Retail news

• Don't cry to mother if rates freebie comes back to bite

  24-11-2020 20:34
  
  Pets at Home joins supermarkets and B&M in opting not to repay rates relief despite staying open during Covid crisisHere’s another name to add to the list of retailers who will keep their relief on business rates – thanks very much, dear chancellor – even though their stores were open during lockdown.It’s Pets at Home, which joins all the big supermarket chains and discount merchant B&M in the brazen bracket. There were mitigating factors in Pets at Home’s c
  
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• Debenhams may close up to 60 stores, putting thousands of jobs at risk

  24-11-2020 19:49
  
  JD Sports shares fall as it enters exclusive talks to buy the store groupUp to 60 Debenhams shops could close next year, putting thousands of jobs at risk, as part of a rescue deal for the beleaguered department store group.Shares in JD Sports fell more than 6% on Tuesday after it emerged the company was in exclusive talks to buy Debenhams, in a move that would take the sports and casual wear group into a tough new market. Related: Debenhams hires restructuring firm for potential liquidationCont
  
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• Big-box retailers: winner takes all

  24-11-2020 18:53
  The divide between the retail haves and have-nots has never been starker
  
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• Tourism slump hits global retailers

  24-11-2020 18:34
  Abercrombie & Fitch to close stores in London and Paris while sales also slide at Tiffany
  
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• AO.com boss tells supermarkets to ask their mum about business rates row

  24-11-2020 18:28
  
  John Roberts says firms must do their bit during Covid crisis and if in doubt about decisions, ask mumThe chief executive of online retailer AO.com has suggested supermarket executives “ask their mum” about whether they should repay nearly £2bn in business rates relief.Like supermarkets, AO has benefited from lockdown living trends, with UK sales up 54% as Britons kitted out home offices and upgraded their TVs and fridge freezers. Continue reading...
  
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• Big Interview: Paul Kendrick, CEO, Studio

  24-11-2020 18:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Since its rebranding from Express Gifts in early April last year, Studio has quickly become the biggest brand in the Studio Retail Group – itself rebranded from Findel.
  Paul Kendrick joined Studio as commercial and deputy managing director in May 2016 before being promoted to managing director in April 2017, and was appointed to the board in December 2019.
  He took the helm of the online retailer in July this year as a result of a structured development and succession plan implemented by t
  
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• Debenhams’ survival rests with JD Sports as last remaining bidder

  24-11-2020 17:56
  Agreement on future of UK department store chain is expected within days
  
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• Furniture Village sales up 25% despite Covid-induced losses

  24-11-2020 17:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Furniture Village sales up 25%, thanks to a 90% uplift in online sales
  // It also announces two new store openings next month while also creating 150 new jobsFurniture Village has revealed a surge in sales and plans to expand its store footprint despite losses incurred during the first UK-wide Covid-19 lockdown over spring.
  The furniture retailer said its sales were currently 25 per cent up year-on-year, thanks to a 90 per cent surge in online sales driven by the shift to online retail brough
  
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• Morrisons picks Edgbaston store to launch new Market Kitchen concept

  24-11-2020 17:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Morrisons unveils new Market Kitchen concept in Edgbaston
  // The concept turns the store into a part-supermarket, part-fresh food takeaway
  // Customers can have food made fresh to order, or have them deliveredMorrisons has unveiled a new Market Kitchen concept at its Edgbaston store in Birmingham, which sees the store turn into a part-supermarket, part-fresh food takeaway.
  In the new Market Kitchen section, meals are freshly made by a team of chefs including 48 new chef and front of house rol
  
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• Hunter hires Net-a-Porter co-founder Claudia Plant as new marketing chief

  24-11-2020 15:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Hunter appoints Claudia Plant as new chief marketing officer, effective immediately
  // She is one of the co-founders of Net-a-Porter
  // She has also had senior roles with Burberry and Charlotte TilburyHunter has hired Net-a-Porter co-founder and luxury retail veteran Claudia Plant to take on the role of chief marketing officer, marking the latest in a series of senior executive shake-ups at the retailer.
  Plant, who has over 25 years of experience in retail, joins Hunter with immediate effect,
  
