Retail news

• England told to expect tougher Covid rules to allow for festive gatherings

  18-11-2020 20:22
  
  Local councils expecting rules to be tighter than three-tier system but to allow shops to stay openCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMinisters are expected to announce a tougher system of regional coronavirus rules for England next week to let families see each other at Christmas, as scientists warned that every day of festive respite would require five days of restrictions.Further data on the impact of the England-wide lockdown which ends on 2 December is needed
  
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• England told to expect tougher Covid rules to allow for Christmas gatherings

  18-11-2020 20:22
  
  Local councils expecting rules to be tighter than three-tier system but to allow shops to stay openCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMinisters are expected to announce a tougher system of regional coronavirus rules for England next week to let families see each other at Christmas, as scientists warned that every day of festive respite would require five days of restrictions.Further data on the impact of the England-wide lockdown which ends on 2 December is needed
  
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• Halfords to train 1,500 extra technicians to work on electric cars, bikes and scooters

  18-11-2020 19:30
  
  Halfords will also hire hundreds of new staff as it prepares for switch away from petrol carsHalfords is training 1,500 extra technicians to work on electric vehicles, bikes and scooters as it prepares for the switch away from petrol cars.The cycles-to-vehicle servicing group said it expected to hire hundreds of new staff and to retrain existing employees so that it would have 100 more electric car technicians next year, bringing the total to 470, and 1,400 extra electric bike and scooter techni
  
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• Sports Direct launches its first ever Christmas advert

  18-11-2020 18:06
  
  Film attempt to reach shoppers during England’s second lockdown and take chain upmarketCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSports Direct is running its first ever Christmas advert as it tries to reach shoppers during England’s second lockdown, which has forced the chain’s shops to shut during one of its busiest trading periods.The social media ad is directed by Henry Schofield, who is best-known for directing the music video for Stormzy’s Vos
  
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• UK inflation rises on back of increase in clothing and secondhand car prices

  18-11-2020 17:59
  
  Figure of 0.7% in October is more than expected and cost of food also roseWhy UK inflation rate appears divorced from realityCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUK inflation rose by more than expected in October, fuelled by the rising price of clothing and secondhand cars, according to official figures.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the consumer prices index (CPI) rose to 0.7% in October from 0.5% a month earlier as clothing prices increased, returnin
  
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• JD Sports’ Go Outdoors acquires Naylors Equestrian

  18-11-2020 17:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Go Outdoors acquires equestrian retailer Naylors Equestrian
  // Naylors Equestrian will continue to operate through its existing website and 3 stores in Rochdale, Nantwich and Cannock
  // Go Outdoors operates 66 stores across the UKGo Outdoors has completed its acquisition of equestrian retailer Naylors Equestrian, as it seeks to offer customers “the best choice for all their equestrian needs”.
  As part of the deal, Naylors Equestrian will continue to operate through its existing web
  
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• Can retailers do Christmas virtually this year?

  18-11-2020 17:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  As Christmas nears, retailers still have to prepare despite the ongoing and varying levels of restrictions across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  While non-essential stores remain closed this month in England and parts of Scotland prepare to enter another lockdown from Friday, more retailers are turning to virtual experiences to keep shoppers engaged over the crucial festive trading season.
  For example, in September John Lewis launched a virtual Christmas shop for the first time, l
  
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• Shopping centre owner British Land takes £1bn hit to portfolio

  18-11-2020 15:16
  
  Value of property company’s retail assets decline as Covid-19 drives down rental income Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBritish Land has become the second major property company to write down the value of its portfolio by almost £1bn after the Covid-19 pandemic led to a sharp fall in the rental income it receives from retailers.The owner of the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield and Drake Circus in Plymouth cut the value of its property portfoli
  
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• Sports Direct launches first ever Christmas advert

  18-11-2020 13:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Sports Direct launches first ever Christmas advert, Sports Starts Here
  // It was directed by Henry Schofield and features Liverpool FC captain Jordan Henderson
  // The ad follows a female protagonist being asked what she wants for Christmas before exploring the realms of sportSports Direct has unveiled its first ever Christmas advert, which showcases the Mike Ashley-owned retailer’s new positioning for 2021 and beyond.
  The new advert, titled Sport Starts Here, was directed by Henry Schof
  
