Retail news

• Sharon White proves again need to be radical with John Lewis closures | Nils Pratley

  09-07-2020 21:21 via theguardian.com
  
  Decision to close Birmingham store and others is right if there’s chance of 60%-70% of sales will be onlineDepartment stores have been in decline for years; the rise of online retailing is relentless; and the pandemic is accelerating shopping trends. Even so, John Lewis’s plan to close a supposedly flagship store in the centre of Birmingham – opened as recently as 2015 – was a shocker on another bleak day for retailing jobs. If the UK’s best operator of department s
  
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• Uber revs up for the business of ‘everything’ with Postmates

  09-07-2020 20:15
  Ride-hailing group’s $2.65bn deal will pit it against Amazon in the race to deliver a wide array of goods
  
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• Uber moves into delivery business as it eyes Amazon

  09-07-2020 20:15
  $2.65bn deal for Postmates marks latest transformation for ride-hailing app
  
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• Boots and John Lewis to cut 5,300 jobs and shut stores

  09-07-2020 20:11
  Fresh blow to UK high street as Sunak stimulus package comes under fire
  
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• Boohoo shares bounce back after pledge to improve factory conditions

  09-07-2020 20:09 via theguardian.com
  
  Fashion retailer lost almost £2bn value after revelations about Leicester suppliersShares in Boohoo Group rebounded more than 27% on Thursday after analysts and investors were reassured by the online fashion specialist’s plan to clean up its supply chain.The company recovered nearly £770m in value after Boohoo’s City broker held a call with major investors in the UK and US on Wednesday night, after the market had closed, dealing with queries from more than 250 investors a
  
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• Seven ways to help garment workers

  09-07-2020 19:38 via theguardian.com
  
  The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the exploitation of those – mainly women – who produce fast fashion for well-known brands. From donating to emergency funds to slowing the churn, retailers must be held to accountGarment workers around the world experience low wages and exploitation. This is nothing new, but Jessica Simor QC, a barrister at Matrix chambers who has worked extensively on issues of fair pay and human rights in fashion, says: “Covid has thrown a much brigh
  
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• Boots to cut 4,000 jobs as John Lewis to shut eight stores, putting 1,300 jobs at risk - as it happened

  09-07-2020 19:09 via theguardian.com
  
  Grim day in UK retail as Boots announces plans to cut 4,000 jobs and John Lewis Partnership shuts eight storesAfternoon summaryBoots Opticians stores to close amid jobs cutsJohn Lewis won’t reopen eight storesMPs: It’s terrible news 6.09pm BST And finally, here’s our latest news story on today’s job losses:Boots and John Lewis have announced plans to cut 5,300 jobs and close stores on another bleak day for the UK high street.Boots is cutting 4,000 jobs – or 7% of it
  
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• Boots and John Lewis to cut 5,300 jobs and close stores

  09-07-2020 18:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Chemist shuts 48 opticians and department store group shuts eight of its 50 storesBoots and John Lewis have announced plans to cut 5,300 jobs and close stores on another bleak day for the UK high street.Boots is cutting 4,000 jobs – or 7% of its workforce – by closing 48 opticians outlets and reducing staff at its head office in Nottingham as well as some management and customer service roles in stores. Continue reading...
  
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• Indie Corner: The Camden Watch Company

  09-07-2020 17:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  It’s no secret by now that the coronavirus pandemic has left a huge dent in the UK retail industry. Despite this, and despite the three-month lockdown that followed shortly after the pandemic gripped the UK in March, independent retailers have found ways to adapt and thrive during these unprecedented times.
  The Camden Watch Company – founded in 2014 by husband and wife team Anneke Short and Jerome Robert – is one such retailer.
  Before the pandemic, footfall and in-store sales w
  
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• Online retail sales continues to boom despite lockdown exit

