Retail news

• Fear of Pizza Express closures as chain faces takeover by bondholders

  15-07-2020 21:27
  
  Group of investors in bonds worth £465m reportedly in advanced talks over dealPizza Express is set to be taken over by its bondholders, with the possibility of restaurant closures as the high street chain struggles with the loss of revenues during the coronavirus pandemic.The chain’s Chinese owner, Hony Capital, could lose control of the company as part of a debt-for-equity swap. Continue reading...
  
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• Asos considers action against Leicester supplier in ethical audit

  15-07-2020 19:39
  
  Boss of online fashion retailer says factory tagged as ‘red critical’ in last few monthsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAsos is considering action against a Leicester supplier after finding the UK factory to be in breach of its ethical trading standards during the coronavirus outbreak.Nick Beighton, the online fashion retailer’s chief executive, said one factory had been tagged as “red critical” in the last few months under Asos&rsq
  
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• Walmart to require face masks for all US customers

  15-07-2020 18:50
  Retailer becomes latest business to act on its own in face of mixed response by authorities
  
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• Bring fast fashion to a standstill | Letters

  15-07-2020 18:40
  
  Rhoda Koenig wonders if people are really happy to pay five times what something is worth, while Jo Fisher has found the secret to making clothes lastTo make yourself averse to new, retail-price clothes (The fast fashion fix: 20 ways to stop buying new clothes for ever, 14 July), consider this: less than 20% of that price represents materials and labour. The rest is the manufacturer’s and shop owner’s outgoings and profit margins. Are you really happy to pay five times what something
  
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• Dixons Carphone: trust issues

  15-07-2020 17:34
  A quicker shift to online sales does not guarantee a route to profitability
  
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• Burberry on a ‘continuative’ journey backwards

  15-07-2020 17:33
  Fashion house’s progress brought to standstill by Covid-19; McCarthy & Stone’s work is cut out for it
  
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• How will the luxury retail sector recover post-Covid?

  15-07-2020 17:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  When the coronavirus pandemic first struck, retailers everywhere were striving to protect the health and safety of employees and customers.
  Luxury retailers were making donations for Covid-19 causes and producing their own hand sanitising gels, while millions were relying on the luxury goods industry to make a living, from factory workers to retail store employees.
  Walpole, the trade body for the luxury sector in the UK, found last year that the British luxury sector is worth £48 billion
  
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• 6 stores to shutter as Johnsons Shoes is rescued out of administration

  15-07-2020 17:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Johnsons Shoes has been rescued out of administration by independent footwear retailer Newjohn Limited
  // It will shutter six stores throughout LondonJohnsons Shoes will permanently close six stores after being bought of administration by Newjohn Limited, which is part of the independent retailer Daniel Footwear.
  The store closures will take place in London after Johnsons Shoes Company, which operated stores under the Johnsons Shoes and Bowleys Fine Shoes brands, appointed Ian Defty and
  
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• PizzaExpress set to fall into lenders’ ownership

  15-07-2020 16:46
  Restructuring deal likely to split Chinese operations and hand UK business to bondholders
  
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• John Lewis launches personal shopping to boost customer experience

  15-07-2020 16:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis has introduced a free virtual personal shopping service
  // The service means customers can find what they are looking for from the comfort of their own home
  // Customers can choose to have products delivered or collect them in storeJohn Lewis has launched a free virtual personal shopping service for customers across the UK in an effort to support them in finding specific products as well as receiving product advice.
  The service will be initially tested by personal shoppers based in
  
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• Amazon to reimpose limits on sellers as coronavirus cases surge throughout “most of the US”

  15-07-2020 15:31 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon has warned US sellers that it will be re-imposing restrictions on the quantity of goods they can sell via its Fulfilled By Amazon (FBA) service.
  From August until the end of the year merchants who use Amazon’s FBA service, which sees the retail giant store, fulfil and post goods from its automated warehouses, must adhere to quantity limits.
  In March, Amazon banned all of its FBA customers from selling non-essential items as demand for online orders skyrocketed while coronavirus case
  
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• Dixons Carphone says virus will delay return of mobile phones unit to profit

  15-07-2020 14:15
  Business posts £104m loss and will not break even until up to year later than anticipated
  
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• UK customer experience improves for 3rd straight year despite Covid-19

  15-07-2020 13:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Customer experience has improved for the third year running despite the pandemic, according to KPMG
  // QVC, John Lewis and Lush among the brands topping this year’s ranking
  // Grocery retail and financial services the leading sectors for best customer experienceOverall customer experience in the UK has improved for the third year running – up three per cent year-on-year – despite the array of challenges presented by Covid-19.
  New research from KPMG Nunwood suggests that a ne
  
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• ‘I can’t afford to turn away business’: view from shops on face mask rules

  15-07-2020 13:10
  
  The Guardian speaks to shop owners about new face mask rules in Scotland and England Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAfter mixed messages last week from the UK government over the wearing of face coverings, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, announced on Tuesday they would be made mandatory in shops in England from 24 July.The policy, which was introduced in Scotland on Friday, will be enforced by police, who have the power to implement fines of up to £10
  
