Retail news

• UK high streets get boost as 'eat out to help out' scheme begins

  03-08-2020 19:47
  
  Data shows nearly 30% more people visited high streets compared with same time last weekBritish high streets received a boost from the launch of the government-backed discount dining scheme on Monday, according to industry figures, as restaurants also reported a rise in interest from customers.Data on shopper visits showed that by 3pm on Monday the number of people hitting the high street was up nearly 30% on the same day last week, while across all destination including retail parks and shoppin
  
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• Jobs blow as DW Sports and Hays Travel announcements affect 2,600

  03-08-2020 19:41
  
  Retailer and gym operator collapses and travel agent chain to make redundanciesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAbout 2,600 staff in the beleaguered retail and leisure industries face redundancy after the fitness and gymwear firm DW Sports collapsed and the tour operator Hays Travel announced job cuts, blaming the UK government’s policy on travel to Spain.As the gloom around the two sectors deepened, DW Sports fell into administration, putting 1,700 jobs at
  
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• Property group Hammerson looks at possible rights issue

  03-08-2020 19:08
  
  Shares in shopping centre owner have fallen 80% this year during pandemicThe property group Hammerson, which owns shopping centres including the Bullring in Birmingham and Brent Cross in north London, is drawing up plans for a possible rights issue and is in advanced talks on the sale of its stake in a discount shopping outlets joint venture to help it through the coronavirus crisis.Hammerson shares, which have plunged 80% this year as the retail landscape has been battered by coronavirus lockdo
  
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• Hammerson looks at possible rights issue amid difficulties

  03-08-2020 19:08
  
  Shares in shopping centre owning group have fallen 80% this year amid the pandemicProperty group Hammerson, which owns shopping centres including the Bullring in Birmingham and Brent Cross in north London, is drawing up plans for a possible rights issue and is in advanced talks on the sale of its stake in a discount shopping outlets joint venture to help it through the coronavirus crisis.Hammerson shares, which have plunged 80% this year as the retail landscape has been battered by coronavirus l
  
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• Big Interview: Tony Buffin, CEO, Holland & Barrett

  03-08-2020 18:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  In charge of Holland & Barrett’s overall operations is Tony Buffin, who joined just 18 months ago. He has since attempted to digitise the retailer, even when the Covid-19 chaos forced many businesses to switch up their traditional ways.
  Buffin joined the health retailer from Travis Perkins, where was chief finance director before being promoted to chief operating officer. At Holland & Barrett, he had big shoes to fill. Previous chief executive Peter Aldis had presided over 39 cons
  
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• Seven & i/Speedway: pumped up

  03-08-2020 17:32
  Purchase will catapult group’s debt to ebitda ratio of 1.5 times up to around 4 times
  
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• Poundland rolls out chilled & frozen food to 19 stores this month

  03-08-2020 17:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Poundland’s chilled and frozen food roll out hots up in August as part of transformation scheme
  // Up to five stores a week to get “shop-in-shops” giving customers even more choice
  // In total, 19 stores are part of the chilled and frozen food roll out this month, plus 8 in SeptemberPoundland has announced the next stores to get a new chilled and frozen food section as part of its transformation programme.
  Another 19 stores – from Birmingham to Barnsley and Leicester t
  
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• 50 stores to shut with M&Co on brink of pre-pack administration

  03-08-2020 16:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // McGeoch family on verge of buying back assets of M&Co via pre-pack administration deal
  // The deal could mean 50 stores will permanently shut while hundreds of jobs will be lost
  // M&Co currently has 262 stores and employs 2700 staffThe family that owns the M&Co value fashion chain is reportedly set to buy back the business via a pre-pack administration deal as part of efforts to save it from collapse.
  According to Sky News, the pre-pack deal would see its assets sold back to
  
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• Sluggish footfall in first full week of mandatory face coverings

  03-08-2020 15:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Footfall across all UK retail destinations rose by 2.8% last week from the previous week
  // In England, where face coverings are mandatory in shops, footfall rose by just 2.5% across all destinations, versus 4% in other UK nations
  // Footfall across UK retail destinations remains more than a third lower than a year ago at -37.6%The first full week of mandatory coverings in retail shops around England has led to sluggish overall footfall figures across the UK, new data suggests.
  According to e
  
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• Here’s what the UK’s biggest retailers really do with your data

  03-08-2020 14:49 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Ever wonder what you’re agreeing to when you agree to terms and conditions when shopping with the likes of Amazon, Asos, Zara and Nike?
  Charged has teamed up with Rightly.co.uk to lay bare just how much these retailers know about you and what they do with your data once they have it.
  Below we have listed everything a shopper has legally consented to share once they agree to a retailer’s terms and conditions.
   
