Retail news

• John Lewis's problems are fixable, but partners will need patience

  17-09-2020 21:03
  
  Though a sense of urgency is what the department store group badly needs, four main worries lingerBack in the 1990s, there was a live debate within the John Lewis Partnership about whether to throw in the towel on employee ownership and join the demutualisation fad that infected (and ruined) too many building societies.So crises at JLP need to be seen in perspective. Employee ownership is safe and today’s boardroom is not in despair. All the same, the first non-payment of a bonus to staff
  
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• How retailers approached Back To School season this year

  17-09-2020 18:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Back to school season may not be the biggest sales generator for retailers, but it still registers as an important marketing season on the annual retail calendar.
  However, this year the coronavirus pandemic meant retailers needed to adapt. Parents prioritised not only practicality but also safety – especially as there was uncertainty over schools reopening for the first time since lockdown. Retailers also needed to factor in shifting consumer habits. As more parents went online to seek adv
  
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• John Lewis head should hope to be as lucky as Next next time

  17-09-2020 18:10
  Unveiling department store’s results at same time as high street chain was unfortunate
  
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• Iceland’s The Food Warehouse & Bargain Booze unveil partnership

  17-09-2020 17:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Iceland-owned The Food Warehouse begins trialling dedicated in-store Bargain Booze sections
  // Trial is taking place at these Food Warehouse locations: York, Poole and Cheltenham
  // The partnership would double The Food Warehouse’s alcohol selection, with over over 1000 beers, wines & spiritsIceland and Bargain Booze have announced a partnership that will see three The Food Warehouse stores launch dedicated Bargain Booze sections.
  The tie-up, currently a trial phase, means customers
  
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• M&S to turns to garlic bread in latest initiative to tackle food waste

  17-09-2020 17:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // M&S Food to turn surplus baguettes and boules into garlic bread
  // The initiative rolls out to 200 stores following successful trial
  // New 100% widely recycled packaging introduced for all bakery productsM&S has announced that it will extend its initiative to turn unsold fresh bakery loaves into frozen garlic bread to 200 stores as part of its 2030 goal to halve food waste.
  The roll-out follows a successful trial in eight M&S Food stores, whereby any unsold baguettes and boules b
  
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• Aspinal of London launches CVA proposal

  17-09-2020 16:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Aspinal of London unveils CVA proposal as a result of Covid-19 pandemic
  // The details are not yet known, but the retailer has 10 shops and 300 staffAspinal of London has launched a CVA proposal, becoming the latest British retailer to fall victim to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  Exact details of the proposal are not yet clear, although CVAs often entail store closures, rent negotiations and/or job cuts.
  Aspinal of London trades from 10 stores across the UK, plus an online store, and
  
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• Son sues mother for embezzlement as Aldi heirs' feud escalates

  17-09-2020 16:42
  
  Grandson of co-founder Theo Albrecht presses charges in Germany A feud between the German billionaire heirs to the Aldi and Trader Joe’s retail empire has further escalated after the grandson of one of the two supermarket chain’s founders decided to sue his mother for allegedly embezzling funds from a family trust.Nicolay Albrecht, grandson of the late Aldi co-founder Theo Albrecht, has pressed charges in Kiel against his mother Babette, three of his sisters and their lawyer, allegin
  
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• Co-op raises staff pay after lockdown lifts sales

  17-09-2020 15:41
  More than half the retailer’s 60,000 workers to receive above-inflation increase
  
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• The new festive shopping report

  17-09-2020 15:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Find out what consumers are looking for in their seasonal shopping experience in our New Normal Festive Shopping Report.
  Get insights from our poll of 2,000 UK consumers to learn what the new normal looks like for Black Friday and Christmas shoppers in the midst of economic uncertainty and health and safety concerns.
  Find out:Where consumers plan to shop
  When consumers plan to shop
  How much consumers plan to spend
  Factors that will drive purchase decisions
  Factors that will create a great (
  
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• Etsy shoppers are hungry to “support black sellers” according to CEO

  17-09-2020 14:49 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Etsy has said that its customers are hungry to buy more items from “black-owned shops” as racial tensions continue to sweep the US.
  Etsy’s chief executive Josh Silverman told “Bloomberg Equality” that the company has seen a “lot of demand from buyers who wanted to support black sellers”.
  When questioned about the collection of black-owned shops which Etsy features prominently in its “editor’s pick” section, Silverman said this was
  
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• Westfield owner to raise £3.2bn as it posts improving sales & footfall

  17-09-2020 14:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Unibail-Radamco-Westfield says footfall & sales recovery in European centres improving since lockdowns
  // UK Westfield footfall is in the 60%-70% range compared to last year with good week-on-week improvement
  // However, UK tenant sales weaker than EU with a 70% drop in June followed by -47% in July & -34% in AugustUnibail-Rodamco-Westfield has revealed plans to undergo a £3.2 billion capital raise after posting recovering footfall and sales figures across its European shopping
  