  09-07-2020 16:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Online retail sales growth skyrocketed by 33.9% in June, surpassing growth in May
  // June’s growth is also the highest annual result since March 2008
  // The results showed little impact from the re-opening of the high streetThe UK’s online retail sales continued to soar during June, even though non-essential bricks-and-mortar retail began to exit lockdown from the middle of the month.
  According to the latest Online Retail Index from IMRG and Capgemini, overall online retail sales
  
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• Debenhams to reopen remaining Scotland stores next week

  09-07-2020 14:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Debenhams to reopen its 9 remaining stores in Scotland next week
  // It reopened its first 6 Scottish stores last week when Scotland exited lockdown
  // The vast majority of Debenhams’ stores in Wales, Northern Ireland & England have already reopenedDebenhams has announced that it will reopen all remaining stores in Scotland next week following the successful reopening of an initial six stores.
  The department store chain said its stores in Ayr, Dumfries, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgo
  
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• Boots and John Lewis set to cut 5,300 jobs and shut stores

  09-07-2020 14:35
  Latest blow to UK high street sends shockwaves through retail sector
  
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• Boots to shed 4,000 jobs and close more stores

  09-07-2020 13:52
  Pharmacist reports far fewer shoppers even as most outlets stayed open during lockdown
  
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• Boots to cut more than 4000 jobs

  09-07-2020 13:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boots announces plans to make 4000 job redundancies – about 7% of its total UK workforce
  // Cuts mostly affect staff in its Nottingham office, as well as deputy & assistant manager roles, and beauty & customer adviser roles
  // The restructuring will also result in the closure of 48 Boots Opticians storesBoots has announced plans to cut more than 4000 jobs as part of action to mitigate the “significant impact” of Covid-19.
  The move will affect around seven per cent of
  
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• Boots to cut 4,000 jobs and close stores after dramatic fall in shopper numbers

  09-07-2020 13:31 via theguardian.com
  
  Chain to shut optician branches and cut roles at head office and in stores with 7% of workforce to be laid offBoots is to cut 4,000 jobs – 7% of its workforce – as it closes 48 opticians outlets and cuts roles at its head office and stores.The company said it was accelerating a restructuring plan after sales at its main Boots stores dived 72% and sales at Boots Opticians dived 48% during the high street lockdown. As an essential retailer, Boots was allowed to continue to trade, but t
  
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• Boots to cut 4,000 jobs as John Lewis to shut eight stores, putting 1,300 jobs at risk - business live

  09-07-2020 13:27 via theguardian.com
  
  Grim day in UK retail as Boots announces plans to cut 4,000 jobs and John Lewis Partnership shuts eight storesLatest: Boots Opticians stores to close amid jobs cutsJohn Lewis won’t reopen eight storesMPs: It’s terrible newsBirmingham, Watford, Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth to permanently closeTravel hubs at Heathrow and St Pancras won’t reopen either 12.27pm BST Boots also warns that retail conditions are expected to remain “very depressed” in the UK, despi
  
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• Second administrator to scrutinise Laura Ashley collapse

  09-07-2020 12:55 via theguardian.com
  
  FRP Advisory brought in at request of Pension Protection Fund to investigate retailer
  The pensions rescue service has forced the appointment of a second administrator to scrutinise the finances of Laura Ashley prior to its collapse into administration in March.The new administrator, FRP Advisory, is also likely to investigate the role of Laura Ashley’s former directors, including chairman and chief executive Ng Kwan Cheong who stepped down in January. Continue reading...
  