  Have we missed any retailers or data you’d love
  
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• Dave Whelan’s DW Sports close to administration

  03-08-2020 14:37
  Fitness retailer and gym operator warns 1,700 jobs at risk
  
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• Hammerson readies £600m cash call to help survive crisis

  03-08-2020 14:06
  Shopping centre owner set to offload 50% stake in its European outlet business as it bolsters business
  
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• Hammerson confirms it is scrambling to raise cash

  03-08-2020 14:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Hammerson confirms t it is in talks to sell its share of VIA Outlets, in a deal that could fetch £800m
  // It also confirmed reports that it might go to shareholders for extra cash – up to £600mHammerson has confirmed it is trying to raise extra cash by selling its stake in a European arm of the business, and could go cap-in-hand to shareholders.
  The shopping centre giant, which has suffered from unpaid rents during the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown, confirmed
  
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• 1700 jobs at risk as DW Sports lurches towards administration

  03-08-2020 13:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // DW Sports to file for administration today, placing 1700 employees at risk
  // The planned restructuring will see it wind down its retail arm for goodSports retailer and gym group DW Sports has said it is expected to tumble into administration, placing 1700 employees at risk.
  The company is to appoint insolvency specialists today after its income was wiped out by the protracted closure of stores and gyms during the coronavirus lockdown.
  DW Sports, which was founded by former Wigan Athletic own
  
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• DW Sports goes into administration, putting 1,700 jobs at risk

  03-08-2020 13:19
  
  Retailer and gym operator says the coronavirus lockdown wiped out its incomeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSports and gym company DW Sports has gone into administration, putting 1,700 jobs at risk.The group, which was founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, operates 73 gyms and 75 retail stores across the UK. The company, which said its e-commerce website will cease trading immediately, announced plans to shut 25 of its stores last month as the coro
  
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• The UK needs more homes – but building them on the high street isn't the answer | Will Brett

  03-08-2020 13:00
  
  Relaxing planning regulations will put the fate of towns and cities in the hands of landlords – and drain them of meaningThe future of the high street, we are told, is to build more homes on it. You can see the argument. Even before coronavirus, many big retailers were struggling to make rent as people increasingly turned to online shopping. Shop vacancies were rising and commercial landlords, many of them overloaded with debt and watching their share prices tumble, were wondering what to
  
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• Giving more power to housing developers puts the UK's high streets at risk | Will Brett

  03-08-2020 13:00
  
  Relaxing planning regulations will take the fate of towns and cities away from residents – and drain them of meaning
  The future of the high street, we are told, is to build more homes on it. You can see the argument. Even before coronavirus, many big retailers were struggling to make rent as people increasingly turned to online shopping. Shop vacancies were rising and commercial landlords, many of them overloaded with debt and watching their share prices tumble, were wondering what to do n
  
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• Aldi plans to launch Amazon Go-style cashierless stores as it requests product recognition tech

  03-08-2020 12:19 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Aldi is developing its own cashierless Amazon Go rival and is on the hunt for automatic product recognition technologies.
  Aldi Süd, the subsidiary of the German discounter which trades in the UK, has placed an international call out to tech startups specialising in computer vision and artificial intelligence.
  The German has reached out to potential collaborators on a new English-language website, asking entrepreneurs with test-ready solutions to register and introduce their companies and pr
  
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• Consumer confidence rises but Brits “remain aware of challenges”

  03-08-2020 11:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Consumer confidence has risen according to YouGov and Centre for Economics and Business Research
  // Confidence rose 1.7 points to 100.8 in July while business activity continued to riseNew research has suggested that consumer confidence has improved as shoppers return to the high street post-lockdown, indicating an economical recovery.
  Confidence rose 1.7 points to 100.8 in July while business activity continued to rise, according to research by YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Busines
  
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• Thomas Pink shutters London flagship store

  03-08-2020 10:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Thomas Pink closes Jermyn Street flagship store
  // The future of the rest of its store estate is now at risk due to a lack of visitorsThomas Pink has reportedly shuttered its flagship store on London’s Jermyn Street store.
  The shirtmaker, which is owned by French luxury conglomerate LVMH, reopened its store on June 15 after lockdown, but has decided to permanently close it, This is Money reported.
  This has put the future of the rest of its store estate at risk due to a lack of visitors.
  