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• Westfield owner posts improving sales & footfall since lockdown

  17-09-2020 14:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Unibail-Radamco-Westfield says footfall & sales recovery in European centres improving since lockdowns
  // UK Westfield footfall is in the 60%-70% range compared to last year with good week-on-week improvement
  // However, UK tenant sales weaker than EU with a 70% drop in June followed by -47% in July & -34% in AugustUnibail-Rodamco-Westfield has revealed recovering footfall and sales figures across its shopping centres since lockdowns were lifted, especially in its European centres.
  Th
  
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• Debit & credit card spending activity falls in June

  17-09-2020 14:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // UK finance says credit and debit card spending fell in June – 2.7% compared to May & 43.1% year-on-year
  // Online card spending accounts for 22% of the volume of transactions in June, up from 14% in MayCredit and debit card spending dipped in June despite more of the high street being open for business, according to a trade association.
  Card spending figures from UK Finance showed 933 million debit and credit card transactions were made in the UK across the month, marking a 2.7 per
  
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• Roland Mouret skips London fashion week to sell on Amazon Prime

  17-09-2020 13:00
  
  UK-based designer to show latest collection on retailer’s new Luxury Stores platformRoland Mouret, designer of the Galaxy dress and one of the best-known names in British fashion, is swapping the catwalk at London fashion week in favour of Amazon Prime.Mouret joins the upscale American brand Oscar de la Renta as the second designer on board with Amazon’s newly launched Luxury Stores, which will offer Prime customers a “luxury shopping experience”. Mouret will reveal his n
  
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• The Hut Group shares rise after London Stock Exchange debut

  17-09-2020 12:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Hut Group founder Matthew Moulding become a billionaire after shares surged on the London Stock Exchange
  // The retailer’s debut on Wednesday became the UK’s biggest float since 2017The Hut Group has seen its shares rise by almost a third following its trading debut on Wednesday.
  The Manchester-based online health and beauty retailer runs websites that sell nutrition and beauty products under brands Myprotein and Glossybox.
  Founder Matthew Moulding, who is both chief executive
  
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• Gucci to launch virtual sneaker creation app Sneaker Garage

  17-09-2020 12:15 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Gucci is set to launch an experimental virtual sneaker creation app allowing customers to virtually try on their creations or dress their digital avatars.
  Gucci Sneaker House will launch later this month and feature the launch of an entirely virtual sneaker designed by Alessandro Michele.
  The app, which will launch in Gucci’s Arcade section, will give users access to tools where they can create their own trainers from parts of existing models.
  It will then utilise its industry leading augm
  
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• John Lewis to scrap staff bonus and cut value of stores by £470m

  17-09-2020 10:56
  
  Move follows loss of £55m at department store chain as Covid-19 crisis offsets ‘creditable performance’John Lewis is writing down the value of its department stores by nearly half a billion pounds and will scrap the staff bonus as it warned it would make little or no profit this year.The staff-owned retail group, which includes Waitrose supermarkets, reported a first half loss of £55m as the costs of the coronavirus pandemic offset a 1% rise in sales. Continue reading...
  
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• John Lewis axes staff bonus for first time in over 70 years

  17-09-2020 10:07
  Retailer announces £635m loss as heavy impairment charges offset better than expected trading
  
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• John Lewis axes staff bonus for first time in more than 70 years

  17-09-2020 10:07
  Retailer announces £635m loss as heavy impairment charges offset better than expected trading
  
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• Shopworkers need same level of crime protection as emergency workers, BRC says

  17-09-2020 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The government’s latest white paper “A Smarter Approach to Sentencing” criticised by BRC
  // The white paper aims to strengthen the sentencing system in the UK
  // The BRC said it contains little help to protect shop workers from violence and abuseThe government has been criticised for “failing” to protect retail workers from violence and abuse, despite responding to an Usdaw petition.
  The BRC said the government’s latest white paper called “A Smarter A
  
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• Co-op’s first-half profit doubles as consumers shop locally

  17-09-2020 09:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Co-op profits rise thanks to “exceptional food and wholesale performances”
  // The food retail business increased its sales by 5.2% to £3.9bn in the first half of its financial yearThe Co-op has seen profits rise amid the Covid-19 pandemic as customers increasingly shopped in stores.
  The convenience retailer reported a sales rise of 7.6 per cent in its first half, thanks to “exceptional food and wholesale performances”.
  The group’s underlying operating p
  
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• Next raises profits forecast again as sales rise