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• John Lewis to close flagship stores

  09-07-2020 12:40
  Retailer says outlets in Birmingham and Watford will be among casualties of Covid-19 crisis
  
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• 1300 jobs at risk as John Lewis shuts down 8 stores but reopens another 9

  09-07-2020 12:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis confirms that 8 of its stores will not reopen and will shut down permanently
  // The closures, which includes the Watford and Birmingham stores, places 1300 jobs at risk
  // At the same time, John Lewis confirms the final wave of 9 store reopenings in lockdown exit strategyAround 1300 jobs are at risk of redundancy as the John Lewis Partnership announced it will permanently shut down eight John Lewis stores that have not yet reopened post-lockdown.
  The partnership has started a consu
  
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• John Lewis shuts eight stores with expected loss of 1,300 jobs

  09-07-2020 11:55 via theguardian.com
  
  Closures include outlets in Birmingham and Watford and its four At Home shopsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageJohn Lewis is permanently closing eight of its 50 department stores, including big outlets in Birmingham and Watford, with the likely loss of 1,300 jobs.All four of the group’s smaller At Home stores, in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth, are to close, as well as two outlets in travel hubs at Heathrow and St Pancras station in London.The corona
  
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• John Lewis closes eight stores with expected loss of 1,300 jobs

  09-07-2020 11:55 via theguardian.com
  
  Closures include major outlets in Birmingham and Watford and its four At Home shopsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageJohn Lewis is permanently closing eight of its 50 stores, including major outlets in Birmingham and Watford, with the likely loss of 1,300 jobs.All four of the group’s smaller At Home stores, in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth, are to close as well as two outlets in travel hubs at Heathrow and St Pancras station in London.The coronaviru
  
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• Ocado is relaunching its app after being forced to scrap it in March due to 1000% jump in traffic

  09-07-2020 11:04 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Ocado is relaunching its app months after being forced to shut it down and turn away new customers as it was pushed to breaking point.
  In mid-March, the online grocer reported a jump in site traffic of more than 1000 per cent, days before lockdown was imposed in the UK.
  Following numerous website and app crashes “driven by continued high demand” Ocado was forced to take its app down as it desperately tried to serve as many customers as possible.
  According to the Grocer, Oca
  
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• Uber Eats to deliver your supermarket shopping with Asda tie-up

  09-07-2020 10:53 via theguardian.com
  
  Service being trialled from two stores as shoppers switch to buying groceries onlineUber Eats has joined up with Asda in the US tech firm’s first step into fast-track grocery delivery in the UK.The supermarket chain, which has previously tested takeaway and limited grocery deliveries via the Just Eat app in a handful of stores, said the new service would start in two outlets and could be extended to more if successful. Continue reading...
  
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• Brooks Brothers seeks buyer as it files for bankruptcy protection

  09-07-2020 10:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Brooks Brothers files for bankruptcy protection amid coronavirus pandemic
  // The suits retailer had already shut some stores and prepared to close US factoriesBrooks Brothers has become the latest US retailer to file for bankruptcy protection during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The menswear retailer sought court protection from creditors on Wednesday as it seeks a new buyer.
  Brooks Brothers, which is known for its suits, had already shut some stores and prepared to close its US factories.READ
  
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• Pandora sees shoppers return to stores “faster than expected”

  09-07-2020 10:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Pandora saw customers return to stores faster than expected since reopening
  // The retailer shut all of its 2746 shops in the first quarter due to the coronavirus lockdown
  // It now expects second-quarter earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) before restructuring costs to break evenPandora has lifted its profit guidance for the second quarter after finding that consumers returned to shops faster than expected since they reopened last month.
  The jewellery retailer temporarily closed almost
  
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• Aldi pledges to scrap over 2 billion plastic items

  09-07-2020 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Aldi to scrap over 2 billion single items of plastic in the next 5 years
  // The grocer said it will reduce the volume of plastic packaging used by 50% by 2025Aldi has pledged to remove over two billion single items of plastic as it aims to cut down on plastic packaging.
  The German discounter said it will remove 74,000 tonnes of plastic packaging during the next five years after announcing a new commitment to reduce the volume of plastic packaging used by 50 per cent by 2025.
  To achieve t
  
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• JD Sports tests workers after Covid-19 cases identified

