Retail news

• Critics attack Pretty Little Thing's 8p Black Friday dress deal

  27-11-2020 20:53
  
  Deep discounts spark outrage on Twitter as campaigners highlight environmental costClothing retailers have come under fire for selling dresses from just 8p on Black Friday, with critics accusing them of encouraging “fast fashion” and unsustainable consumption. Related: Boohoo hires Sir Brian Leveson to oversee supply chain overhaulRelated: Boohoo investors called upon to hold firm to account over promises #BlackFriday just seems to be a race by some retailers to prove how unethical t
  
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• Sir Philip Green: rise and fall of Britain’s ‘king of the high street’

  27-11-2020 20:08
  
  Fashion tycoon’s empire is on the brink of collapse but his reputation was tarnished years ago
  He was once seen as the king of the UK high street, but the likely demise of Sir Philip Green’s fashion empire comes long after that crown slipped to the floor.Green’s image was tarnished irreparably when he sold his ailing BHS department store chain for £1 to Dominic Chappell, a former bankrupt with no retail experience. Continue reading...
  
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• Traditional retail in crisis as shift to online accelerates

  27-11-2020 19:55
  US Black Friday ecommerce sales set to increase 40 per cent on last year
  
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• From Cardiff shops to Hermes hubs, the UK has its Covid Black Friday

  27-11-2020 19:34
  
  Covid rules fail to thwart record parcel traffic at Hermes in Hemel Hempstead or shoppers thronging the Welsh capitalBig fall in Black Friday UK retail sales despite online spending boomAs the Welsh government was setting out a grim set of Covid-19 statistics and explaining why new restrictions in the hospitality and entertainment sectors across Wales are needed, tens of thousands of people had flocked to Cardiff’s Queen Street to grab Black Friday bargains and stock up on Christmas gifts.
  
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• From Cardiff 's shops to Hermes' hubs, the UK has its Covid Black Friday

  27-11-2020 19:34
  
  Covid rules fail to thwart record parcel traffic at Hermes in Hemel Hempstead or shoppers thronging the Welsh capitalAs the Welsh government was setting out a grim set of Covid-19 statistics and explaining why new restrictions in the hospitality and entertainment sectors across Wales are needed, tens of thousands of people had flocked to Cardiff’s Queen Street to grab Black Friday bargains and stock up on Christmas gifts.“We’re about halfway through our shopping,” said Ad
  
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• Big fall in Black Friday UK retail sales despite online spending boom

  27-11-2020 19:18
  
  Barclaycard figures show payments down by a 10th from last year amid Covid restrictions
  Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageRetail sales on Black Friday have fallen sharply despite a boom in online spending as non-essential shops remain closed on England’s high streets during the second coronavirus lockdown.Retailers said online sales hit record levels on the pivotal discount day to soften the blow from the closure of stores. However, UK figures from Barclayca
  
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• US malls deserted on Black Friday as digital first-timers fuel online surge

  27-11-2020 18:44
  Chess boards and PlayStations in demand as older shoppers in rural areas shun stores to go online
  
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• Shopping guidance issued on first day of Northern Ireland lockdown

  27-11-2020 18:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Northern Ireland’ parliament issues guidance on how non-essential shopping can be done during 2-week lockdown, which started today
  // Shops can operate on an appointment-only basis for collection to limit the spread of Covid infection
  // Retailers that do not have an online facility should consider the potential of phoned-in or text orderingClick-and-collect guidance has been published on the first day of a two-week lockdown which has emptied Northern Ireland’s busiest high street
  
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• Councils urged to encourage shoppers back to the high street with free Christmas parking

  27-11-2020 18:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The AA suggests councils should make parking free from December 14 to bring shoppers back to the high street for Christmas
  // It also warned that parking machines can make social distancing difficult as shoppers queue up to buy ticketsCouncils should offer free parking from the middle of December to encourage Christmas shoppers back to the high street.
  Motoring organisation the AA has made the call “to help revive the festive fortunes of beleaguered shops and street traders”.
  It h
  
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• Launch of celebrity candles lights up – and cashes in – on lockdown gloom

