Retail news

• UK supermarkets move to head off stockpiling

  25-09-2020 18:44
  Tesco and Morrison introduce buying limits on items such as toilet roll and pasta
  
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• Intu Milton Keynes snapped up by property group

  25-09-2020 17:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Intu Milton Keynes has been acquired by property group Ellandi
  // Ellandi appointed Savills as managing agent for the centre, which will be rebrandedIntu Milton Keynes has become the second of Intu’s shopping centres to be acquired since the company fell into administration in June.
  Property group Ellandi has been appointed asset manager for Intu’s Milton Keynes shopping centre.
  Ellandi has appointed Savills as managing agent for Intu Milton Keynes, which will be rebranded.READ MO
  
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• Retail Gazette Loves: Argos’ competition to win £300 worth of Lego toys

  25-09-2020 17:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Argos has launched a competition to win a special Super Brick delivery of over £300 worth of Lego Super Mario toys.
  The retailer has teamed up with Diversity’s Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely to unveil the first ever Lego Super Brick delivery van to celebrate how more customers are turning to online shopping than ever before.
  New research from Argos has found that that almost half of Brits are now doing the majority of their non-grocery shopping online, especially since the pandemic.
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• Tesco limits sales of key items to stop Covid panic-buying

  25-09-2020 16:50
  
  Supermarket chain follows Morrisons by rationing toilet roll, flour and other essentialsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageTesco has reintroduced purchase limits on items including toilet roll, dried pasta and flour, as supermarkets bring back rationing to prevent a repeat of the panic-buying in the early days of the pandemic.Britain’s largest supermarket chain said on Friday that it was restricting purchases of flour, pasta, baby wipes, antibacterial wipes a
  
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• Homebase trials second small high street store format

  25-09-2020 16:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Homebase trials second small high street store format with launch of new kitchen & bathroom showroom
  // The new concept is a dual-branded Bathstore and Kitchens by Homebase laid out in a split-level showroomHomebase has launched a trial of a second smaller format high street store, this time one that is dedicated to kitchens and bathrooms.
  The new smaller-format showroom is located in a redesigned Bathstore site at Sydenham Road, Guildford.
  The new store also follows the two Decorate by H
  
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• Boohoo: on the rack

  25-09-2020 15:32
  The online retailer, like the young demographic it serves, needs to mature
  
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• Nearly 60% of West End shop rents left unpaid, says major London landlord

  25-09-2020 15:01
  
  Shaftesbury says 20% of flats vacant as Covid-19 prompts professionals to leave capital and international students to stay homeShaftesbury, one of the biggest landlords in central London, said struggling high street businesses had paid less than half of the rent due since March, while a flight from the capital had left it with a glut of empty flats on its hands.The property firm, which owns swathes of fashionable districts including Soho and Covent Garden, said only 41% of the rent for the six m
  
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• John Lewis launches first ever virtual Christmas store

  25-09-2020 14:37 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  John Lewis has launched a virtual Christmas shop for the first time allowing customers to take a 3D tour of their flagship store from their own homes.
  The department store has officially launched its Christmas shop at its iconic Oxford Street flagship, 91 days before December 25.
  For the first time in its history John Lewis has brought its Christmas shop online, using footage captured in-store to allow shoppers to navigate through the store via their smartphone, tablet or computer.
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• Online shopping makes many high street jobs unviable, says Next boss

  25-09-2020 13:43
  
  Simon Wolfson warns lockdown has put thousands of traditional retail roles at riskCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe Next chief has said the shift to online shopping triggered by the lockdown has made thousands of traditional retail jobs unviable.The high street has been one of the worst-hit sectors of the economy with nearly 125,000 jobs lost in the UK in the first eight months of this year as retailers closed stores and in some cases went into administration.
  
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• Online shopping makes many high street jobs unviable, say Next boss

  25-09-2020 13:13
  
  Simon Wolfson warns lockdown has put thousands of traditional retail roles at riskCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe boss of Next has warned that the shift to online shopping triggered by the high street lockdown has made thousands of traditional retail jobs unviable.The high street has been one of the worst hit sectors of the economy with nearly 125,000 jobs lost in the UK in the first eight months of this year as retailers closed stores and in some cases went
  
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• Shoppers will “face higher prices for weekly shop” in no-deal Brexit

  25-09-2020 13:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Grocers & shoppers face an annual £3.1bn tariff bill for food and drink in event of no-deal Brexit
  // In event of no-deal, 85% of food imported from EU will face tariffs of over 5%, but the average tariff for all food imported will be 20%Grocery shoppers will face higher prices for their weekly shop due to mammoth tariffs unless a free trade deal is secured with the EU, a leading trade body has warned.
  The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said supermarkets and their shoppers will fac
  
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• Boohoo knew of Leicester factory failings, says report

  25-09-2020 12:55
  
  Review finds allegations about low pay and poor conditions were ‘substantially true’A damning report found that Boohoo knew of “endemic” problems across Leicester garment factories in its supply chain, where workers faced serious health and safety violations, including life-threatening fire risks, and were paid less than the minimum wage.The independent review, which was commissioned by Boohoo but conducted by Alison Levitt QC, found that allegations about low pay and poo
  
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• Tesco reinstates rationing rule to prevent stockpiling

  25-09-2020 12:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Tesco’s rationing rule returns to ensure customers do not stockpile amid the Covid-19 pandemic
  // Following the government’s tightened measures, customers fear second wave is underway
  // Tesco CEO Dave Lewis said earlier in the week that there is enough stock to go aroundTesco is reportedly reinstating rationing rules on essential items to ensure customers buy only what they need, as Covid-19 infections continue to increase in the UK.
  The grocer’s chief executive Dave Lewis
  
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• Mothercare suffers loss but is “confident” about Boots partnership

