Retail news

• J Crew to close all six of its UK stores

  21-09-2020 18:02
  
  Fashion brand the latest US clothing retailer to exit, calling in liquidators to UK businessThe fashion chain J Crew is to permanently close all six of its UK stores in the latest exit by a US retailer.The brand, known for its preppy style, has appointed FRP advisory as liquidators to its UK business, which has a head office in London and employs nearly 80 staff.Pizza Express – 1,100 jobs
  7 September: The restaurant chain confirms the closure of 73 restaurants as part of a rescue restructu
  
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• Hammerson eyes Canadian real estate boss as new CEO

  21-09-2020 18:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Hammerson considers drafting in real estate boss Rita-Rose Gagné as CEO
  // The Bullring centre owner dropped out of the FTSE 250 index this month
  // Its focus on fortifying its finances comes weeks after rival Intu collapsed into administrationHammerson is reportedly considering hiring the Canadian president of growth markets at a real estate firm as its new chief executive.
  Rita-Rose Gagné has been working at Montreal-based company Ivanhoé Cambridge since 2006 and is exp
  
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• Eve Sleep non-exec director exits as former CEO sits on three committees

  21-09-2020 16:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Eve Sleep non-exec director to exit board
  // The retailer is seeking for a replacement before October
  // Nikki Crumpton joined Eve Sleep in 2018Eve Sleep non-executive director Nikki Crumpton is due to step down and the retailer is seeking to find a replacement before the end of the month.
  Crumpton joined the mattress retailer in September 2018 and has been supporting it through a rebuild strategy.
  She was also senior independent director and sat on its audit, remuneration and nomination comm
  
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• Walmart to take 7.5% stake in TikTok as deal receives cautious “blessing”

  21-09-2020 15:42 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Walmart has agreed to purchase a 7.5 per cent stake in TikTok as a complex deal to keep the social media giant operating in the US is receives President Trump’s “blessing”.
  Walmart and technology giant Oracle are set to collectively take a 20 per cent stake in TikTok Global in a deal which would leave its owner ByteDance with a majority stake.
  On Saturday Trump tentatively said he gave his “blessing” to the “concept” of such a deal, despite ordering the
  
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• Retail footfall rises despite new ‘rule of six’ Covid-19 measures

  21-09-2020 14:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Footfall rises across all retail despite tightened Covid-19 measures in the UK
  // High streets saw the biggest numbers, while retail parks recorded the lowest
  // Despite the recovery, footfall remains 56.1% below last year’s numbersNew research has shown that footfall across all retail destinations in the UK has risen in the last week despite new Covid-19 restrictions put in place.
  Footfall across all retail destinations rose by 2.4 per cent last week from the week before, Springboard f
  
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• Asda to trial ‘On the Move’ convenience store concept

  21-09-2020 13:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Asda to launch new store concept trial in Midlands
  // The grocer will introduce a convenience store format Asda on the Move
  // The concept is in partnership with the EG GroupAsda will trial a new store concept, Asda on the Move to offer a new convenience format where customers can easily purchase fresh food and essentials.
  The grocer has partnered with previous potential buyers billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa from EG Group to launch the trial at three EG Group petrol station foreco
  
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• Head office job cuts at Waterstones to “safeguard future of company”

  21-09-2020 13:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Waterstones scraps 16 head office roles due to “challenging” trading environment
  // The retailer launched a consultation in late July at its London head officeWaterstones has reportedly scrapped 16 head office roles, including four publisher-facing staff in its books team, as it continues to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The British book retailer said category managers Richard Humphreys and Clement Knox, publisher liaison manager Darren Thomson and commercial manager Sarah
  
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• Sony apologises and says more PS5s “on their way” after pre-order chaos wiped out stock

  21-09-2020 13:17 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Sony has assured retailers and customers that more PlayStation 5 stock is on its way after last week’s pre-order chaos left many unable to secure a console.
  PS5 pre-orders were released earlier than scheduled last week, causing chaos for customers and leading numerous major retailers’ websites across the US and the UK to crash under the pressure. 
  Retailers including Argos, John Lewis and Very here in the UK were forced to cancel some customers’ pre-orders after receiving
  
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• 70,000 jobs at risk if Treasury scraps tax-free shopping

  21-09-2020 12:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // 70,000 jobs to be axed if tax-free shopping ends for international tourists
  // UK retailers, along with hoteliers and airport chiefs have warned the chancellor of job losses
  // The decision could leave UK as the only nation in Europe without a tax-free shopping schemeRetailers across the UK have reportedly warned that at least 70,000 jobs are currently at risk if the government scraps tax-free shopping.
  The retailers, along with hoteliers and airport chiefs have warned chancellor Rishi Sunak
  
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• Superdry pandemic hit prompts more discounting

  21-09-2020 11:54
  Fashion chain’s shares drop 13% as group ditches dividend and warns of more disruption
  
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• Zalando launches re-sale platform to “bring pre-owned to the mainstream consumer”

  21-09-2020 11:40 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Zalando has launched a new re-sale clothing platform in a bid to “bring pre-owned to the mainstream consumer” in Europe.
  The online clothing giant will from today sell a curated range of second-hand, lightly used items as it becomes the latest fashion retail to try and establish a foothold in the growing global resale market.
  Its new platform is aimed at customers keen to receive the price and sustainability benefits of pre-owned clothing, but who may be deterred by the lack of quali
  