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• Apple demands 50% rent cuts despite “phenomenal” sales during lockdown

  03-08-2020 09:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Apple is demanding landlords for 50% rent reductions
  // The retailer has offered to extend leases by a few years in returnApple is reportedly demanding for rent reductions across its UK estate despite a sales surge during the coronavirus lockdown.
  The tech retailer has asked landlords of its 38-store estate in the UK that it wants rents reduced by up to 50 per cent.
  In return, it has offered to extend leases by a few years, The Sunday Times reported.READ MORE: Apple closes all stores out
  
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• John Lewis to announce radical shake-up

  03-08-2020 09:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis chairwoman Sharon White battles to revive the partnership’s fortunes
  // The new ‘Better Jobs’ initiative aims to create more “rewarding and enriching jobs” at 120 companies John Lewis buys fromJohn Lewis is reportedly expected to announce a radical shake-up of the way that it deals with suppliers in the wake of Covid-19.
  The retailer has revealed the ‘Better Jobs’ initiative, which will help create more “rewarding and enriching jobs&r
  
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• Hobbycraft online sales rise 200% since lockdown

  03-08-2020 08:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Hobbycraft online sales rise 200%
  // Adjusted EBITDA UP 21.9% to £14.8 million
  // Total revenue up 8.9% to £193.6 millionHobbycraft has recorded a 200 per cent surge in online sales since the Covid-19 pandemic struck the UK.
  The arts and crafts retailer also saw its adjusted EBITDA rise 21.9 per cent from £12.2 million to £14.8 million in the full year to February 16.
  Total revenue for the period was up 8.9 per cent to £193.6 million.READ MORE:Hobbycraft books 5.
  
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• There's nothing easy about trying to get my face masks

  03-08-2020 08:00
  
  My order hasn’t arrived and I can’t get through to the seller, EasylifeOn 10 June I placed a phone order for £47.96 for face masks with Easylife, having seen an ad in the Guardian. On 23 June, I called to ask when I’d receive the masks; I was told there had been a problem with the credit card I’d used.I’ve never had a problem with that card, before or since, but I gave a different card which was accepted. Continue reading...
  
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• 7-Eleven owner to buy Speedway from Marathon Petroleum for $21bn

  03-08-2020 05:55
  Japanese retail giant Seven & i seeks to cement US position and grow beyond shrinking home market
  
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• Lord & Taylor is latest victim of retail sector slump

  03-08-2020 04:13
  Historic New York-based chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
  
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• Marathon Petroleum to sell Speedway to 7-Eleven owner for $21bn

  03-08-2020 02:57
  Japanese retail giant Seven & i pushing ahead with expansion beyond shrinking home market
  
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• Hobbycraft reports 200% boom in online sales since start of pandemic

  03-08-2020 01:01
  
  Exceptional demand comes as customers discover new crafts in coronavirus lockdownThe British love affair with home crafting shows no sign of abating, according to Hobbycraft, which has reported a 200% boom in online sales since the Covid-19 pandemic began.Hobbycraft, whose bestsellers include a giant set of 1,000 craft pieces for £6 and soap-making kits for £15, said there had been “exceptional levels of customer demand” during lockdown as customers confined to their home
  
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• London’s Seven Dials Market to reopen on 7 August

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  KERB’s Seven Dials Market will be the first of London’s major food halls to welcome back customers when it reopens on 7 August. Launched last September, the 24,000 square... View Article
  
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• John Lewis & Partners launches ‘Better Jobs’ supplier framework

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  John Lewis & Partners is rolling out a new supplier engagement programme to all of its 120 UK manufacturing suppliers. Called Better Jobs, the scheme is designed to replace... View Article
  
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• Hammerson in advanced talks regarding stake sale as it considers equity raise

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Shopping centre owner Hammerson has confirmed that it is in advanced talks regarding the terms of a possible disposal of its 50% stake in VIA Outlets to its... View Article
  
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• DW Sports chain enters administration

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  DW Sports has announced that it is restructuring its gym and retail portfolio and will be appointing administrators  today. The move will put 1,700 jobs at risk. In... View Article
  
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• Central England Co-op launches self-scan till trial

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Central England Co-op is trialling the use of  self-scan tills at one of its stores. The retailer has introduced the technology at its Fradley food store in... View Article
  
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• Burberry opens first social retail store

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Burberry has chosen Chinese technology hub Shenzhen as the location for its first social retail store. The company said the shop will blend the physical and social worlds... View Article
  
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• AO to create 250 new jobs at Crewe logistics hub

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online electricals retailer AO is to recruit for 250 new roles at its logistics hub in Crewe. The move is part of the retailer’s plans  to expand its logistics network after it... View Article
  
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• 8 tips to engage your remote team

  03-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  8 Techniques to ensure great employee experience in times of crisis. HappyOrNot have released a helpful collection of practical tips and guidance for any company looking... View Article
  
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