  09-07-2020 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // JD Sports tests warehouse workers for coronavirus after a small number test positive
  // The outbreak started in its warehouse in Rochdale
  // The initial cases were identified via a local track-and-trace systemJD Sports has tested at least 500 warehouse workers after a small number of them tested positive for Covid-19.
  The sportswear retailer has set up a mobile testing lab at its warehouse in Rochdale after the initial cases were identified via a local track-and-trace system.
  The workers are
  
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• Frasers Group to withhold rents until trading “reaches a level” of normality

  09-07-2020 08:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Frasers Group tells landlords it will not pay rents until trading returns to normal
  // The group owns Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Flannels, Game and Jack WillsFrasers Group has reportedly informed its landlords it will not pay rents until it is “fully able to freely trade as a business”.
  The group, which owns Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Flannels, Game and Jack Wills, was forced to close all of its stores during the coronavirus pandemic.
  Frasers Group said it aims to go ren
  
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• Boohoo comes out fighting after market tears it to shreds

  09-07-2020 06:00
  Online retailer has received some support from investors in a bruising week
  
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• The Leicester garment factories exposed by Covid-19

  09-07-2020 04:00 via theguardian.com
  
  A spike in cases of Covid-19 in Leicester has led Guardian reporter Archie Bland to its garment factories. He discusses a story that goes beyond the pandemic and into workers’ rights, appalling factory conditions and the ethics of fast fashionWhen the Guardian’s senior reporter Archie Bland arrived in Leicester to cover a new coronavirus spike he thought he would be covering a story about the frustrations of a city stuck in lockdown.But, as he tells Anushka Asthana, he soon found tha
  
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• Utilising cross-channel payments experiences to increase conversion rates

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  With online shopping and deliveries making the retail experience more convenient, consumers are becoming increasingly happy to shop cross-border. Essentially, there are less barriers to them... View Article
  
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• Save your spot for next week’s Retail Customer Marketing webinar

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  ​Make sure you save your spot for the Retail Customer Marketing Webinar next week to hear some of the sector’s most innovative retail leaders share the... View Article
  
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• Samsung Experience store opens at Cabot Circus

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Samsung has opened a new experience-led store in Bristol’s Cabot Circus. Operated by PRS&, the brand’s exclusive franchisee for Samsung Experience stores in the UK, the shop will enable shoppers... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s launches reusable face coverings range

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s Tu clothing brand has launched a range of reusable face coverings for adults and children. Made from soft 100% cotton poplin, the double layered products are... View Article
  
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• Pentland Brands to make 350 redundancies and put Boxfresh into hibernation

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pentland Brands is to make 350 staff redundant as part of a strategic review of its business. It will also be putting its Boxfresh fashion brand... View Article
  
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• Pentland Brands to cut 350 jobs and put Boxfresh into hibernation

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pentland Brands is to make 350 staff redundant as part of a strategic review of its business. It will also be putting its Boxfresh fashion brand... View Article
  
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• NEW digital flagship for British watchmaker Christopher Ward

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Content rich, easy-to-navigate, mobile friendly and designed with the customer in mind. Designed with the customer in mind, built by the digital commerce consultancy, Tryzens, and... View Article
  
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• John Lewis to close eight stores

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The John Lewis Partnership has announced plans to permanently close eight John Lewis shops which could result in the loss of around 1,300 jobs. It will... View Article
  
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• Government to act on violence and abuse against shopworkers

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Government has outlined plans to crack down on abuse and violence committed against shopworkers. In a statement from the Home Office, the government said it is... View Article
  
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• Ebook: 8 Techniques to Ensure Great Employee Experience in Times of Crisis

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Today, more companies than ever before are looking for ways to keep employees happy and engaged in times of crisis. You need your teams to stay... View Article
  
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• Big interview – Shalom Lloyd of Naturally Tribal Skincare

  09-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ahead of her speaking slot at our Retail Customer Marketing Webinar next week, here we interview Shalom Lloyd, founder and managing director of the Naturally Tribal... View Article
  
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