Retail news

• London’s shops and businesses in despair as new Covid curbs halt Christmas bonanza

  19-12-2020 21:00
  
  Shopkeepers’ hopes for a pre-Christmas sales boost were devastated by the announcement of tier 4Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageIn Bethnal Green, east London, on Saturday evening, Sumen Sumen, manager of the popular Plant Warehouse, was horrified to learn he would have to shut six days before Christmas, gesticulating to his shop full of people buying festive gifts.“It’s absolutely disgusting, such short notice. I find it heartbreaking that we a
  
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• Missguided on track for 50% growth as brand awareness rises

  19-12-2020 12:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Missguided on track to achieve 50% growth in turnover
  // The growth is thanks to increased brand awareness
  // However, EBITDA for the full financial year is forecast to be below expectationsMissguided has reportedly said it is on track to achieve up to 50 per cent growth in turnover to £300 million by the end of the financial year in March 2021.
  The fast fashion retailer said the increase in its forecast was thanks to a rise in its brand awareness, Drapers reported.
  However, it warned t
  
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• Consumer confidence rises as Covid-19 vaccines roll out

  19-12-2020 12:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // UK consumer confidence rises in December thanks to news of Covid-19 vaccination
  // The GfK Consumer Confidence Index said confidence increased 7 points to -26Consumer confidence in the UK has risen this month following news of the Covid-19 vaccination programme across the country.
  According to the GfK Consumer Confidence Index, confidence increased by seven points to -26.
  The index measuring the forecast for people’s personal finances over the next 12 months rose by eight points to thre
  
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• Waitrose extends bookable shopping slots to over 100 stores

  19-12-2020 11:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Waitrose extends its shopping slots to over 110 stores
  // The service will run until early January
  // Customers can reserve slots on the retailer’s website up to seven days in advanceWaitrose has extended its bookable shopping slots service to more than 110 stores, following a successful trial in the summer.
  The free service, which will run until early January, allows customers to pre-book a shopping slot in an effort to avoid any queues outside stores during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  Cust
  
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• Mike Ashley to defy odds with opening of giant Flannels stores

  19-12-2020 08:00
  
  Plans for luxury department stores outside London seen as ‘high risk’ after grim year for retailMike Ashley’s Frasers Group is thumbing its nose at the high street downturn by opening of three giant flagship stores for its designer fashion chain Flannels – and plans for 15 more in the next five years.The former House of Fraser at the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield, and a former Owen Owen department store in Liverpool, are to become Flannels outlets, as well as a
  
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• UK alcohol sales fall despite rise in home drinking

  19-12-2020 07:00
  
  Beer down 10% and wine 5% as increased online and supermarket sales fail to offset pub revenue collapseAlcohol sales fell during 2020 as the prolonged closure of pubs and bars cancelled out a rise in home drinking during lockdown and more people developed a taste for non-alcoholic alternatives.Healthcare providers have sounded the alarm about increased alcohol consumption among problem drinkers during the pandemic, while home delivery services have been singled out as posing a particular danger
  
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