  27-11-2020 18:03
  
  It started with Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina candle; now Alicia Keys, Anthony Hopkins and Drake have joined the trendForget the It-bag, the latest must have is the It-candle. Gwyneth Paltrow began this year by selling out of a candle simply called This Smells Like My Vagina on Goop. In September, Alicia Keys launched her skin care brand Keys Soulcare, and its first product was a sage and oatmilk candle. And last month Anthony Hopkins launched a fragrance collection that included candles in Amb
  
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• Moss Bros unveils CVA proposal

  27-11-2020 17:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Moss Bros launches CVA proposal in a bid to reduce rental costs
  // No further details of the CVA have been provided – especially around whether it would impact its 800 staff
  // The proposal comes less than 6 months after the finalisation of a deal that saw Brigadier Acquisition buy Moss Bros for £22.6mMoss Bros has launched a CVA proposal which aims to “restructure its fixed cost base” after trading was “severely impacted” by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  The reta
  
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• Retail Gazette Loves: Soho Speaks

  27-11-2020 16:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Kicking off in London’s beloved Soho this winter is Soho Speaks, a brand new series of free in-store talks celebrating the people behind the retailers in Soho.
  Soho, located in the heart of London, is recognised for attracting individualism and creativity, and offers a variety of concept stores, original independents and international brands in the mix.
  Ahead of Small Business Saturday on December 5, Soho Speaks presents a series of film interviews to celebrate independent businesses in t
  
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• Aptos Golden Quarter Report – Making the most of this challenging year

  27-11-2020 16:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  A new Aptos report has delivered much-needed good news for the UK retail sector as it heads into the peak trading season of the year – especially after the challenging year we’ve had.
  The Golden Quarter 2020: Christmas Is Coming, Come What May report revealed that retail stores have not lost their Christmas sparkle, as the high street remains the preferred destination for shoppers during the golden quarter.
  Aptos surveyed 2000 shoppers in the UK and asked questions about spendi
  
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• Philip Green's Arcadia on brink of collapse, putting 13,000 jobs at risk

  27-11-2020 15:14
  
  Topshop owner is ‘working on contingency options’ after Covid shutdowns take tollCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSir Philip Green’s retail empire is teetering on the brink of administration, putting 13,000 jobs at risk as months of high street shutdowns take their toll.Arcadia Group, which owns Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Evans, Outfit and Burton, admitted it was “working on contingency options” to secure its f
  
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• Sustainability + Conscious Consumerism (New report)

  27-11-2020 15:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Did you know that 75% of UK shoppers are modifying their buying behaviour due to ethical concerns, and that 85% of retail technology leaders will invest the same or more in sustainable shopping initiatives next year?
  In our latest report Sustainable Shopping: How tech can facilitate conscious consumerism, we reveal the key sustainable shopping initiatives that retailers will be focusing on in the next 12-months and offer ideas for how charity and retail can work together to deliver what consumer
  
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• Amazon says it has sacked delivery driver allegedly caught on CCTV “stealing” PS5

  27-11-2020 14:48 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon says it will no longer work with a delivery driver who was caught on CCTV allegedly failing to delivery a PlayStation 5.
  Last week Amazon was forced to apologise to customers after many were delivered air fryers, dog food, and toys in place of their £450 PS5 consoles.
  Other customers including Jenni Walker, who had purchased the PS5 for her son who turned 16 on launch day, were simply left empty handed.
  While several affected customers reported on social media that their delivery dr
  
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• Primark to introduce 24hr trading in 11 stores amid post-lockdown plans

  27-11-2020 14:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Primark’s post-lockdown plans in England features extended trading hours ahead of the festive season
  // Primark will re-open its 153 stores in England on December 2, when lockdown is lifted
  // There’ll be extended opening hours in all stores, with some stores trading until midnight & 24-hour trading in 11 storesPrimark has confirmed it will reopen its stores in England when lockdown ends on December 2, along with details on extended trading hours – including 11 stores wh
  
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• Shopping on Black Friday? Remember the stranded seafarers who make it possible | Nusrat Ghani and Guy Platten