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• Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s Days Department Store in Wales to close down

  18-11-2020 13:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Days Department Store in Carmarthen, Wales prepares to shut down permanently
  // The department store stocks products from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group stable of retailers
  // It re-opened when other non-essential stores in Wales were allowed to reopen on November 9Philip Day’s eponymous business Days Department Store is reportedly preparing to close down its store in Carmarthen, Wales.
  The department store, owned by Day’s Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group (EWM Group), had first open
  
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• M&S expands digital contactless click & collect service with Doddle

  18-11-2020 13:15 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Marks & Spencer is expanding its digital contactless click & collect service across the UK this week following “great early feedback”.
  M&S is rolling out its contactless click & collect trial, in partnership with Doddle, to six more stores of various sizes in Havant, Maidstone Eclipse, Pinner, Tolworth and White City, according to The Grocer. 
  Using the service shoppers will be able to book a specific time slot to enter an M&S store and collect their ord
  
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• Luxury sector set to contract by a fifth in 2020 as pandemic dents demand

  18-11-2020 13:15
  Recovery could take up to three years and is expected to be led by Chinese consumers
  
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• Rising clothing & food prices drives up inflation

  18-11-2020 12:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // ONS says CPI inflation rose to 0.7% in October, compared to 0.5% in September
  // The rise in clothing and food prices played a role in driving up inflation
  // The RPI, a separate measure of inflation, was 1.3% in October, rising from 1.1% in SeptemberUK inflation bounced higher last month as the price of food and clothing went up, according to official figures.
  The ONS said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose to 0.7 per cent in October, compared to 0.5 per cent in September.
  It surpass
  
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• Amazon launches “extremely disruptive” pharmacy service sending rivals’ shares plummeting

  18-11-2020 12:07 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon has launched a new online pharmacy service offering up to 80 per cent discounts for Prime subscribers in a major threat to traditional pharmacies.
  As the US continues to endure a major healthcare crisis Amazon has launched Amazon Pharmacy, offering Prime subscribers without health insurance huge discounts on both generic and branded drugs.
  Amazon’s launch into the $4 trillion US pharmaceuticals space has already had a dramatic affect on the market, seeing shares in the country&rsquo
  
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• British Land’s retail estate drops in value as CVAs increase

  18-11-2020 11:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // British Land value drops 15% as retailers undertake CVAs
  // However, occupancy across retail “remains high at 95%, with all assets open”British Land has seen the value of its retail portfolio drop as its retail tenants turn to CVAs and the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the retail sector.
  The shopping centre owner, which owns Meadhowhall in Sheffield, said the value of its retail portfolio was down 15 per cent in the first half of its financial year.
  A total of
  
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• British Land ditches retail properties as pandemic inflicts £1bn hit

  18-11-2020 10:53
  New chief plans to sell some sites or convert them into warehouses and delivery centres
  
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• Cycling sales boost Halfords’ profits as people avoid public transport

  18-11-2020 10:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Halfords underlying profits rose by 116% to £56 million in the 26 weeks to October 2
  // Retail like-for-likes rose 8.1% to £524 millionHalfords has witnessed a surge in interim profits thanks to ongoing demand for its bikes as people avoided public transport during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The cycling and motor accessories specialist said that underlying profits rose by a colossal 116 per cent to £56 million in the 26 weeks to October 2, when group sales climbed 6.7 per cent l
  
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• Non-essential retail to enter lockdown in 11 local councils across Scotland

  18-11-2020 10:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Level 4 lockdown restrictions to be imposed in 11 local council areas, including Glasgow, across Scotland from Friday
  // This is the highest level of restrictions in Scotland, which means these areas will be lockdown
  // All non-essential shops, along with pubs, gyms and restaurants must close for three weeksScotland’s toughest coronavirus restrictions are to be imposed on 11 council areas from Friday, forcing non-essential shops to close for three weeks.
  Scottish First Minister Nicola S
  
