong” performance in its fourth quarter as customers flocked to the grocery, DIY and gardening categories during the Covid-19 lockdown.
  The discount retailer saw like-for-likes rise by 6.6 per cent in the 13 weeks to March 28, thanks to consumers stocking up on supplies as th
  
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• Half of Britain is broke – and the other half is richer than ever | Patrick Collinson

  29-05-2020 08:00
  
  The Covid-19 outbreak has left some struggling to pay bills, while others wallow in spare cashYears ago I wrote about Buy Nothing Day, an attempt by US campaigners to encourage us not to indulge in pointless consumerism, just for one day a year. It was widely mocked at the time. Now, for many people, it feels like Buy Nothing Day every day.When was the last time you filled up the car? Bought a train ticket? Paid an air fare? Ordered a new sofa? Or even just bought a latte or booked the cinema? D
  
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• Half of Britain is broke - and the other half is richer than ever

  29-05-2020 08:00
  
  The Covid-19 outbreak has left some struggling to pay bills, while others wallow in spare cashYears ago I wrote about Buy Nothing Day, an attempt by US campaigners to encourage us not to indulge in pointless consumerism, just for one day a year. It was widely mocked at the time. Now, for many people, it feels like Buy Nothing Day every day.When was the last time you filled up the car? Bought a train ticket? Paid an air fare? Ordered a new sofa? Or even just bought a latte or booked the cinema? D
  
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• Big food brands sidestep retailers in pandemic

  29-05-2020 06:00
  Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo become latest groups to sell online, but can direct delivery take off?
  
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• Robots from Estonia boost supermarket spirits during pandemic

  29-05-2020 05:30
  
  Stores and shoppers in UK and beyond turn to AI’s ‘completely touch-free experience’
  
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• Whitepaper: 5 ways how AI-enabled marketing drives business growth

  29-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Navigating the rough waters of today’s economy presents a major challenge for organizations of all sizes. In these difficult times, any sort of assistance in improving... View Article
  
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• Harrods to open outlet store at Westfield London

  29-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Harrods department store is to open an outlet shop in the Westfield London shopping centre to help it sell left over spring stock following the... View Article
  
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• Eve Sleep revenues in line with expectations

  29-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Eve Sleep has reported that its group revenues have been in line with expectations in the four months to 30 April, despite trading patterns varying substantially.... View Article
  
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• B&M boosted by strong lockdown trading

  29-05-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  B&M has said strong grocery trading towards the end of its fourth quarter helped UK like-for-like sales to increase by 6.6% across the period. The retailer’s... View Article
  
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