  27-11-2020 14:23
  
  With nearly 400,000 crew members trapped at sea by Covid restrictions, it’s time for retailers like Amazon to help press for key worker statusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThis weekend is one of the planet’s busiest shopping sprees, with an estimated £66bn to be spent in the UK alone over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, much of it online. Yet as shoppers click and wait to collect, there is a crisis at sea among the people whose work brings us
  
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• Shopworkers deserve Boxing Day off, urges union

  27-11-2020 14:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Usdaw urges retailers to close their stores on Boxing Day to give workers a decent break this Christmas
  // Usdaw boss Paddy Lillis has written to retail bosses recommending this
  // Follows announcements by M&S, Pets at Home and Wickes that they will close on Boxing DayMajor retailers are being urged to close their stores on Boxing Day to give workers a decent break this Christmas.
  The shopworkers’ union Usdaw has written to retail bosses pointing out how hard store staff have been w
  
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• Grocers join forces for anti-racism message on Channel 4

  27-11-2020 13:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Channel 4 to broadcast adverts from supermarket chains as part of an anti-racism message
  // The adverts will be shown tonight, alongside hashtag #StandAgainstRacismChannel 4 is to broadcast a number of adverts from major supermarket chains as part of an anti-racism message.
  The move comes after Sainsbury’s released its Christmas advert which featured a Black family, which the broadcaster said prompted some offensive and racist posts on social media.
  Adverts from Waitrose, Tesco, Iceland
  
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• Black Friday 2020: the best deals on bikes, tech, toys and mobiles

  27-11-2020 13:45
  
  Discounts offered by UK retailers such as Tesco, Halfords, Asda, Argos and AldiFive things to consider before buying that ‘bargain’Online shoppers fail to get parcels but but struggle to get refundHere’s a roundup of some of the offers in the Black Friday sale:• Tesco is offering a number of deals on toys and video games. Lego sets going for half-price include the Lighthouse Rescue Centre (£27.50 – down from £55) and the Lego City Fire Station (£30
  
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• McDonald’s Chris Kempczinski: ‘Our menu is very Darwinian’

  27-11-2020 13:30
  The chief executive on comfort food in a crisis — and why he eats at his own chain twice a day
  
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• Jaeger administration: 103 jobs axed and 13 stores shut down

  27-11-2020 13:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Jaeger to axe 103 jobs and shut 13 shops
  // It comes after Jaeger fell into administration last week, along with EWM Group stablemate Peacocks
  // Administrators continue to search for a buyer for Jaeger but its store count has been reduced to 63Jaeger has said it will axe 103 jobs and shut 13 stores, a week after falling into administration.
  The fashion retailer said it has cut 47 in-store positions and 56 head office and distribution roles as part of a restructuring.
  The chain was placed int
  
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• Going for gold: pet firm reports resurgence in fish-keeping

  27-11-2020 13:08
  
  Goldfish making a comeback as low-fuss, landlord-friendly pets for work-from-homersYou can’t cuddle or stroke them, and God forbid you should take them for a walk. Yet the humble goldfish is making a comeback as more Britons embrace pet ownership.The switch to working from home has led to a well-documented rise in households adopting puppies and kittens, but the retailer Pets at Home says fish-keeping is also enjoying a renaissance. Continue reading...
  
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• Philip Green's Arcadia on brink of collapse, putting 15,000 jobs at risk

  27-11-2020 13:04
  
  Topshop owner is ‘working on contingency options’ after Covid shutdowns take tollCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSir Philip Green’s retail empire is teetering on the brink of administration, putting 15,000 jobs at risk as months of high street shutdowns take their toll.Arcadia Group, which owns Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Evans and Burton, admitted it was “working on contingency options” to secure its future af
  
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• Philip Green’s Arcadia working on options to secure its future

  27-11-2020 12:31
  Owner of Topshop, Burton and Wallis has been seen as a potential Covid casualty
  
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• Philip Green’s Arcadia prepares for administration

  27-11-2020 12:31
  Owner of Topshop, Burton and Wallis working on ‘contingency options’ with 13,000 jobs at risk
  
