Retail news

• High street splurge unlikely anytime soon despite £60bn unspent

  15-06-2020 21:43
  
  Why would households spend savings when unemployment is a distinct possibility?Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHigh streets in England have opened for business after three months in lockdown and in the end it was a sombre affair.The government has urged consumers to begin shopping again, for the sake of the economy, after it said non-essential shops could throw open their doors for the first time since 23 March. Continue reading...
  
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• Wary shoppers return to England’s battered high streets

  15-06-2020 21:21
  Troubles far from over even as fine weather and demand lift footfall above expectations
  
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• Queues form, as shoppers return to England’s battered high streets

  15-06-2020 21:21
  Troubles are far from over even as fine weather and pent-up demand lift footfall above expectations
  
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• Martin Rowson on the return of the bull market – cartoon

  15-06-2020 20:30
  
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• Givenchy appoints Matthew M. Williams as creative director

  15-06-2020 20:21
  LVMH-owned house looks to designer who built his name with upmarket streetwear brand Alyx
  
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• UK coronavirus live: Dominic Raab drops fresh hint 2-metre rule could be relaxed

  15-06-2020 19:54
  
  MPs question government’s 2-metre rule; UK official death toll rises by 38; Priti Patel condemns ‘far-right thugs’ at London march at weekendGlobal coronavirus live updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 6.54pm BST That’s it from us for today. Thanks for reading. 6.38pm BST England will experience a “summer of rave” not seen since 1989 because the government has failed to give “socially starved” young people any clarity on when they can start part
  
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• UK coronavirus: Dominic Raab drops fresh hint 2-metre rule could be relaxed – as it happened

  15-06-2020 19:54
  
  MPs question government’s 2-metre rule; UK official death toll rises by 38; Priti Patel condemns ‘far-right thugs’ at London march at weekendGlobal coronavirus live updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 6.54pm BST That’s it from us for today. Thanks for reading. 6.38pm BST England will experience a “summer of rave” not seen since 1989 because the government has failed to give “socially starved” young people any clarity on when they can start part
  
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• UK coronavirus live: Dominic Raab drops fresh hint two-metre rule could be relaxed

  15-06-2020 19:25
  
  MPs question government’s two-metre rule; UK official death toll rises by 38; Priti Patel condemns ‘far-right thugs’ at London march at weekendGlobal coronavirus live updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 6.25pm BST The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the prison estate in England and Wales continues to rise, Ministry of Justice figures show.As at 5pm on Sunday, 500 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 80 prisons, an increase of 1.6%, while the
  
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• Tory MPs urge Boris Johnson to cut 2m physical distancing

  15-06-2020 19:05
  
  High-profile backbenchers insist 1m rule would prevent ‘many more lost jobs’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSenior Tory MPs have publicly urged Boris Johnson to cut the 2 metre distancing rule in England immediately, underlining the scale of discontent about the issue in his party.Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across the country have been scheduled to reopen on 4 July, but they do not yet know whether they will have to abide by the 2 metre rule
  
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• UK coronavirus live: official death toll rises by 38; MPs question 2-metre rule on day many shops reopen

  15-06-2020 18:57
  
  Priti Patel condemns ‘far-right thugs’ at London march at weekend; health minister says 2-metre rule review to be completed soonGlobal coronavirus live updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 5.57pm BST Here are the main points from Dominic Raab’s press conference.There’s no magic to one or other particular measure, there will be different levels of risk whether it’s at two metres, one-and-a-half metres or one metre. As we bring the incidence and the transmission ra
  
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• Who’s worse: the ravers who broke lockdown or the shoppers queueing on the high street? | Suzanne Moore

  15-06-2020 18:39
  
  England’s physical distancing rules get more confusing by the day – which is just how the government likes it
  Those people in Manchester having illegal raves are lowlifes, and the full force of the law … no, I can’t even be bothered to finish this sentence. It’s not that I think mass gatherings are great, exactly; it’s just that I have seen them so often in past weeks, on protests and in parks.Are these ravers worse than those prepared to stand in line in mas
  
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• To save the British economy, don't just open shops – give people the cash to spend | Simon Jenkins

  15-06-2020 17:26
  
  Rishi Sunak needs to think radically by introducing a universal basic income until this crisis passesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMy local high street has refitted itself for today’s reopening of non-essential shops, enabling customers to stay 2 metres apart. Businesses have spent thousands in a frantic attempt to stave off imminent bankruptcy. Yet within a week that money may have to be spent again, as Boris Johnson teases that he may change the distan
  
