Retail news

• English retailers tiptoe towards reopening

  12-06-2020 23:00
  Complying with social-distancing rules will put further pressure on already thin profit margins
  
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• JD Sports chairman sells down

  12-06-2020 19:00
  Retailer delays release of full-year results to reflect impact of the pandemic
  
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• Here are the retailers going beyond solidarity for Black Lives Matter

  12-06-2020 17:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  1. MatchesFashion
  At the beginning of this week, MatchesFashion announced plans to to launch a Black Employees Forum.
  The new forum aims to drive diversity within designers in the business and look at how it can encourage more Black people to join the retailer.
  MatchesFashion chief executive Ajay Kavan said the retailer has already started consulting with a number of Black colleagues.
  MatchesFashion has already begun consulting with Black colleagues.2. H&M Group
  H&M Group has pledged to
  
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• Retail Gazette Loves: Selfridges’ new Thank You tribute window display

  12-06-2020 17:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Selfridges has unveiled a new Thank You window display at its flagship Oxford Street store to celebrate key workers who have kept the country going during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The unveiling comes as Selfridges prepares to reopen its stores in London, Manchester, and Birmingham on Monday, with extra health and safety precautions in place throughout.
  Made up of hundreds of unique posters inspired by stories on a national and local level, the window displays aim to give thanks to those who have h
  
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• Shoppers return to high streets as Northern Ireland starts lockdown exit

  12-06-2020 16:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Northern Ireland allows non-essential retailers to reopen from today
  // The Irish Republic is already mostly back to trading again
  // England will reopen on Monday, but Wales and Scotland will remain in lockdownShoppers are back on high streets in Northern Ireland as retailers returned to business after three months of lockdown.
  All non-essential shops were able to reopen on Friday as the region became the first part of the UK to make the move.
  Non-essential shops across England will be able
  
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• High streets at risk if pubs stay shut, warn Northern Ireland retailers

  12-06-2020 15:25
  
  Hospitality and leisure are needed to bring towns ‘back to life’, says NIRC as shops reopenCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMost shops reopened across Northern Ireland on Friday but the body representing retailers in the region warned that unless pubs and other hospitality businesses also started trading, the local high street economy may not be saved.The Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) welcomed the lifting of the lockdown for non-essential
  
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• How to get customers back to the high street

  12-06-2020 15:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  We are currently dealing with the biggest retail shake-up in a century. Customers are returning to stores, but their shopping habits are different and the way they connect with brands has changed.
  Lockdown, isolation and staying local have led to the emergence of new customer experience priorities, whether that’s safe store formats, compassionate service or the stronger emotional ties forged between brands and consumers during the crisis.
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• Bensons for Beds inches closer to rescue deal, but not Harveys

  12-06-2020 14:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The owner of Bensons for Beds is close to re-acquiring it through a pre-pack administration deal
  // However, stablemate Harveys could face the risk of being liquidated, placing 700 jobs at risk
  // The two furniture retailers trade from 269 stores across the UK and employs 2700 in totalThe parent company of Harveys and Bensons for Beds is reportedly close to launching a major restructure that could potentially lead to the loss of 700 jobs.
  According to Sky News, Alteri Investors, a specia
  
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• 3/5 consumers used more local shops to support them during lockdown

  12-06-2020 13:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Almost 3/5 (59%) of consumers in Britain have used more local stores and services to help support them during lockdown
  // Meanwhile 1/5 stopped using a business due to their response to the Covid-19 pandemic
  // 62% will more likely spend money at a shop that takes extra steps to ensure the safety and well-being of staffAlmost three in five consumers have used more local stores and services to help support them during the coronavirus lockdown, according to new research.
  Analysis from Deloitte
  
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• High streets face a ‘new normal’ with old problems

  12-06-2020 13:00
  The UK must come to terms with a permanent shift in consumer trends
  
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• #LoveRecordStores organisers reveal details to help indie record retailers

  12-06-2020 12:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // #LoveRecordStores organisers reveal more details on 24-hour event that aims to help ailing indie record retailers
  // More than 130 shops will take part in the project, with dozens of new & re-issued vinyls being made availableA campaign launched to help independent record stores survive the coronavirus pandemic has announced new details of its 24-hour event.
  More than 130 shops will take part in the project, which will see dozens of new and re-issued vinyl releases being made available to
  
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• Amazon Deliveroo £400m tie-up delayed by 2 months by CMA as rivals slam decision