  17-09-2020 09:12
  
  Retailer says cooler weather and fewer foreign holiday boosted sales despite Covid-19 falloutNext has hiked its profit guidance for a second time after the recent cool weather and fewer foreign holidays for its shoppers boosted clothing and homewares sales.The retailer had initially predicted the pandemic would have a disastrous impact on its finances, but has been surprised by the strength of the recovery seen in recent months. Shoppers have been spending on casual clothing, sportswear and spru
  
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• Next “remains resilient” despite 97% drop in half-year profits

  17-09-2020 09:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Next sales drop in first half of the year by 33%
  // Pre-tax profits tumble 97% to just £9m
  // Due to recent recovery in demand, Next raised full-year outlookNext has seen its pre-tax profits drop by a colossal 97 per cent during the first half to just £9 million, but has increased its full-year profit guidance as demand recovered.
  The fashion retailer fell to a half-year loss of £16.5 million but has raised its full-year outlook from £195 million expected in July to &p
  
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• UK clothing retailer Next upgrades profit forecast for second time

  17-09-2020 08:47
  FTSE 100 group says England’s ‘rule of six’ will probably depress Christmas demand
  
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• Next upgrades profit forecast for second time this year

  17-09-2020 08:47
  UK retailer reports resilient sales but expects England’s ‘rule of six’ to depress Christmas demand
  
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• John Lewis to downsize London flagship store

  17-09-2020 08:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis to downsize London flagship store to turn around the business
  // It is making plans to convert entire floors into officesJohn Lewis is reportedly drawing up plans to slash the size of its London flagship store on Oxford Street in an effort to transform the business amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The staff-owned department store is seeking to convert entire floors into offices, as shoppers switch to buying online, Evening Standard reported.
  John Lewis said it has applied for planning p
  
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• John Lewis Partnership swings to £635m half-year loss & axes bonus

  17-09-2020 08:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis Partnership swings to pre-tax loss of £635m, but on an EBITDA basis it’s a £55m loss – similar to last year
  // Half-year sales were up 1.1%, but annual staff bonuses won’t be paid out
  // There are also plans to downsize John Lewis London flagship store to turn around the businessJohn Lewis Partnership has swung to a half-year loss and confirmed that staff bonuses will not be paid this financial year, as it pushes on with efforts to turnaround the busin
  
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• John Lewis axes bonus and reveals plans to shrink Oxford Street store

  17-09-2020 08:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis to downsize London flagship store to turn around the business
  // It is making plans to convert entire floors into officesJohn Lewis is reportedly drawing up plans to slash the size of its London flagship store on Oxford Street in an effort to transform the business amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The staff-owned department store is seeking to convert entire floors into offices, as shoppers switch to buying online, Evening Standard reported.
  John Lewis said it has applied for planning p
  
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• Yoox launches collection with Sharon Cho

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Yoox  has partnered with Yooxygen Award winner Sharon Cho on a sustainable capsule collection. Created during Cho’s six-month internship at Yoox’s headquarters in Milan, the Sharon Cho x Yoox collection includes suits,... View Article
  
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• William May reports strong lockdown performance

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Jewellery retailer William May has seen its revenue increase by 100% since the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions began as more customers become confident about buying jewellery online. The Manchester-based business reported sales growth... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Poppie Mickleburgh, Group Event Director, Ascential

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Why has Retail Week partnered with the retailTRUST for the Retail Week Awards 2021? The Retail Week Awards is a platform for all that’s great about... View Article
  
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• Next raises profit forecast

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Next has raised its profit guidance for a second time after trading throughout the coronavirus pandemic was more resilient than expected. The fashion and homewares retailer... View Article
  
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• Joseph to join line-up at McArthurGlen York

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in York has announced that fashion brand Joseph is to open a new store at the centre this month. Due to launch on 24 September,... View Article
  
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• John Lewis Partnership axes staff bonus after posting half year loss

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The John Lewis Partnership will not be paying a staff bonus for the first time since 1953 after the business was impacted by Covid-19 store closures... View Article
  
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• Iceland teams up with Bargain Booze on new in-store offering

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Iceland has teamed up with off-licence chain Bargain Booze to launch dedicated Bargain Booze sections in three of its The Food Warehouse stores. The partnership will... View Article
  
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• Co-op’s food business posts strong uplift in sales and profit

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Co-op has reported that its food retail business increased its sales by 5.2% to £3.9 billion in the first half of its financial year. The uplift came... View Article
  
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• Burberry reveals hosts for livestreamed fashion show

  17-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Burberry has revealed that the hosts for its livestreamed Spring/Summer fashion show on 17 September are Erykah Badu, Rosalía, Steve Lacy and Bella Hadid. The luxury brand had previously... View Article
  
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