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• COMMENT: It’s time for a conversation about high street rents

  15-06-2020 16:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  It’s no surprise that Britain’s high streets are facing their biggest challenge yet.
  A beleaguered retail sector started the year wondering how it would survive changing consumer habits, loss in footfall and the increasing competition from slick digital operators. But now faced with a pandemic that has led to enforced prolonged closures, investment in social distancing measures and a business model challenged by implementing countless new health and safety measures, it’s unsurp
  
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• Stocks fall on new Covid-19 outbreak fears, as shops in England reopen - as it happened

  15-06-2020 16:06
  
  Global stocks fall as investors fear that a fresh wave of Covid-19 may be on the horizon, just as lockdowns start to ease How high street shops in England plan to trade from MondayWardens hired to police crowds as high streets in England reopenCoronavirus – latest updates
  See all our coronavirus coverage 3.06pm BST2.49pm BST A UK-EU statement being reported by Reuters seems to be solidifying the fact that no extension will be sought for the Brexit transition period. The statement notes tha
  
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• Covid-19 to leave behind £37bn hole despite retail lockdown easing

  15-06-2020 15:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Reopening will boost retail but Covid-19 will still leave £37bn hole in 2020 non-food spend, says GlobalData
  // Online non-food expenditure to rise 14.3% this year compared to the pre-pandemic forecast of 6.5%
  // Increase in online spending still won’t prop up the whole retail industry, as physical stores still account for the vast majority of salesStores may be reopening today but this is set to be a short-lived boost as retailers are expected to still lose nearly £40 billi
  
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• Shops reopen across England – in pictures

  15-06-2020 15:26
  
  Thousands of stores, selling everything from clothing to footwear, books and electrical equipment, have reopened in England as the government lifts restrictions on non-essential shops that were imposed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in March Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage Continue reading...
  
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• 2500 jobs on the line as Travis Perkins shuts down 165 stores

  15-06-2020 14:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Travis Perkins announces 2500 redundancies through the closure of 165 stores
  // The store closures will focus on smaller Travis Perkins sites
  // Bosses made the move ahead of forecasts of a recession that could take two years to recover fromAround 2500 workers are set to lose their jobs at builders’ merchant and hardware retailer Travis Perkins amid plans to shut down 165 stores.
  The company, which also owns DIY chains Toolstation and Wickes, said the decision comes as it expects a rece
  
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• HMV owner: Waterstones quarantining books “not possible”

  15-06-2020 14:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // HMV boss says Waterstones’ plans to quarantine books & CDs each time they are touched is impractical & impossible
  // Waterstones says quarantining measures for books have been “working quite well” in Europe & the US.
  // Both retailers started to welcome back customers in-store from todayQuarantining books and CDs each time they are touched is impractical and impossible, the owner of HMV said, as he insisted use of hand sanitiser is the best way to guarantee the &
  
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• 'A bit of normality': Birmingham shoppers return to high street stores

  15-06-2020 14:22
  
  City centre busier than it has been for months as non-essential shops reopen in EnglandCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBirmingham shoppers returned to the high street with many in the rest of England on Monday, as queues formed at “non-essential” retail names such as Zara, H&M, Sports Direct and Primark.“It’s good to get out and have a bit of normality. I’ve been coming into town fairly often and it was like a ghost town. It is
  
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• TM Lewin warns on shuttering stores if rent cuts unsuccessful

  15-06-2020 13:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // TM Lewin is seeking substantial rent cuts from landlords
  // The new owners of the retailer have warned landlords they may shut down most stores if the cuts are not granted
  // TM Lewin was bought last month by SCP Private Equity for an undisclosed sumTM Lewin’s new owners have reportedly warned landlords that most stores will shut down if rent cuts are not granted, less than a month after it acquired the menswear retailer.
  According to The Telegraph, SCP Private Equity – which
  
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• Shoppers queue as high street stores reopen in England

  15-06-2020 13:39
  Many outlets remain closed despite call by Boris Johnson for consumers to increase spending
  
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• £5.3bn boost for UK’s ecommerce sector due to pandemic

  15-06-2020 13:37 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Coronavirus is expected to have added £5.3 billion to the UK’s ecommerce sector by the end of the year, with Amazon poised to benefit the most.
  Online sales in 2020 are now expected to grow 19 per cent year-on-year, up from pre-pandemic estimates of 11 per cent, rising from a total of £66.3 billion in 2019 to £78.9 billion this year.
  New research from Edge Retail Insight also suggested that Amazon was set to take the lion’s share of this boost in online traffic, see
  
