Retail news

• A literary antidote to Amazon’s remorseless rise

  06-11-2020 23:00
  Rather than competing with the ecommerce giant, Bookshop.org appeals to our better selves
  
  Read more

• Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home enter administration with loss of 860 jobs

  06-11-2020 18:52
  
  Further 2,000 jobs at risk as buyer is sought for retail chains, which will continue to tradeMore than 860 people have immediately lost their jobs and a further 2,000 roles are at risk after the Edinburgh Woollen Mill chain and the homewares retailer Ponden Home called in administrators.The two chains will continue to trade online, and in stores where possible, while administrators seek options for their future, including potential buyers.Marston's - 2,150 jobs
  15 October: Marston's  - the
  
  Read more

• Edinburgh Woollen Mill enters administration

  06-11-2020 18:24
  About 2,800 jobs in jeopardy at knitwear chain and homewares group Ponden
  
  Read more

• Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home collapse with loss of 860 jobs

  06-11-2020 18:13
  
  Further 2,000 jobs at risk as administrator seeks buyers for retail chains More than 860 people have immediately lost their jobs and a further 2,000 roles are at risk after the Edinburgh Woollen Mill chain and the homewares retailer Ponden Mill called in administrators.The two chains will continue to trade online, and in stores where possible, while administrators seek options for their future, including potential buyers.Marston's - 2,150 jobs
  15 October: Marston's  - the brewer which owns
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 10 British department stores that have come & gone over the years (Part II)

  06-11-2020 17:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Derry & TomsDerry & Toms was a London department store founded in 1853 and located on Kensington High Street, London.
  The building was most famous for its Roof Gardens, now listed as Grade II , which opened in 1938 and still exists today.
  In 1973 the store was closed and became home to Big Biba, which subsequently closed in 1975. Since then the building has housed Marks & Spencer, H&M and Gap, and the offices for Sony Music UK and Warner Music Group.
  Derry & Toms, Kensington
  
  Read more

• Bookshops fight back as pandemic sends consumers online

  06-11-2020 17:08
  Independents aim to boost earnings with ‘socially conscious’ alternative to Amazon
  
  Read more

• Friday Fun One: Twitter’s reaction to M&S’s “Santa’s Yumnut”

  06-11-2020 16:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Marks & Spencer may have just launched its Christmas ad campaign today, but this didn’t stop it from introducing a new festive-themed treat that has tickled many Twitter users.
  Earlier this week, the food arm of M&S launched a new sweet treat for their in-store bakeries, called Santa’s Yumnut.
  The Yumnut – M&S has even trademarked the name – is a hybrid between a doughnut and a yum yum, a twisted doughnut glazed with Christmas-themed icing.Who wants a bite of
  
  Read more

• Thai regulator approves $10.6bn takeover of Tesco operations

  06-11-2020 15:22
  Deal will crown CP as Thailand’s biggest retailer and complete UK grocer’s retreat from Asia
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Hundreds of authors join signing initiative to support local bookshops

  06-11-2020 15:06
  
  Writers including Matt Haig, Malorie Blackman and Adam Kay are backing #SignForOurBookshops, autographing bookplates by Chris Riddell to boost trade Matt Haig, Malorie Blackman and Adam Kay are among hundreds of authors who have come together in a “thunderclap of support” to encourage readers to buy from their local bookshop, as a second lockdown in England forces stores up and down the country to close.Booksellers across the UK were already struggling after the national lockdown thi
  
  Read more

• N Brown revenue declines as it prepares for £100m equity raising

  06-11-2020 14:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // N Brown revenue drops 17.6% as it prepares for a £100 million equity raising
  // The group, which owns JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo, has an overall net debt of £411.1mN Brown has reported a 17.6 per cent drop in revenue as it prepares for a £100 million equity raising.
  In the 26 weeks to August 29, 2020, the fashion group recorded revenue at £356.7 million, compared with £432.9 million for the period in 2019.
  Adjusted profit before tax fell by 28.9 per cent t
  
  Read more

• River Island warns of “disruption” from second lockdown

  06-11-2020 14:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // River Island warns of the impact of the second national lockdown
  // It said the lockdown presents a “challenging and disruptive time” for retailersRiver Island has warned of the impact of the second lockdown in England on its trading as it enters the Golden Quarter.
  The fashion retailer witnessed a 10 per cent rise in operating profits for the year to 28 December 2019.
  Operating profits before one-off charges and “onerous leases” increased to £42 million from &po
  
