Retail news

• Adverts for jobs related to internet sales surge by 46% in early August

  13-08-2020 20:22
  
  ONS says employers increased demand for staff across the UK and in all areas of the economyA surge in demand for people to work in sectors closely associated with internet shopping is behind a rise in online job adverts, according to official figures.Notices for roles in transport, logistics and warehousing pushed the total number of online job adverts last week to 62% of its 2019 average from 53% in the previous seven days, according to official figures. Continue reading...
  
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• Nearly 300 workers test positive at M&S sandwich supplier in Northampton

  13-08-2020 19:27
  
  Greencore started testing staff after local rise in coronavirus casesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAlmost 300 workers have tested positive for coronavirus following an outbreak at a factory in Northampton that makes M&S sandwiches.Greencore said some of its staff are self-isolating after a significant number tested positive for coronavirus. The company took the decision to proactively test workers as a result of a rise in cases in the town. Continue readin
  
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• New Look plans second rescue restructure in 18 months

  13-08-2020 19:25
  
  Retailer at risk of collapse with loss of 12,000 jobs if landlords do not agree to deal on rentNew Look has put itself up for sale and is planning its second rescue restructure in less than 18 months as it tries to trim rents and cut debt after a slump in sales.Meanwhile its rival River Island is preparing to cut 350 store jobs including shop managers and senior sales assistants. In an email to staff seen by the Guardian, Will Kernan, River Island’s chief executive, said the cuts were &ldq
  
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• New Look launches second debt-for-equity swap

  13-08-2020 18:58
  Fashion group will wipe out £440m of debt and seek turnover-based rents
  
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• Boxpark hires property director to drive expansion plans

  13-08-2020 17:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boxpark has hired a property director as it presses ahead with expansion plans
  // Simon Bishop has over 25 years of experience in leisure acquisitionsBoxpark has drafted in a property director in a bid to bolster the business’ expansion plans for the next five years.
  The retail and leisure park group has hired Simon Bishop, who has over 25 years of experience in leisure acquisitions for restaurants, pubs, hotels, and casinos.
  Prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, Boxpark had revealed pla
  
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• New Look secures agreement with creditors to reduce debt

  13-08-2020 17:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // New Look secures agreement with creditors to invest in strategic business plan
  // The transaction will deliver a new money investment of £40 millionNew Look has announced that it has secured an agreement with its financial creditors.
  The transaction will extend New Look’s facilities, deliver a new money investment of £40 million and significantly de-leverage the balance sheet.
  The fashion retailer will have funding to provide a “sustainable platform” for tra
  
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• New Look secures £40m lifeline with creditors and plans CVA

  13-08-2020 17:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // New Look secures agreement with creditors to invest in strategic business plan
  // The transaction will deliver a new money investment of £40 millionNew Look has launched a major restructuring of its finances to reduce its costs after sales were hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
  The fashion retailer said it was asking landlords to accept new lease contracts on its stores which are based on turnover as it battles the “challenging retail market environment”.
  It also said it
  
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• New Look secures £40m lifeline with creditors

  13-08-2020 17:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // New Look secures agreement with creditors to invest in strategic business plan
  // The transaction will deliver a new money investment of £40 millionNew Look has secured an agreement with its financial creditors to “rebase” its existing leasing portfolio.
  The transaction will extend New Look’s facilities, deliver a new money investment of £40 million and significantly de-leverage the balance sheet.
  The fashion retailer will have funding to provide a “su
  
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• Is Lidl’s new Plus app enough to bridge its gap in ecommerce?

  13-08-2020 16:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  When Lidl recently launched Lidl Plus, a mobile app offering rewards such as a weekly money saving coupon, questions were raised to whether it was enough to compensate its blaring cap in ecommerce.
  Customer loyalty schemes, which Lidl Plus is in its essence, once represented a promotional and/or discount and reward mechanism that encourages consumers to stick with a retailer for the long haul. However, there is increasing evidence now to suggest that consumers will flick between loyalty sc
  
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• Footfall in London's West End down by two-thirds on last year

  13-08-2020 16:00
  
  Mayor Sadiq Khan says city faces ‘existential threat’ from coronavirus pandemicThe looming crisis facing cities in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic has been underlined by new data which shows that the number of people on London’s West End shopping streets is still only a third of normal levels.The figures came as the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warned that the capital faced an “existential threat” from the pandemic. Continue reading...
  