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• Asos bosses pocket £1.5m on share placing

  21-09-2020 11:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Asos bosses expect large payouts as retailer fundraises £247m
  // Shares have risen to £50.66, increasing the value to £2.15m
  // Chair Adam Crozier and CEO Nick Beighton are sitting on a combined paper profit of £1.5mAsos executives are reportedly expecting big paychecks as the online retailer fundraises cash that excludes retail investors.
  The business raised £247 million in a placing in April at £15.60 a share and directors and senior managers took up 42,5
  
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• 700 jobs saved as Aldo UK sold to investment firm

  21-09-2020 10:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Aldo UK has been bought by a UK investment fund based in Birmingham
  // The retailer had filed for administration in June, putting jobs at riskAldo’s UK arm has been acquired by a Birmingham-based investment firm, preserving over 700 jobs and protecting over £30m of investment.
  The shoes and accessories retailer saw its UK business follow the footsteps of its North American business on June 1 after filing for administration due to the impact of the pandemic.
  The UK trade and assets
  
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• Coronavirus: Morrisons reinstates door marshals as UK prepares for second wave

  21-09-2020 10:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Morrisons hires door marshals to monitor shopper numbers & remind them to wear face masks
  // The grocer reappointed the marshals as it anticipates a second waveMorrisons has reportedly appointed door marshals for a second time this year to its stores as it prepares for a second wave of Covid-19 infections across the UK.
  The Big 4 grocer, which has urged Brits to shop considerately as supermarkets tighten safety measures ahead of the anticipated new lockdown restrictions, is bringing back
  
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• Superdry warns of Covid-19 disruption as profits nosedive 210%

  21-09-2020 09:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Superdry takes a hit as Covid-19 pandemic affects performance
  // The retailer said ongoing uncertainty and disruption has affected sales and profitsSuperdry has warned that the Covid pandemic will continue to affect its trading performance after profits dropped by a colossal 210 per cent.
  The fashion retailer said the ongoing uncertainty and disruption of the crisis has led to a group sales decline of 19.2 per cent to £704.4 million in the year to April 25.
  Statutory pre-tax profits fel
  
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• PC World fails to deliver as two-day repair turns into 12

  21-09-2020 08:00
  
  The wait has been a nightmare for me as I teach onlineI’m an unhappy customer of PC World and its Team Knowhow. On 15 July I took my computer in because the on/off switch didn’t work. After weeks of going backwards and forwards, and having to buy a new motherboard and a new hard drive, I finally was told the computer was fixed and would be returned in two days. That was 12 days ago. Despite me showing up every day at PC World, phoning the repair team regularly and demanding attention
  
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• US retailers short of goods ahead of winter holiday shopping season

  21-09-2020 05:00
  Groups slashed orders at height of pandemic but misjudged strength of consumer demand
  
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• Uniqlo launches recycled clothing initiative

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo has launched a new scheme to help customers give unwanted old clothing a new lease of life. Under the Re. Uniqlo initiative,... View Article
  
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• Turn Black Friday bargain hunters into loyal lifetime customers

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  During what’s been a challenging year for many retailers, Black Friday is an opportunity to drive sales, boost revenue, and acquire new customers. But with 90% of... View Article
  
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• The end of furlough – what’s next for HR & Payroll?

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Its official, furlough is coming to an end in October. The scheme successfully supported over one million employers and over 9 million employees throughout the period... View Article
  
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• Superdry losses almost double

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Superdry saw its losses almost double in the year to 25 April after revenue dropped by 19.2% to £704.4 million. The fashion retailer posted a statutory... View Article
  
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• Personalization: Why it’s so hard to get it right

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Guest Post: Ali Hanyaloglu is the Senior Director of Product Marketing at Coveo. With over 20 years of experience in product marketing and solutions engineering at... View Article
  
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• Next Outlet to open in Staffordshire

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Next is to open a new outlet store at at Affinity Outlet in Staffordshire. Due to launch on 23 September, the new store will sell  Next... View Article
  
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• M&S turns unsold baguettes into garlic bread

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S Food has extended an initiative that turns unsold fresh bakery loaves into frozen garlic bread to 200 stores following a successful trial in eight shops.... View Article
  
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• Is your POS influencing behaviour?

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  POS strategy is generally well established in most retail businesses and given its organisational complexity is rarely reviewed. But when you start to think about it,... View Article
  
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• Eve Sleep non-exec director to step down

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Mattress retailer Eve Sleep is seeking to appoint a new non-executive director after announcing that  Nikki Crumpton is to step down from her role at the... View Article
  
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• Dobbies reopens soft play areas at garden centres

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Dobbies Garden Centres  is reopening 31 soft plays across its store estate this month. The move follows updated Covid-19 guidance issued by the government. In line... View Article
  
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• Asda trials new in-store and convenience concepts

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda has announced that it is extending its in-store partnerships strategy with a trial of a new  convenience format with forecourt operator EG Group and the... View Article
  
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• Applegreen reports ‘resilient’ first half performance

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Applegreen, the roadside convenience retailer, has said it put in a resilient performance in the first half of 2020 despite the impact of Covid-19. In the... View Article
  
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• Aldo UK acquired out of administration

  21-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The UK arm of footwear retailer Aldo has been acquired out of administration by Birmingham based Bushell Investment Group. The move has saved around 700 jobs.... View Article
  
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