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• How customer service in retail has changed forever

  24-11-2020 15:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  To say retail has had a tough year would be an understatement, with the consistent back and forth of non- essential store closures, many have needed to pivot how they think about serving their customers.
  Read Zendesk’s report on “How customer service in retail has changed forever” in collaboration with Retail Gazette where we highlight brands such as Fortnum & Mason, MADE.COM, New Look and more who have needed to be agile in transforming their CX to accommodate having a lar
  
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• The Original Factory Shop launches own ecommerce site for the first time

  24-11-2020 14:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Original Factory Shop launches brand new transactional website for the first time
  // Currently the online offering focuses on the retailer’s beauty range, with new categories to be added in the coming weeks
  // The new website also has a “Reserve & Collect” service which is available at The Original Factory Shop’s 166 stores nationwideThe Original Factory Shop has branched out to direct-to-consumer ecommerce for the first time with the launch of a brand new tran
  
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• Surge in online shopping eases pressure on UK retailers, says CBI

  24-11-2020 14:19
  
  Business group says autumn lockdown not nearly as damaging to sales as Covid shutdown in springA surge in shopping from home has eased the pressure on retailers caused by England’s four-week lockdown and tighter restrictions in the rest of the UK, according to a survey from the CBI.The employers’ organisation reported that while the level of spending was well below normal there were also clear signs of consumers substituting online purchases for visits to stores in person.What’
  
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• Burberry appoints new board member

  24-11-2020 14:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Burberry hires Antoine Bernard de Saint-Affrique as new non-executive director
  // He is currently CEO of chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut GroupBurberry has appointed Antoine Bernard de Saint-Affrique to its board as a non-executive director.
  Effective from January 1, he will also become a member of the luxury fashion retailer’s audit and nomination committees.
  Bernard de Saint-Affrique is currently chief executive of chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut Group.READ MORE:Burberry
  
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• Shareholders approve £100m equity raise for N Brown Group

  24-11-2020 13:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // N Brown Group £100m equity raise approved by shareholders
  // Shareholders also voted in favour of moving the company from the London main market to AIMN Brown shareholders have voted favour of a £100 million equity raise as well as moving the company from the London main market to AIM.
  The parent company of JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo said the funds will be used to remove unsecured debt.
  The retail group’s net debt sat at around £410 million before shareholders v
  
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• Amazon “really sorry” after customers’ PS5s go missing in alleged pre-delivery theft

  24-11-2020 12:49 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon UK has apologised to furious customers after they received air fryers, dog food and toys instead of their PlayStation 5 consoles.
  Customers have taken to social media to express their outrage after their PS5 orders went missing, with many alleging their consoles were stolen in transit by delivery drivers.
  While Amazon customers received parcels, many contained seemingly random items in place of their £450 consoles, including cat food, a George Foreman grill and a 5kg bag of rice.&nb
  
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• Lockdown Black Friday must be “halted in its tracks” to avoid delivery chaos and £1.3bn loss

  24-11-2020 11:48 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Black Friday must be “halted in its tracks” to avoid retailers’ delivery networks completely collapsing under the weight of online orders.
  This year’s annual shopping festival, due to take place this Friday and extend throughout the weekend, is expected to rake in a record £8.49 billion.
  However, as the England remains in lockdown until December 2, this years Black Friday will take place almost entirely online placing immense pressure on the country’s already
  
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• Black Friday 2020: best early UK deals and bargains

  24-11-2020 10:33
  
  Some of the discounts UK retailers such as Tesco, Argos, Asda and Aldi are offeringBrush up on prices as that ‘deal’ might not be a bargainOnline shoppers fail to get parcels but but struggle to get refundThe Black Friday sale no longer lasts only a day – retailers have already started discounting in the run-up to 27 November.Here’s a roundup of some of the offers: Related: Black Friday: brush up on prices as that 'deal' might not be a bargainRelated: Online shoppers fail
  