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• John Lewis outsourcing over 100 more IT jobs to third-party firm

  15-07-2020 11:42 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  John Lewis is outsourcing over 100 more IT roles and will transfer staff to global technology services giant Capgemini later this year.
  The struggling department store is outsourcing another 111 IT rolls to a third-party company, just weeks after announcing that it would transfer a further 244 roles to Indian firm Wipro.
  Once again this will see John Lewis employees, which it calls ‘partners’, be sent to Capgemini under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment regulation
  
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• Asos sales jump as shoppers snap up ‘lockdown products’

  15-07-2020 11:20
  Online retailer taps into rising demand for loungewear as consumers stay at home
  
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• Swatch sales plunge 46% due to coronavirus lockdowns

  15-07-2020 11:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Swatch Group sales dropped due to coronavirus lockdowns
  // The group owns the likes of Omega, Longines and Tissot
  // Sales plunged by 46.1% in the first half of 2020Swatch has said that its sales nearly halved in the first half of the year due to coronavirus lockdowns, but it has since returned to profit.
  The group, which owns brands such as Omega, Longines and Tissot, said sales plunged by 46.1 per cent in the first half of 2020 from the same period last year to $2.3 billion (£1.8
  
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• John Lewis launches “Great British Designer” resuable face masks from Mulberry, Liam Hodges and RÆBURN

  15-07-2020 11:02 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  John Lewis has launched a range of designer face masks in from leading fashion brands including Mulberry, Julien Macdonald, Halpern, Liam Hodges, RÆBURN and Rixo.
  The British Fashion Council created the range of “Great British Designer” face masks in partnership with sustainable fashion brand Bag of Ethics.
  John Lewis and Waitrose are now offering these in “packs of three reusable face coverings and two protective pouches” for £15, becoming the latest major re
  
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• Dunelm sales plummet as Brits chose to stay home

  15-07-2020 10:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Dunelm has seen sales drop during its fourth quarter
  // The retailer saw online sales rise as shoppers chose to stay homeDunelm has experienced a sales drop during its fourth quarter despite posting “significant” growth in its online business.
  The homewares retailer saw total sales drop 28.6 per cent in its fourth quarter, as like-for-likes in its stores tumbled 49.7 per cent.
  Despite this, online sales almost doubled during the 16 weeks to June 27, increasing by a colossal 85.2 p
  
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• Asos sales surge during lockdown thanks to casual and active wear

  15-07-2020 10:28
  
  Online fashion retailer expects profits at top end of forecasts amid strong growth overseasCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAsos expects profits to hit the top end of market expectations this year after the online fashion retailer’s sales of casual and active wear surged during the coronavirus lockdown.The company, which targets the “20-something” fashion market, reported a 10% year-on-year sales rise to just over £1bn in the year to the e
  
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• Dixons warns benefits of mobile phone unit restructuring will face delay

  15-07-2020 10:24
  Business posts £104m loss and will not break even until up to a year later than previously anticipated
  
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• Dixons Carphone full year profits more than halve

  15-07-2020 10:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Dixons Carphone full year underlying profits plunge 51% to £166m
  // On a statutory basis though, losses were narrowed down to £140m
  // The company’s mobile arm suffered but its online sales surged 22%, boosted by a 166% surge during lockdownDixons Carphone has seen annual underlying profits more than halve after a hit from lockdown store closures and worse-than-expected sales in its mobile arm.
  The parent company of Carphone Warehouse and Currys PC World reported underlying
  
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• Burberry to cut 500 jobs worldwide in £55m cost-saving drive

  15-07-2020 10:07
  
  Plan, which includes 150 UK head office posts, comes as sales slump in Covid-19 crisisCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBurberry is to cut 500 jobs worldwide, including 150 in its UK head office, to slash costs by £55m after a slump in sales during the coronavirus pandemic.Retail sales dived by 48% in the three months to the end of June, including a 75% fall in Europe and the Middle East, as countries closed shops and offices and severely limited travel to c
  
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• Asos remains “cautious” despite revenue reaching £1bn

  15-07-2020 09:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Asos sales increase during lockdown
  // EU revenues rise but UK experiences 1% fall in sales
  // The retailer said it is on track to deliver “strong profit growth”Asos has seen its sales rise during the Covid-19 lockdown and is on track to deliver “strong profit growth”.
  The online fashion retailer recorded a 10 per cent increase in group revenue to £1 billion for the four months to June 30.
  Asos’ international markets had accelerated retail sales as the
  
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• Asos sales jump as consumers snap up ‘lockdown products’

  15-07-2020 09:52
  Online retailer taps into rising demand for loungewear as shoppers stay at home
  
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• Burberry to cut 500 jobs as lockdowns cause sales plunge