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• UK coronavirus live: non-essential shops reopen in England for first time in three months

  15-06-2020 13:16
  
  Labour criticises PM’s new racism inquiry as non-essential shops open in England in latest easing of coronavirus lockdown.Global coronavirus live updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 12.16pm BST Travis Perkins, the builders’ merchant, is cutting 2,500 jobs in the UK, almost a tenth of its workforce, and closing 165 stores. The business says it expects weaker demand for materials in the next two years in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. You can read the full story at the link bel
  
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• Queues on high streets as non-essential shops reopen in England

  15-06-2020 13:06
  
  High street footfall up over 50% on same period last week, but 34% down on last year ‘A bit of normality’: Birmingham shoppers returnIn pictures: shops reopen across EnglandCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLong queues of shoppers formed outside some stores around England on the first day that non-essential shops were allowed to reopen for business since the coronavirus lockdown was imposed.Figures showed that between 8am and midday footfall on England
  
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• Long queues on high streets as non-essential shops reopen in England

  15-06-2020 13:06
  
  Shoppers will have to get used to new rules as coronavirus lockdown is easedCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLong queues of shoppers formed outside stores around England on the first day that non-essential shops were allowed to reopen for business since the lockdown was imposed.Branches of Primark and Sports Direct were among those attracting large numbers of customers before they opened. Related: Plans to reopen shops in England 'in chaos' over social distancing
  
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• Bunzl to repay furlough funds after trading boost from Covid-19

  15-06-2020 13:06
  Group that sells packaging to supermarkets joins Ikea and Games Workshop in returning support
  
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• Stocks fall on new Covid-19 outbreak fears, as shops in England reopen - business live

  15-06-2020 13:01
  
  Global stocks fall as investors fear that a fresh wave of Covid-19 may be on the horizon, just as lockdowns start to ease How high street shops in England plan to trade from MondayWardens hired to police crowds as high streets in England reopenCoronavirus – latest updates
  See all our coronavirus coverage 12.01pm BST Travis Perkins, the builders’ merchant, is cutting 2,500 jobs in the UK, almost a tenth of its workforce, and closing 165 stores as it expects weaker demand for materials
  
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• UK retailers warned of insider trading risk with reopening plans

  15-06-2020 12:56
  FCA told companies to take extra steps to protect crucial information
  
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• Travis Perkins to cut 2,500 jobs and shut 165 stores in UK

  15-06-2020 12:52
  
  Builders’ merchant expects weaker demand for materials because of coronavirusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageTravis Perkins, the builders’ merchant, is cutting 2,500 jobs in the UK, almost a tenth of its workforce, and closing 165 stores as it expects weaker demand for materials in the next two years in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.The company is the UK’s largest distributor of building materials and owns a number of chains including the D
  
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• Hammerson chairman David Tyler resigns

  15-06-2020 12:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Hammerson chairman David Tyler to leave the company no later than October 1
  // He will be replaced by Rob Noel, a former Landsec CEO
  // Tyler’s resignation comes shortly after CEO David Atkins quitThe chairman of struggling shopping centre owner Hammerson has announced he will quit on the same day its sites reopened non-food stores for the first time since lockdown.
  David Tyler said he would step down no later than October 1 and be replaced by former Land Securities chief executive Rob
  
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• VAT could be slashed to boost consumer spending

  15-06-2020 12:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // VAT could be slashed to help get Brits spending again and boost the economy
  // The chancellor is is considering either a blanket or a targeted reduction in consumption taxesAccording to The Times, the chancellor Rishi Sunak is looking at reducing consumption taxes to boost struggling retailers.
  Boris Johnson is now calling for shoppers to return to shops as ministers watch today’s reopening to see if faltering consumer confidence will require emergency VAT cuts.
  The prime mini
  
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• CeX staff slam “crazy” safety measures which will see no incoming 2nd-hand stock quarantined

  15-06-2020 11:34 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  CeX staff have slammed the retailer’s “crazy” safety measures which will not require any of its second-hand stock to be quarantined.
  The technology resale retailer, which allows customers to both buy and sell secondhand video games, DVD’s and other tech hardware, will not quarantine any products coming into its stores and plans to allow browsing and handling of goods.
  According to a report from Eurogamer, CeX will not implement the safety measures seen by its ri
  
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• H&M reports smaller than expected 50% drop in Q2 sales