  Read more

• Debenhams launches convenience store click-and-collect service

  06-11-2020 14:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Debenhams launches “pick up & drop off” services for customers at local convenience stores
  // It is partnering with Hermes to offer 4500 convenience store collection points around the UKDebenhams has announced a new click-and-collect service that will allow customers to collect online orders from 4500 local convenience stores across the UK.
  The department store said customers can now to select a Hermes ParcelShop option when they shop online, which allows them to collect their
  
  Read more

• Farfetch secures $1.1bn backing from Alibaba and Richemont

  06-11-2020 13:56
  Luxury ecommerce platform will use cash to push deeper into important Chinese market
  
  Read more

• How a UK supermarket nourished Silicon Valley’s critics

  06-11-2020 13:15
  Ocado’s claim that it is keeping Americans safe with robot warehouses invites regulation
  
  Read more

• John Lewis launches augmented reality “Virtual Christmas Tree” feature

  06-11-2020 13:08 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  John Lewis & Partners has launched a new augmented reality “Virtual Christmas Tree” feature, allowing shoppers to put up a decorated Christmas tree in their home in seconds.
  Using the department store’s iOS app, shoppers can now place an accurate virtual rendering of one of its Christmas trees in their living room, enabling them to judge whether it fits before committing to a purchase.John Lewis & Partners Christmas Tree AppAccording to the retailer 44 per cent of its a
  
  Read more

• Wren Kitchens opens first US showroom with plans to launch 5 more

  06-11-2020 13:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Wren Kitchens opens 100th showroom in US
  // The new showroom is the first in the US and is located in Milford, Connecticut
  // The kitchen retailer plans to open five more showrooms in Northeast America by 2021Wren Kitchens has launched its first US showroom in the state of Connecticut as part of its plans to expand in the continent.
  The kitchen retailer has opened its 100th showroom in Milford, and plans to open five more showrooms in Northeast America by 2021.
  The Milford showroom spans 31,4
  
  Read more

• How a UK supermarket delivered aid to Silicon Valley’s critics

  06-11-2020 12:57
  Ocado’s claim that it is keeping Americans safe with robot warehouses invites regulation
  
  Read more

• M&S unveils Christmas advert campaign feat. Olivia Colman, Tom Hardy, Gillian Anderson & more

  06-11-2020 12:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // M&S launches new Christmas advert campaign featuring an all-star cast and a charity focus
  // The first of the nine M&S Food ad features Olivia Colman
  // The other ads will feature voiceovers from Eddie Redmayne, Gillian Anderson, Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, Julie Walters & Tom Hardy and moreMarks & Spencer has become the latest major retailer to launch its Christmas advertising campaign, featuring an all-star line up and a charity focus.
  With its Christmas marketing to be main
  
  Read more

• Ikea launches raft of contactless click & collect services as it shrugs off second lockdown

  06-11-2020 12:03 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Ikea has launched a range of contactless click & collect and online delivery services as it shrugs off the second national lockdown in the UK.
  Despite being forced to close its doors to the public, the Swedish furniture giant is introducing a host of new initiatives it hopes will mitigate the impact.
  A new “Contactless Click & Collect” service will be available for free on online orders over £300.
  Ikea will also be introducing a “Click & Deliver” service
  
  Read more

• Poundstretcher finance boss exits after three months

  06-11-2020 11:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Poundstretcher finance boss resigns after three months
  // Jonathan Foister stepped down from the company on October 23
  // Poundstretcher recently sought to open 50 new stores despite launching CVA proposalsPoundstretcher finance director Jonathan Foister has stepped down from his role after just three months, leaving the value retailer in search for a replacement.
  Foister stepped down from the company on October 23, after replacing Hemant Patel in July.
  Poundstretcher recently sought to open
  
  Read more

• PS5 will no longer be available from physical stores on launch day

  06-11-2020 11:10 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 5 will now no longer be available to collect in physical shops on launch day globally.
  Following news that UK retailers including Game, Smyths and Argos would be allowing shoppers to collect their pre-ordered Xbox Series consoles from physical stores during lockdown, many had been hopeful the same would be true of the PS5, due for release just days later.
  However, Sony announced in a blogpost yesterday that the launch would now be entirely online, urging shopper
  