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• M&S poaches Asda vice president as ambient head of trading

  18-11-2020 09:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // M&S has poached Asda’s vice president of non-edible grocery Lizzy Massey, as the new head of trading for ambient
  // It has also hired wine specialist Bibendum’s buying director, Andrew Shaw as head of trading for beers, wine and spirits
  // The appointments are part of the retailer’s transformation strategyMarks & Spencer has transformed its grocery team in an effort to win a greater share of spend in the lead up to the festive period.
  The retailer has poached As
  
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• UK inflation rises on back of increase in clothing prices

  18-11-2020 09:32
  
  Figure of 0.7% in October is more than expected and cost of food also roseCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUK inflation rose by more than expected in October, fuelled by an increase in clothing prices.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the consumer prices index (CPI) rose to 0.7% in October from 0.5% a month earlier as clothing prices increased, returning to a more normal seasonal pattern after the disruption this year. City economists had forecast an
  
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• Sainsbury’s opens new fresh food market concept

  18-11-2020 09:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Sainsbury’s launches brand new format “Fresh Food Market” at its Hempstead Valley store
  // It features a market-style presentation of fresh fruit & veg, new signage and a focus on seasonality and British heritage
  // The relaunch of Hempstead Valley’s food hall is part of a multi-million pound store redevelopmentSainsbury’s has opened a brand new “Fresh Food Market” concept at its Hempstead Valley store as part of a multi-million pound store redeve
  
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• Halfords boosted by switch to cycling during pandemic

  18-11-2020 09:30
  Increase in bike sales offsets weak motoring market as retailer emerges as winner from crisis
  
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• Currys PC World delaying refunds during pandemic, says Which?

  18-11-2020 09:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Which? received more than 1700 complaints about Currys PC World since January
  // This represents around 10% of all complaints regarding faulty goods sent to Which?
  // The complaints  pertain to Currys PC World customers struggling to get refunds and replacementsComplaints against Currys PC World have surged during the pandemic as customers struggled to get refunds and replacements for faulty products, according to Which?
  A new investigation from the consumer group found that it has recei
  
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• Diversity Leaders

  18-11-2020 05:30
  
  Employees evaluate 850 European companies on diversity of gender, ethnicity, age, disability and sexual orientation. Includes the second annual ranking and winner profile. Plus: how luxury fashion is taking steps to boost inclusion; interview with the female chief of a Norwegian bank; what hostility towards Poland’s LGBT+ people means for the role of the workplace
  
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• Biocoop tops the latest Diversity Leaders ranking

  18-11-2020 05:23
  
  France’s purpose-driven organic food chain builds on its co-operative roots
  
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• Sports Direct launches first Christmas advertising campaign

  18-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sports Direct has unveiled its first ever Christmas advertising campaign as it looks to showcase its new positioning and rebrand for 2021 and beyond. Called ‘Sport... View Article
  
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• Halfords hails strong first half

  18-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Halfords has reported strong first half trading with revenue growing by 9.6% to £638.9 million in the six months to 2 October. Like-for-like sales in the... View Article
  
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• GO Outdoors completes acquisition of Naylors Equestrian

  18-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Outdoor retailer GO Outdoors has completed its acquisition of long established equestrian retailer Naylors Equestrian. Following the purchase, Naylors will continue to operate through its existing... View Article
  
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• Gen Z POV: Tomorrow’s Plan Today With Predictive Scheduling

  18-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Guest post: Diego Giron, Operational Excellence Analyst and Valeria Orona, Operational Excellence Consultant -Logile Technology is a necessity rather than a commodity. As we said in... View Article
  
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• Boda Skins unveils growth plans

  18-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Boda Skins leather jacket retailer is planning a number of new initiatives to boost growth. The Manchester based business will be expanding into Asia, launching... View Article
  
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• Action Plan: Build a retail frontline that’s ready for anything

  18-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Everyone wants to do their best work while staying safe. But, without the right information and support, your associates can’t perform effectively or confidently. As things... View Article
  
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