Retail news

• Sales of alcohol, tea and coffee soar in shops since UK lockdown

  21-07-2020 19:11
  
  Consumers continue to largely eat and drink at home even as Covid-19 lockdown loosensCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSales of alcohol, tea and coffee in UK supermarkets and corner shops have soared since the lockdown as the nation’s drinking habits have become home-based.The value of beer, wine and spirits sold through grocers was up 41% in the past month, even though pubs in England started to reopen on 4 July, as consumers continue to eat and drink at ho
  
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• Retail health at an all-time low but pent up demand may offer a lifeline for retailers

  21-07-2020 18:14
  
  21 July 2020
   The second quarter of 2020 saw retail health plummet by 10 points to a record low RHI score of just 61
  The RTT predicts that health will improve by 3 points as pent up demand is released, but that will depend on the general mood music, the unwinding of the furlough scheme and its impact
  This quarter, the RTT pointed to the significant divergence between food and non-food retail health, with the members stressing that overall health cannot be looked at without observing the dif
  
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• Is Covid-19 a good time for retailers to partner up for click-and-collect?

  21-07-2020 18:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  With retailers witnessing a tough trading climate in recent years, it’s no surprise they are seemingly scrambling ways to boost footfall in their stores. Click-and-collect just happens to be one tactic employed by retailers to achieve this.
  While many high street names already offer click-and-collect, some are now entering partnerships with fellow retailers to offer customers a simpler way of shopping.
  As of 2020, at least 80 per cent of retail shops offered click-and-collect, increasing
  
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• The general health of UK retail is at all-time low

  21-07-2020 17:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Q2 2020 saw retail health plummet by 10 points to a record low RHI score of just 61
  // RTT predicts that health will improve by 3 points as pent up demand is released
  // However, this will depend on the general mood music, the unwinding of the furlough scheme and its impactThe general health of the UK’s retail industry is at an all-time low but pent up demand may offer a lifeline, a quarterly index has suggested.
  Following its latest health assessment, the KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank (
  
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• Business rates revaluation delayed until 2023

  21-07-2020 17:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The UK Government delays the next business rates revaluation by two years
  // The next revaluation will take effect in 2023, instead of 2021
  // To reflect the impact of Covid-19, this revaluation will be based on property values as of April, 1 2021The UK Government has officially confirmed that the next business rates revaluation will take place in 2023, and called for evidence for a wider review of the rating system.
  The news comes after it was announced in May that the business rates revalua
  
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• Ted Baker: worth a rummage

  21-07-2020 16:26 via ft.com
  A reset by retailer’s new chief executive should pique the interest of value hunters
  
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• Seven Dials to be pedestrianised to boost embattled West End footfall

  21-07-2020 15:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Shaftesbury plans to implement temporary road closures in Seven Dials to help boost footfall in London’s West End
  // Aim is to support retailers, restaurants, bars and cafes as they reopen as they exit lockdown
  // Large areas of central London are suffering from low footfall due to office closures & fewer touristsSwathes of the Seven Dials retail precinct in London’s West End is set to be pedestrianised in order to boost footfall now that lockdown is over, according to new pro
  
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• AO World staff in line for a share of £240m bonus pot

  21-07-2020 14:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // 3000 staff at AO World could share a £240m bonus pot as part of a bumper reward scheme
  // The scheme would pay out bonuses to staff for share price rises above £5.23 a share
  // Execs could land up to a mammoth £20m each in bonuses under the plansAround 3000 staff at AO World could share a £240 million bonus pot as part of a bumper reward scheme unveiled by the online electricals retailer.
  AO World said its new scheme – called the value creation plan – would
  
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• Grocery sales growth slows down as food & dining exits lockdown

  21-07-2020 13:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Grocery sales for the four weeks to July 12 grew by 14.6% year-on-year
  // However this was a slowdown compared to the 18.9% growth in June
  // Growth slowed as the reopening of pubs & restaurants affected momentum for supermarketsUK grocery sales growth has started to slow down from record highs on the back of easing lockdown restrictions, according to new figures.
  Supermarket sales for the four weeks to July 12 grew by 14.6 per cent against the same period last year, as it slowed down fro
  
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• Hammerson launches Crowd Checker feature for “nervous” shoppers who want to beat the crowds

  21-07-2020 12:11 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Hammerson has launched a new Crowd Checker feature so “nervous” shoppers can check when the safest times to shop are.
  The shopping centre giant has rolled out the new Crowd Checker feature, which uses artificial intelligence to track the exact number of people in stores in real-time, at its centres in Brent Cross, Cabot Circus and Westquay.
  Shoppers who wish to avoid crowds will now be given a live status on their local shopping centre, including “now is a great time to visit&r
  
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• “Severity of Covid-19” knocks Matalan revenue by 72%

  21-07-2020 11:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Matalan revenue drops by colossal 72% as Covid-19 impacts trading
  // Matalan ended the quarter with cash of £40.9m, compared with £71.2m the previous yearMatalan has seen its revenue plunge by over 70 per cent, confirming the “severity” of the impact of Covid-19 on trading.
  For the 13 weeks to May 30, revenue dropped by 72 per cent to £75.3 million, compared with the same period the previous year.
  EBITDA made a loss of £10.2 million in the quarter, after th
  
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• UK grocery sales rise at record pace amid Covid-19 outbreak