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• Philip Green’s Arcadia on brink of collapse

  27-11-2020 12:31
  More than 13,000 jobs at risk as owner of Topshop, Burton and Wallis prepares to enter administration
  
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• Philip Green’s Arcadia faces administration

  27-11-2020 12:31
  Owner of Topshop, Burton and Wallis is working on ‘options’ as 13,000 jobs are put at risk
  
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• 15,000 jobs at risk as Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group faces collapse

  27-11-2020 12:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group retail empire could appoint administrators next week
  // The move will potentially place 15,000 jobs at risk and 500 stores at risk of closure
  // Arcadia Group owns Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Wallis, Evans and Miss SelfridgeArcadia Group is on the verge of becoming the latest Covid pandemic-induced high street causality, with reports suggesting it is about to go into administration – a move that could put 15,000 jobs at risk.
  Accordin
  
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• Harvey Nichols owner posts half-year profit despite lower sales

  27-11-2020 12:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Harvey Nichols owner Dickson Concepts saw a rise in first-half profit despite lower sales
  // For the 6 months to the end of September, Dickson Concepts saw turnover fall 42.7% to £93.4mHarvey Nichols owner Dickson Concepts has reported a rise in profit for the first half of its financial year, despite lower sales.
  For the six months to the end of September, Dickson Concepts, a Hong Kong luxury goods company which owns Harvey Nichols and also operates retail stores in Asia under the Roge
  
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• Black Friday 2020: Record breaker or lost cause? Here’s what the experts say

  27-11-2020 11:46 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Black Friday is finally here, but like almost everything this year, it promises to be a totally different beast from previous events.
  This year the sales extravaganza, which traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season, is predicted to be break records for both sales and the level of discounting taking place.
  With the UK remaining under national lockdown and the US continuing to break records for new coronavirus cases, the vast majority of sales are expected to take place onlin
  
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• This Black Friday, a global coalition is holding Amazon to account | Casper Gelderblom

  27-11-2020 11:00
  
  Jeff Bezos’s company has made vast profits, but at a huge cost to workers and the planet. #MakeAmazonPay says: enough
  Black Friday is here once again, and bargains abound. With widespread lockdowns preventing crowds at brick-and-mortar stores, online sales are expected to soar. One merchant, in particular, stands to profit greatly: Amazon’s chief executive, Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, at the helm of one of the world’s most powerful companies.
  But this year’
  
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• John Lewis outlines plans for reopening stores in England

  27-11-2020 09:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // John Lewis will offer bookable shopping slots and virtual queuing in shops upon reopening
  // Customers can also collect their orders from 15 Waitrose and 16 John Lewis car parks
  // Customers can pre-book a visit online to any John Lewis shop including those in Scotland and WalesJohn Lewis has outlined plans on how to reopen shops in England with new steps to deliver “fuss-free” shopping to customers this Christmas.
  The department store chain will offer bookable shopping slots and
  
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• Boots poaches TSB marketing boss for newly-created role of CMO

  27-11-2020 09:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boots hires TSB chief marketing officer Pete Markey in the same role
  // Markey will join Boots in the new year and lead marketing across UK & Ireland businesses
  // He will report into Boots owner Walgreens Boots Alliance’s global chief marketing officer Vineet MehraBoots has reportedly poached TSB chief marketing officer Pete Markey to lead in the same role and accelerate its digital transformation.
  Markey will join as Boots chief marketing officer in the new year and lead marketing
  
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• Boots poaches TSB marketing boss for newly-created CMO role

  27-11-2020 09:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boots hires TSB chief marketing officer Pete Markey in the same role
  // Markey will join Boots in the new year and lead marketing across UK & Ireland businesses
  // He will report into Boots owner Walgreens Boots Alliance’s global chief marketing officer Vineet MehraBoots has reportedly poached TSB chief marketing officer Pete Markey to lead in the same role and accelerate its digital transformation.
  Markey will join as Boots chief marketing officer in the new year and lead marketing
  