  12-06-2020 12:13 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon’s tie-up with Deliveroo has been delayed by two months after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it needs more time “to take full account of representations received”.
  The CMA gave provisional approval for Amazon to purchase a minority stake in Deliveroo in April, but has since seen major names including Just Eat Takeaway and Domino’s Pizza slam its decision.
  Originally a final decision on the deal was due to be made on June 11, however the CMA has now
  
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• Aldi expands Deliveroo partnership offering 200 items for home delivery in London

  12-06-2020 11:26 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Aldi is expanding its partnership with Deliveroo enabling 100,000 customers in London to order hundreds of products online for the first time.
  After launching a successful online delivery trial across eight stores in the Midlands last month, Aldi is bringing its partnership to Camden in London.
  Customers within a two-mile radius of Aldi’s store on Camden High Street will now be able to order 200 items, up from 150 when the partnership started, for delivery within 30 minutes.
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• UK economy heads towards recession with 20.4% GDP drop

  12-06-2020 10:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The UK economy drops 20.4%, heading towards recession
  // This could result in mass job losses, the ONS warnsThe UK economy has suffered record slump with GDP plunging by 20.4 per cent during April’s coronavirus lockdown, which saw high street stores temporarily close down.
  The fall is the biggest the UK has ever seen – worse than anything during the financial crash, highlighting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The economy was around 25 per cent smaller in April than it was in
  
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• Poundstretcher stores at risk as it prepares for CVA

  12-06-2020 09:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Poundstretcher prepares for CVA as it seeks low rents from landlords
  // The high street discounter’s stores are at risk of permanent closurePoundstretcher has reportedly drawn up plans for a CVA, that could shutter over half of its store estate in the UK.
  The discount chain could launch the CVA within days, as it prepares for the radical restructuring plan in an effort to secure low rents from landlords at 330 of its 450 stores across the UK.
  At least 250 of those outlets would see rent
  
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• Morrisons faces shareholder revolt over executive salaries

  12-06-2020 08:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Morrisons investors vote against its pay policy at company’s AGM
  // The UK corporate governance code says executive pension contributions should be in line with those of the workforce
  // Morrisons CEO David Potts and COO Trevor Strain bank 24% of basic salaries while shop floor staff bank 5%Morrisons has seen over a third of its investors vote against its pay policy at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.
  Investors expressed concern after Morrisons chief executive
  
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• Currys PC World to reopen 131 stores as “Tech Help Hubs”

  12-06-2020 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Currys PC World to reopen 131 stores from Monday
  // The stores will initially serve as “tech help hubs”
  // Tech experts have been briefed on how to help customers with any tech issuesCurrys PC World has announced it will reopen 131 of its stores from Monday, initially as expert “Tech Help Hubs” to support customers with existing tech needs.
  The electrical retailer has specially briefed its tech experts to help customers with any tech challenges they may have faced
  
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• Coronavirus: 10% pay cut for LK Bennett head office workers

  12-06-2020 08:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // LK Bennett has told head office employees it will reduce salaries by 10%
  // The reduction is to avoid any redundancies, the retailer said
  // Employees with pay packets over £37,500 are affectedLK Bennett has reportedly told its head office employees with pay packets over £37,500 that it will be slashing their salaries by 10 per cent in an effort to prevent redundancies.
  The head office pay structure came as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
  Those impacted have been consulted,
  
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• Walgreens and CVS to stop locking up beauty products for women of color

  12-06-2020 03:54
  
  Stores’ announcement comes after Walmart announces ban on practice as well as other reforms to fight racismThe drugstore chains Walgreens and CVS Health say they will stop locking up beauty and hair care products aimed at black women and other women of color, joining Walmart in ending a practice at some stores that has drawn the ire of customers.“We are currently ensuring multicultural hair care and beauty products are not stored behind locked cases at any of our stores,” Walgr
  
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• Liberty launches new digital flagship

  12-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The iconic Liberty department store has launched a new digital flagship as it looks to expand its online business and accelerate its global reach. The retailer... View Article
  
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• Intu provides more details on how its centres will remain Covid-secure

  12-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Intu has released additional information on the safety measures in place at its 13 English shopping centres ahead of the reopening of non-essential retail stores on... View Article
  
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• Currys PC World stores to initially reopen as tech help hubs

  12-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Currys PC World has unveiled plans for a phased reopening of 131 stores from next week. During the first three days of reopening, the stores will... View Article
  
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