  21-07-2020 10:57
  
  Local shops and online services thrive as Britons turn to making meals at homeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageGrocery sales rose at the fastest pace since records began in the three months to 12 July as the UK shifted to making meals at home during the temporary closures of restaurants, cafes and workplaces in the coronavirus lockdown.Sales of groceries, excluding takeaway food and drink, rose 16.9% in the three-month period with local shops and online services
  
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• Amazon’s Jeff Bezos made $13bn yesterday in the largest single-day rise in personal wealth on record

  21-07-2020 10:55 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos made $13 billion yesterday marking the largest single-day rise in individual wealth on record.
  Bezos, who owns an 11 per cent stake in Amazon, has now seen his personal wealth grow $74 billion this year despite the US experiencing the most severe economic downturn since the great depression.
  On Friday Amazon reported its fifth consecutive day of losses marking its worst week since February, however yesterday morning stocks rebounded by 7.9 per cent, sending Bezo
  
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• Co-op staff wear face masks early on to encourage use

  21-07-2020 09:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Co-op staff wear face masks before it is compulsory to encourage use
  // Some retailers have raised concern that the mandatory wearing of face coverings could lead to confrontationsCentral England Co-op staff have began wearing face coverings ahead of government implementation in an effort to encourage customers to use them.
  From Friday, face coverings will become compulsory for customers to wear them in stores.
  Co-op staff at over 400 food stores have donned face coverings as the retailer hop
  
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• US shareholder acquires Superdry stake after shares fall

  21-07-2020 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // US investment firm Gatemore Capital Management buys 3% stake in Superdry
  // Gatemore said it is supportive of Superdry CEO Julian Dunkerton’s vision to transform the companyA US investor has snapped up a three per cent stake in Superdry after a slump in the fashion retailer’s share price.
  The hedge fund Gatemore Capital Management, which has previously called for a shake-up at Moss Bros, French Connection and Majestic Wine, said it is supportive of Superdry co-founder Julian Dunke
  
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• Major investior acquires Superdry stake after shares fall

  21-07-2020 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Investment firm Gatemore Capital Management buys 3% stake in Superdry
  // Gatemore says it is supportive of Superdry CEO Julian Dunkerton’s transformation visionA major investment firm has snapped up a three per cent stake in Superdry after a slump in the fashion retailer’s share price.
  Gatemore Capital Management said it was supportive of Superdry co-founder Julian Dunkerton’s vision to transform the company.
  Dunkerton returned to the role of chief executive of Superdry last
  
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• Ted Baker remains “resilient” despite shop sales plunging 79%

  21-07-2020 09:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Ted Baker sales drop 50% to £51m
  // The retailer saw in-store revenue plunge 79% to £15.8m
  // Group revenue declined 55% to £60.9mTed Baker has reported a “resilient” growth with a particularly strong performance online, despite sales halving due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
  The fashion retailer saw its year-on-year sales drop by 50 per cent to £51 million for the 11 weeks to July 18.
  In stores, revenues plunged 79 per cent to £15.8 mill
  
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• Ted Baker remains “resilient” despite revenue plunging 79%

  21-07-2020 09:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Ted Baker sales drop 50% to £51m
  // The retailer saw in-store revenue plunge 79% to £15.8m
  // Group revenue declined 55% to £60.9mTed Baker has reported a “resilient” growth with a particularly strong performance online, despite sales halving due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
  The fashion retailer saw its year-on-year sales drop by 50 per cent to £51 million for the 11 weeks to July 18.
  In stores, revenues plunged 79 per cent to £15.8 mill
  
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• Walmart restarts talks with investors over Asda sale

  21-07-2020 08:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Walmart proceeds talks with bidders over the potential sale of a stake in Asda
  // The sale was paused when Asda was left to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemicAsda owner Walmart has restarted talks over the potential sale of a stake in the Big 4 grocer, more than a year after its failed merger with rival grocer Sainsbury’s.
  The US giant said on Monday that it is in discussions with “a small number of third-party investors” who are interested in buying a sta
  
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• Alibaba bets on European influencers to spur global reach

  21-07-2020 02:00 via ft.com
  Chinese group races to sign 100,000 content creators for its AliExpress platform
  
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• The Original Factory Shop trials home delivery service

  21-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Original Factory Shop is piloting a home delivery service for customers who spend a minimum of £15 across its gardening, outdoor, toys, homeware and electrical ranges.... View Article
  
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• Ted Baker reports ‘resilient’ trading

  21-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion retailer Ted Baker has described its trading as resilient in the 11 weeks to 18 July after it benefited from a particularly strong performance online. The... View Article
  
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• Ted Baker posts ‘resilient’ trading

  21-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion retailer Ted Baker has described its trading as resilient in the 11 weeks to 18 July after it benefited from a particularly strong performance online. The... View Article
  
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• Shaftesbury works with Camden Council to temporaily pedestrianise Seven Dials

  21-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Shaftesbury has announced plans to implement temporary timed road closures in the Seven Dials shopping district this summer as part of a programme of initiatives to... View Article
  
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• Digital Resilience During a Global Pandemic: 2020 Fashion Report

  21-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  With most physical stores currently closed, fashion merchants need to ramp up digital technologies to improve the eCommerce shopping experience. In an industry that relies heavily... View Article
  
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• AO staff to be rewarded through new incentive plan

  21-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Appliance retailer AO World is proposing to introduce an employee incentive scheme to enable staff to share in its success. The move follows a review of the... View Article
  
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• Antler luggage brand bought out of administration

  21-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Administrators for the Antler luggage business have announced that its brand, online retail business and assets have been sold to an ATR group company. Antler  entered administration in May... View Article
  
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