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• Asda introduces high-tech carbon fibre delivery fleet with “stunning payload improvement”

  13-08-2020 15:33 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Asda has launched a new fleet of high-tech carbon fibre delivery vans with “stunning payload improvement and a huge capacity increase”.
  Asda’s 25 new vans feature a large carbon fibre pod which is insulated by 5500 recycled plastic water bottles, constructed by UK firm Penso, on top of its usual Mercedes Sprinter chassis.
  While each will achieve 10 per cent more miles to the gallon than their current fleet, the key improvement is the significant increase in capacity.
  This will
  
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• ‘Unacceptably low’ funeral care slammed by UK watchdog

  13-08-2020 14:02
  Providers told to be clearer about pricing and service but CMA stops short of more radical reform
  
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• Halfords appoints former Moss Bros finance director to the board

  13-08-2020 13:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Halfords appoints Tom Singer as non-executive director
  // Singer is the former finance director at Moss BrosHalfords has added a new non-executive director to its board, with former Moss Boss finance director Tom Singer taking up the post.
  Singer’s stint at Moss Bros was between 1997 and 2000, but more recently he was InterContinental chief financial officer and Bupa group finance director.
  He has also had a stint with William Hill as its chief financial officer and chief operating offi
  
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• Adidas sales unaffected by race row, CEO Kasper Rorsted says

  13-08-2020 12:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Adidas sales remain unaffected by racism controversy
  // Adidas HR boss Karen Parkin resigned in June after employees called for an investigationAdidas chief executive Kasper Rorsted has said the company’s sales have not been affected by the racism row it was embroiled in, which had led to the resignation of HR boss Karen Parkin.
  Parkin stepped down in June after a number of employees called for an investigation over her handling of racism at the company which she had referred to as &ldq
  
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• Bestway drafts in advisers to market 37 stores

  13-08-2020 12:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Bestway hires advisers from Christie & Co to market 37 retail properties across the UK
  // The Bargain Booze, Wine Rack, Select Convenience & Central Convenience stores no longer fit with Bestway’s strategyBestway has appointed a property adviser to market 37 of its stores as they no longer fit with its business strategy.
  The stores in question – which trade as Bargain Booze, Wine Rack, Select Convenience and Central Convenience – were acquired in 2018 from the admini
  
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• Brits splashing out on Rolexes boosts Watches of Switzerland

  13-08-2020 11:52
  Group’s shares rise 18% as shoppers of luxury items in UK regions make up for fewer tourists
  
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• Facebook groups selling fake Amazon reviews still rampant “leaving shoppers at huge risk”

  13-08-2020 11:38 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Facebook groups creating fake Amazon reviews to boost sales are rampant despite the platform signing an agreement to better tackle the issue.
  Which? has found that dozens of Facebook groups, many with tens of thousands of members, offering commission in exchange for fake reviews are still operating openly on Facebook.
  “Our research shows that review-trading groups continue to thrive on Facebook, leaving shoppers at huge risk of being duped into buying products on Amazon that have been boos
  
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• Naked Wines to raise funds to support South African winemakers

  13-08-2020 11:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Naked Wines to raise funds to support South African winemakers
  // The online wine retailer is set to launch an online crowdfunding event on FridayNaked Wines has said it will raise £225,220 for South African winemakers by introducing an exclusive collection.
  The deal is part of its $5 million (£4.1 million) Covid Support Fund.
  The online wine retailer is set to launch an online crowdfunding event on Thursday to raise money for South African winemakers impacted by Covid-19 restrict
  
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• Train companies want the government to help retail tenants