  15-06-2020 11:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // H&M’s sales in its fiscal second quarter fell 50% on year, a smaller drop than expected
  // Local currency sales in the first 13 days of June were down 30%On Monday H&M Group reported that net sales decreased by 50 per cent year on year to £2.5 billion, a smaller drop than expected as coronavirus lockdowns start to ease and stores reopen.
  H&M, which began gradually reopening stores in late April after approximately 80 per cent had been shuttered by the pandemic, said th
  
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• Boohoo braces for shareholder revolt amid £1m CEO payout

  15-06-2020 10:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boohoo Group defends £1m executive payout for CEO John Lyttle
  // Executive directors also to be given pay rises of up to 30%
  // Advisory group ISS has told investors to vote against Boohoo’s remuneration policy at its AGMBoohoo’s boardroom is set to face the music this week amid reports that a shareholder revolt may occur over a payout to chief executive John Lyttle and some executive pay rises.
  According to The Sunday Times, advisory group ISS has told investors to vote aga
  
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• Lockdown exit “unlikely” to deliver “immediate” footfall boost

  15-06-2020 09:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Overall footfall dropped by 81.6% due to the second full month of lockdown in May, although this was not as severe as April
  // Footfall on high streets declined by 77.8%, shopping centre footfall dropped 84.9% & retail parks declined 55%
  // BRC warned that retailers should not expect an immediate relief in customer numbers as shops reopen todayExperts have warned that today’s retail reopening in England would not deliver an “immediate” relief in customer numbers, after n
  
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• Non-essential retail in England reopens after three months

  15-06-2020 09:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Non-essential retail stores in England will be able to reopen for the first time in almost three months today
  // It marks the latest easing of lockdown restrictions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic
  // Wales and Scotland remain in lockdown, but Northern Ireland reoepned last weekThousands of non-essential shops across England are reopening their doors to customers for the first time in almost three months in the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown rules.
  As department stores,
  
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• Stocks fall on new outbreak fears, as shops in England reopen - business live

  15-06-2020 09:01
  
  Global stocks fall as investors fear that a fresh wave of Covid-19 may be on the horizon, just as lockdowns start to ease How high street shops in England plan to trade from MondayWardens hired to police crowds as high streets in England reopenCoronavirus – latest updates
  See all our coronavirus coverage 8.01am BST BP has announced write-offs of up to $17.5bn as it expects the Covid-19 pandemic to have a lasting impact on the global economy and reduce demand for energy over a longer period
  
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• H&M quarterly sales halve but improve in early June

  15-06-2020 08:43
  Swedish retailer has reopened more than 80% of its stores
  
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• L’Oréal glimpses its digital future amid pandemic

  15-06-2020 06:00
  Lockdowns have speeded up shift to online beauty, says world’s largest cosmetics maker
  
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• Retailers call on shoppers to buy from local shops

  15-06-2020 01:01
  
  Devastated high street needs sales to survive coronavirus crisis, retail groups sayCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageRetailers are appealing to customers to support their local shops to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated high street trade.“It’s really important people go back to using their high street,” said Gary Grant, the owner of toy chain The Entertainer. “We employ local people in local towns and if I wan
  
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• Watches of Switzerland Group to reopen all English stores today

  15-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Watches of Switzerland Group has said that all of its Watches of Switzerland, Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths  stores will be opening across England today. The... View Article
  
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• Superdrug makes £50k donation to LGBTQ+ charity

  15-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Superdrug and Unilever have teamed up to make a joint £50,000 donation to the LGBTQ+ charity, Switchboard. Founded in 1974, Switchboard operates a nationwide helpline that... View Article
  
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• Seven in ten independent retailers plan to reopen this month

  15-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  New research has found that while 72% of independent retailers plan to reopen this month, just over a third think they will be trading at pre-coronavirus... View Article
  
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• Retailers launch five recommendations for considerate shopping

  15-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In preparation for the reopening of shops today, the British Retail Consortium has teamed up with 20 retailers to launch a list of five recommendations to... View Article
  
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• Hammerson appoints Robert Noel as chairman

  15-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Shopping centre operator Hammerson has announced that Robert Noel will succeed David Tyler as its non-executive chairman. With his start date yet to be confirmed, he... View Article
  
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• Co-op sees surge in demand for £3 face coverings

  15-06-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Co-op has seen a surge in demand for its £3 face coverings with the items being so popular that they have been outselling everyday essential... View Article
  
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