  15-07-2020 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Burberry announces 500 job cuts amid plans to streamline its office in the UK
  // It also plans to make job cuts outside Britain after lockdowns led to plunging sales
  // Burberry did not provide an exact number of how many jobs will be impactedBurberry has revealed plans to make 500 job cuts amid efforts to streamline UK office operations and make cuts across stores outside Britain after lockdown sent sales tumbling.
  The luxury fashion retailer said around 150 office jobs are expected to go in
  
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• Burberry eyes job cuts as lockdowns cause sales plunge

  15-07-2020 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Burberry signals potential job cuts amid plans to streamline its office in the UK
  // It also plans to make job cuts outside Britain after lockdowns led to plunging sales
  // Burberry did not provide an exact number of how many jobs will be impactedBurberry is expected to announce job cuts after revealing plans to streamline UK office operations and make cuts across stores outside Britain after lockdown sent sales tumbling.
  The luxury fashion retailer did not provide numbers of jobs likely to b
  
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• More expensive fashion & video game prices drives inflation higher

  15-07-2020 09:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Inflation increased to 0.6% in June, from 0.5% in May, according to the ONS
  // Higher video game prices and lack of summer sales for fashion drove the inflation increaseUK inflation bounced higher in June on the back of clothes and video game price rises as the coronavirus crisis halted normal summer discounting patterns.
  The ONS said the rate of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation increased to 0.6 per cent for the month, from 0.5 per cent in May.
  A consensus of economists had predicted that
  
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• Retail workers fear customer abuse over mandatory face coverings

  15-07-2020 09:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Shop floor staff fear being the victim of customer abuse over mandatory face coverings
  // The police have indicated they should only get involved as a “last resort” if customers don’t comply
  // The BRC warns that retailers must not be responsible for enforcing the new rule from July 24Shop assistants have said they fear abuse from customers over mandatory face coverings as police chiefs warn they should only be involved “as a last resort” if shoppers do not compl
  
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• Burberry warns of lingering coronavirus impact as sales tumble

  15-07-2020 08:39
  Luxury fashion group’s retail sales fell 45% as lockdowns stymied activity this spring
  
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• Floored as Harveys constantly failed on its promises to deliver

  15-07-2020 08:00
  
  We had got rid of our old furniture and we’ve been sitting on the floor for monthsI ordered a three-piece suite from my local Harveys furniture store in January. Since then, I’ve visited the store and emailed many times for an update on delivery, and made a formal complaint at the beginning of April. I’ve been repeatedly told the order is on its way, but I realise I’ve been fobbed off. I have two autistic children and a bad back and we have been sitting on the floor for m
  
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• Trig’s completes rollout of Logile Workforce Management System and realises rapid results

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Logile, Inc., leading store planning, execution and workforce management solution provider, today announced that Trig’s, a premier multi-specialty retailer in northern and central Wisconsin, completed its multi-banner... View Article
  
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• New technology slashes network costs and promotes smarter ways of working

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Some of the world’s most trusted tech leaders – Silver Peak (HP), Check Point and SDWAN Solutions – have combined their considerable knowledge and global reach... View Article
  
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• Morrisons launches flat pricing across school uniforms and kids’ ranges

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has launched its new range of school uniforms and announced that parents will pay the same price for the garments irrespective of the age of their... View Article
  
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• Johnsons Shoes Company bought out of administration 

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Johnsons Shoes Company has been bought out of administration  by an independent footwear retailer. The purchase by Daniel Footwear will save 66 jobs. Operating stores under the Johnsons Shoes... View Article
  
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• Hughes launches ‘Shop Live’ feature on website

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Hughes Electrical has launched a new ‘Shop Live’ feature on its website to enable shoppers to view products and watch  demonstrations from the comfort of their own home. Once... View Article
  
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• Dunelm set for drop in profit after sales fall

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Homewares retailer Dunelm saw its sales decline by 29% in the 16 weeks to 27 June after like-for-like store sales dropped by 49.7%. In contrast, there was... View Article
  
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• Dixons Carphone posts full year profit fall

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Dixons Carphone has seen its full year adjusted pre-tax profit drop to £166 million from £339 million in the previous year due to a poor performance at its Carphone Warehouse mobile... View Article
  
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• Burberry to cut jobs as lockdowns lead to sales fall

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Burberry has said it is considering cutting jobs as it revealed that first quarter comparable sales dropped by 45%. Sales in its EMEIA and US region fell by... View Article
  
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• ASOS grows sales by 10% as it pledges to repay furlough support

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  ASOS grew its group sales climb by 10% to £1.01 billion in the four months to 30 June as it benefited from increased demand from customers and more warehouse capacity. The online... View Article
  
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• Aldi Specialbuy will prevent nearly four tonnes of UK cheese going to waste

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Aldi supermarket chain is to buy nearly four tonnes of surplus stock from British artisan cheesemakers whose businesses have been affected by Covid-19. The retailer... View Article
  
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• Aldi Specialbuy will prevent nearly four tonnes of British cheese going to waste

  15-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Aldi supermarket chain is to buy nearly four tonnes of surplus stock from British artisan cheesemakers whose businesses have been affected by Covid-19. The retailer... View Article
  
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