  13-08-2020 10:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Train companies seek government bail out or aid for station retail tenants
  // Rail Delivery Group sends proposals to Department for Transport to introduce rent cuts & payment holidays for retail tenantsThe UK Government is being urged to introduce rent cuts and payment holidays for retail tenants at railway stations to help them ride out the coronavirus pandemic.
  According to The Financial Times, the Rail Delivery Group has sent proposals to the Department for Transport as retailers have
  
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• Watches of Switzerland “adapts to Covid-19 challenges” as profits rise

  13-08-2020 09:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Watches of Switzerland full-year profits rise
  // However, trading conditions have continued to prove challenging due to the pandemicWatches of Switzerland has seen its full-year profits rise despite the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the retail sector during lockdown.
  During the 52 weeks to April 26, the luxury watch group’s adjusted EBITDA rose by 13.6 per cent to £78.1 million.
  Operating profit climbed 6.2 per cent to £48.3 million over the same period.READ MORE:Watches of Sw
  
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• Topps Tiles eyes modest profit as like-for-likes grow 15.5% so far in Q4

  13-08-2020 09:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Topps Tiles says like-for-like sales in the first 6 weeks of Q4 is up 15.5%
  // Average weekly sales were down in April, May & June but recovered in the 6 weeks to August 6 to average weekly growth of 13.1%
  // It now forecasts a modest level of adjusted pre-tax profit in the full-year period ending Sept 26Topps Tiles has revealed that it now expects to post a “modest” profit this year as retail sales bounced back the final quarter.
  The home improvement retailer said trading in
  
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• Very Group’s annual revenue surpasses £2bn for the first time

  13-08-2020 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Very Group’s annual sales exceeds £2bn for the first time
  // It saw a 65% increase in website visits
  // Management now expects a return to profit for the yearThe Very Group has posted strong annual revenue growth that saw it exceed £2 billion for the first time, prompting the online retailer to forecast a return to profit this year.
  In a trading update for the year ending June 30, the owner of Littlewoods and Very said it had seen a 65 per cent increase in website visits
  
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• What will happen to all the unsold clothes?

  13-08-2020 06:00
  Brands are finding new ways to clear out their collections after the Covid-19 pandemic left mountains of surplus stock
  
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• UK restaurants fret over end of discount scheme

  13-08-2020 05:00
  Despite higher sales, operators remain cautious, cutting usual promotions and raising service charges
  
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• Train companies seek bailout for station retail tenants

  13-08-2020 05:00
  Landlords including the government accused of not helping as pandemic hits revenues
  
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• Facebook groups trading fake Amazon reviews remain rampant

  13-08-2020 01:03
  Groups offering financial incentives for positive reviews still rife on social platform
  
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• Very Group revenue passes £2 billion mark for first time

  13-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Very Group has seen its annual group revenue pass the £2 billion mark for the first time after seeing fourth quarter retail sales growth of 36%... View Article
  
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• Topps Tiles makes strong start to final quarter

  13-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Topps Tiles has said trading in the first six weeks of its final quarter has been robust with like-for-like sales climbing by 15.5% year-on-year.  The company has also said its... View Article
  
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• River Island to cut 350 jobs

  13-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  River Island is set to cut 350 jobs across its retail teams as it battles against the effects of the coronavirus crisis. In a letter sent to staff by chief... View Article
  
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• PUMA appoints general manager for UK, Ireland and Benelux

  13-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sportswear Brand PUMA has promoted Ben Hughes to the position of general manager for its UK, Ireland and Benelux regions. He has succeeded Paul Spencer who has assumed... View Article
  
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• Marks & Spencer creates 360 jobs at new distribution centre

  13-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer is to open a new food distribution centre in Milton Keynes next month. Spanning 365,000 square feet, the facility will create 360 jobs and will... View Article
  
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• Halfords appoints Tom Singer as non-executive director

  13-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Halfords has appointed former Moss Bros finance director Tom Singer as a non-executive director. Singer worked with Moss Bros from 1997 to 2000 but more recently was chief financial... View Article
  
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• Bestway hires adviser to market 37 retail properties across the UK

  13-08-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Bestway has hired a property adviser to market 37 Bargain Booze, Wine Rack, Select Convenience and Central Convenience stores that no longer fit with its strategy.... View Article
  
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