  25-09-2020 12:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Mothercare suffers 39% loss in sales to £145m
  // Mothercare UK went into administration last year with all 79 shops closed and 2500 jobs lostMothercare has reported a loss in its financial year to date, as store closures affected its trading amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
  In the first 28 weeks of the current financial year, the maternity goods retailer saw sales decline by 39 per cent to £145 million.
  Mothercare said the losses caused by store closures during the coronavirus lockdown
  
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• Amazon launches AWS-powered video game service platform Luna

  25-09-2020 11:23 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon has become the latest tech giant to launch a video game streaming service allowing users to play the latest games wirelessly on their phones and computers.
  Amazon has launched Luna in early access in the US, starting from an introductory price of $5.99 per month.
  Like its key rival Google Stadia, Luna will require gamers to purchase a Luna Controller for $49.99 to access its platform, which will be entirely run by the retailer’s cloud platform Amazon Web Services (AWS).
  At launch Lu
  
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• Boohoo report reveals factory fire risk among supply chain failings

  25-09-2020 11:01
  
  Retailer apologises after ‘endemic’ problems found across Leicester suppliersBoohoo has apologised after a damning report found “endemic” problems across Leicester garment factories in its supply chain, where workers faced serious health and safety violations, including life-threatening fire risks, and were paid less than the minimum wage.The independent review, which was commissioned by Boohoo but conducted by Alison Levitt QC, found unacceptable working conditions, wher
  
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• Boohoo has ‘significant issues’ in its supply chain, review finds

  25-09-2020 10:14
  Fast-fashion group to take steps to address treatment of garment workers
  
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• Boohoo has ‘many failings’ in its supply chain, review finds

  25-09-2020 10:14
  Fast-fashion group is taking steps to address treatment of garment workers
  
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• Next warns retail jobs have become “unviable” as Brits shift online

  25-09-2020 10:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Next warns retail jobs have become “unviable” because of the shift to online shopping
  // CEO Simon Wolfson said thousands of traditional retail jobs are likely to be under threat
  // The comments come after Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed a new Jobs Support SchemeNext has warned that retail employment has become “unviable” in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has changed the way consumers shop.
  The retailer’s chief executive Lord Wolfson said thousand
  
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• Consumer confidence edges up in September despite second wave

  25-09-2020 09:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Overall consumer up by 2 points to -25 in September
  // GfK recorded growth in three categories, decline in one while the fifth remained the same
  // Overall index still -12 that was recorded in September last yearConsumer confidence in the UK enjoyed an uptick in September despite the threat of a second wave of the coronavirus and growing speculation of another nationwide lockdown.
  The GFK Consumer Confidence Index has increased by two points in September to -25, a four month high, due to grow
  
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• Probe reveals “many failings” in Boohoo supply chain

  25-09-2020 09:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boohoo Leicester factory probe concludes it “did not deliberately allow poor conditions and low pay to exist within its supply chain
  // The independent review also found Boohoo “has already made a significant start on putting things right”A review of Boohoo’s supply chain has identified “many failings”, but it freed it from allegations of deliberately allowing poor conditions and low pay for garment workers.
  The independent probe was called after reporters
  
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• Can you cancel Christmas and get your money back? | Patrick Collinson

  25-09-2020 08:00
  
  From downsized turkeys to travel refunds, there are many ways to make the most of an uncertain festive seasonCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe earliest, and weirdest, start to Christmas is upon us. John Lewis began stocking its online shelves with festive goods in August, and on Friday they go on sale in stores, amid predictions (or more likely retailers’ prayers) that we will be shopping earlier this year to avoid crowds. But with so much uncertainty, h
  
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• Solomon Lew to get $24m in dividends after retail group given $70m in Covid subsidies

  25-09-2020 07:11
  
  Premier Investments qualified for jobkeeper after steep drop in May-June revenue but profit for year surged 30% Billionaire Solomon Lew will pocket $24.25m in dividends after his retail empire, Premier Investments, received almost $70m in wage subsidies during the coronavirus crisis.Financial results released on Friday by Premier, which runs retailers including stationery group Smiggle and fashion chain Just Jeans, are likely to reignite the “dividendkeeper” debate over companies tha
  
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• Ted Baker signs licensing agreement with Next for lingerie and nightwear

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion retailer Ted Baker has appointed Next as its new lingerie and nightwear partner. With the product licence agreement lasting three years, Next will be creating... View Article
  
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• St Enoch Centre introduces QR code system for ‘Test & Protect’

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Glasgow shopping centre St. Enoch has introduced a new QR code system for ‘Test & Protect’ to help people visiting the centre during the Covid-19 pandemic.... View Article
  
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• Mothercare swings to profit following one-off gain

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Mothercare has swung to a total profit of £14.4 million in the year to 28 March from a loss of £97 million in the previous year... View Article
  
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• Morrisons unveils new food box subscription service

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has launched a new food box subscription service to help meet customer demand for online grocery delivery during the Covid-19 crisis. Shoppers will be able... View Article
  
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• Consumer confidence rises despite Covid-19 restrictions

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  New figures have shown that consumer confidence in the UK  has edged up in September despite the rise in Covid-19 restrictions across the country. The data... View Article
  
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• Canada Goose to open first store in Germany

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Performance luxury apparel brand Canada Goose is to open its first store in Germany this autumn. The shop in the heart of Berlin’s shopping district will... View Article
  
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• Burberry expands creative arts scholarship programme

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Burberry  is expanding its creative arts scholarships programme to support the next generation of creative leaders from underrepresented communities. In a statement, the luxury brand said... View Article
  
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• Boohoo review uncovers failings at Leicester supply chain

  25-09-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Boohoo has announced that an independent review of its Leicester supply chain has identified a number of failings and recommended that it make improvements to its... View Article
  
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