  Read more

• Selfridges reveals Christmas window display despite lockdown

  06-11-2020 10:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Selfridges launches Christmas window displays despite lockdown
  // It is part of the luxury department store’s Once Upon a Christmas campaign
  // Selfridges wants to offer an “unmistakable in-store Christmas experience” when its stores are able to reopenSelfridges has unveiled its latest Christmas window display despite being forced to shut the doors of its physical stores for the next four weeks of lockdown in England.
  The luxury department store, which operates four sites in
  
  Read more

• Alibaba and Richemont invest over £200m in Farfetch with focus on China

  06-11-2020 09:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Alibaba and Richemont will invest $300m each in Farfetch Limited and $250m each in Farfetch China
  // Richemont, which owns Cartier, currently operates a joint venture with Alibaba in China
  // The deal will mean each company receives a 25% stake as part of the new joint ventureAlibaba and Richemont are set to invest $300 million (£224 million) each in luxury online retailer Farfetch as the trio launch a Chinese joint venture.
  On Tuesday, it was reported that Alibaba was in advanced discu
  
  Read more

• Boohoo, Nike and H&M deny Uighur forced labour in supply chains

  06-11-2020 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boohoo, H&M, Nike & VF Corp brought before MPs at the BEIS committee to address concerns around Uighur slave labour
  // They all denied the use of suppliers or manufacturing in the Xinjiang region of ChinaBoohoo, H&M and Nike have denied the use of suppliers or manufacturing in the Xinjiang region of China as they expressed “shock” surrounding allegations regarding the forced labour of Uighur Muslims.
  The retailers, which also included North Face and Vans parent company
  
  Read more

• Dominic Chappell jailed for tax evasion on £2.2m income from BHS deal

  06-11-2020 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Dominic Chappell jailed for 6 years for evading VAT, corporation tax & income tax owed on £2.2m income from BHS deal
  // In total, the tax he owed and evaded was almost £600,000
  // Dominic Chappell acquired BHS for £1 from Sir Philip Green in March 2015 – the retailer collapsed 13 months laterFormer BHS owner Dominic Chappell has been jailed for evading more than half a million pounds in taxes on income from his £1 deal to buy the collapsed high street chain.
  
  Read more

• Superdry sales impacted by lower footfall

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Superdry saw its total revenue drop by 23.3% in the first half of its financial year after the business was affected by continuing disruption caused by... View Article
  
  Read more

• Q&A: Lee Jones, Director of Sales – QSR, Grocery retail and selected accounts for Northern Europe at Ingenico

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  What is your role and what do you do brilliantly? I am the Director of sales – QSR, Grocery retail and selected accounts for Northern Europe... View Article
  
  Read more

• Q&A: Lee Jones, Director of Sales – Northern Europe at Ingenico Ingenico, a Worldline brand

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  What is your role and what do you do brilliantly? I am the Director of sales – QSR, Grocery retail and selected accounts for Northern Europe... View Article
  
  Read more

• Q&A: Lee Jones, Director of Sales – Northern Europe at Ingenico, a Worldline brand

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  What is your role and what do you do brilliantly? I am the Director of sales – QSR, Grocery retail and selected accounts for Northern Europe... View Article
  
  Read more

• Pure Electric to open Cardiff store

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pure Electric will be opening what will be Cardiff’s first electric bike and scooter retail outlet next week. Due to launch on Monday, the shop will... View Article
  
  Read more

• New Lidl scheme lets customers donate food with scan of barcode

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lidl has a launched a new scheme called ‘Teaming up to Tackle Hunger’ to make it easier for customers to donate food to their local community.... View Article
  
  Read more

• Morrisons introduces service to feed self-isolating school kids

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has launched a new meal delivery service for schools that are feeding primary school children who are having to self-isolate. The supermarket is working with... View Article
  
  Read more

• DFS gives Covid-19 lockdown update

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  DFS has said all of its furniture showrooms in England, Wales and Ireland are currently closed due to lockdown restrictions, although at present it does not... View Article
  
  Read more

• Alibaba and Richemont to invest in Farfetch and China joint venture

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Alibaba and Richemont are to invest $600 million in luxury fashion retailer Farfetch. The two companies will also be investing $250 million each in a newly... View Article
  
  Read more

• Alibaba and Richemont invest in Farfetch and China joint venture

  06-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Alibaba and Richemont are investing $600 million in online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch. The two companies will also invest $250 million each in a newly formed... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!