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• US workers face 'turkey apocalypse' with high demand from holiday shoppers amid pandemic

  27-11-2020 09:00
  
  This year’s spending bonanza means potentially worsening labor and health safety conditions for hundreds of thousands of workersUS retailers have rolled out their traditional Black Friday and Christmas sales and shoppers look eager to make big savings, but this year’s spending bonanza means potentially worsening labor and health safety conditions for hundreds of thousands of workers in the warehouses that supply all the consumer goods.Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, essential wo
  
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• Pets at Home and Wickes join M&S in closing stores on Boxing Day

  27-11-2020 08:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Pets at Home and Wickes will close stores on Boxing Day
  // Next, whose Boxing Day Sale attracts lots of customers, confirmed it will be open for business
  // Bensons for Beds has also said it will be open
  // On Thursday, M&S reversed on its decision to keep stores open on Boxing DayPets at Home and Wickes have joined Marks & Spencer in deciding to close their doors on Boxing Day as a “sign of appreciation” to their colleagues after a strenuous year.
  The retailers have said
  
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• Digital first-timers fuel Black Friday ecommerce surge

  27-11-2020 08:40
  Chess boards and PlayStations in demand as older shoppers in rural areas join online rush
  
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• Hammerson hires first ever chief operating officer

  27-11-2020 08:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Hammerson hires Grégoire Peureux as first ever chief operating officer
  // Peureux joins the newly created role from real estate investment advisor Rove Capital PartnersHammerson has appointed Grégoire Peureux to the newly created role of chief operating officer.
  Peureux will join the group executive committee and will focus on the delivery of strategic initiatives at a group level.
  He has over 17 years of experience in the real estate industry, and joins Hammerson from real esta
  
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• UK's economy suffers in November but Covid vaccine hopes ease gloom

  27-11-2020 07:00
  
  Our latest snapshot of key economic indicators shows travel down and inflation up amid double-dip recessionBusiness Today: sign up for a morning shot of financial newsSee all our coronavirus coverage Continue reading...
  
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• Coronavirus vaccine results drive hope for economic recovery

  27-11-2020 07:00
  
  Guardian analysis shows retail sales booming and financial markets picking up around worldCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBritain’s economy is approaching a turning point amid hopes for a rapid recovery fuelled by an early coronavirus vaccine, despite renewed lockdowns pushing the country into a double-dip recession, according to a Guardian analysis.As the government prepares to ease restrictions in England from next week, the latest figures from the econo
  
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• Amazon to pay employee bonus amid threat of Black Friday strikes

  27-11-2020 01:07
  One-time payment will be made in January as calls for industrial action grow over peak sales period
  
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• Prospects for Peak during the second wave

  27-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  As COVID-19 redefines the concept of normal in Europe and the second wave of lockdowns force retailers to adjust their plans, access to data on everything... View Article
  
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• O2 to extend store opening hours post-lockdown

  27-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  O2 is overhauling its store opening hours as it looks to give people more chances to shop following the reopening of retail stores when lockdown ends... View Article
  
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• Mulberry sales hit by Covid-19 lockdowns

  27-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Mulberry has posted a drop in first half sales after trading was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Group revenue declined by 29% to £48.9 million in... View Article
  
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• L Brands appoints new CEO for Victoria’s Secret Lingerie

  27-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  L Brands has announced that Martin Waters has been appointed as the new chief executive of Victoria’s Secret Lingerie. He has succeeded John Mehas who has... View Article
  
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• King’s Cross retailers call on Londoners to ‘shop out to help out’ this Christmas

  27-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Over 30 retail brands in the King’s Cross and Coal Drops Yard shopping district have joined together to launch a new campaign to encourage people to... View Article
  
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• John Lewis to offer customers chance to book in-store Christmas shopping slots

  27-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The John Lewis department store chain is to give customers the opportunity to book timed shopping slots in its stores when they reopen after the current... View Article
  
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• Co-op serves-up new-look fuel forecourt store

  27-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Co-op has re-opened its petrol filling station in Astley following extensive works to build a new, larger food store and overhaul the fuel forecourt with new... View Article
  
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