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• BRC responds to end of English lockdown news: “Retailers will be relieved”

  24-11-2020 10:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // BRC says Government decision to keep all shops open will “help keep Christmas a festive occasion for everyone”
  // PM Boris Johnson last night announced plans for end of 4-week lockdown in England
  // News comes as Northern Ireland prepares to enter two-week lockdown on Nov 27 with all “non-essential” retailers forced to closeThe British Retail Consortium (BRC) said retailers would be “relieved” in light of the Government’s decision to reopen all shops
  
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• AO World encouraged by 53% surge in H1 revenue

  24-11-2020 09:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // AO World says group pretax profit rose to £18.3m for H1
  // UK revenue rose 53.9% for the first half of the year, to £616.4 million.
  // Founder John Roberts says “Now really is our time and we are investing to win and cement the change.”Online
  AO World on Tuesday revealed a 53.2 per cent rise in total revenue to £717 million for its interim results in the six months to September 30.
  The online electrical retailer said group profit before tax rose to £18.3 mi
  
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• Pets at Home posts 5.1% rise in revenue for H1

  24-11-2020 09:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Pets at Home posts pretax profit of £38.9 million for first half of fiscal 2021
  // As an “essential” retailer, Pets at Home says it has adapted its operations in order to continue providing pet care with minimal disruption
  // Group CEO Peter Pritchard: “There is much to be optimistic about”Pets at Home saw total group revenue rise 5.1 per cent in the 28 weeks to October 8, to £574.4 million.
  The pet specialist said retail like-for-like revenue rose 5.8
  
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• Pets at Home and AO World boosted by lockdown sales

  24-11-2020 09:01
  Petcare chain upgrades earnings forecast and electricals group receives online shopping lift
  
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• AO World swings to profit during pandemic ecommerce boom

  24-11-2020 08:58
  Electricals retailer says it has been ‘a half year like no other’
  
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• JD Sports in exclusive talks with Debenhams over takeover

  24-11-2020 08:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // JD Sports is reported to be in further discussions over Debenhams acquisition
  // Executive chairman Peter Cowgill is believed to have his eye on Debenhams’ website
  // News comes after Mike Ashley withdrew from list of bidders to acquire DebenhamsJD Sports is reportedly engaged in exclusive discussions with Debenhams over a deal to rescue the entire business from administration, according to The Times.
  It’s understood that the sportswear specialist is interested in acquiring all of
  
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• White Paper: The New Future of Work is here. Are you ready?

  24-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The world of work has undergone rapid change. Employees expect more flexibility in where, when and how they work. Regulations and safety requirements are expanding in... View Article
  
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• Pets at Home posts uplift in first half sales

  24-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pets at Home grew its group revenue by 5.1% to £574.4 million in the first half of its financial year despite some its services being curtailed... View Article
  
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• Look who’s joined the line-up for Omnichannel Futures

  24-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Retail Bulletin is delighted to announce that David Robinson, chief commercial officer for retail at Pets at Home, has joined the host of senior retailers who will be... View Article
  
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• Harnessing in-store mobility to bust those Christmas queues

  24-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Guest Post: Lee Jones, Ingenico – Long before the days of COVID-19, shopping in-store had ceased to be a stand-alone experience. Online retail had been rapidly... View Article
  
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• Footfall in UK retail destinations down 55.4% year-on-year last week

  24-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  New data has revealed that footfall across all UK retail destinations was down 55.4% year-on-year last week compared to the same seven-day period last year. However,... View Article
  
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• Burberry hires new non-executive director

  24-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Luxury brand Burberry has appointed Antoine Bernard de Saint-Affrique to its board as a non-executive director. He will also become a member of the audit and... View Article
  
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• Adidas launches collection with Karlie Kloss

  24-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Adidas has launched a collection of activewear with model Karlie Kloss. Items include staple pieces ranging from a high-performance workout bra and tights to trend-inspired streetwear... View Article
  
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