Retail news

• Lidl and Tesco square up in High Court logo battle

  07-02-2023 19:37 via ft.com
  UK group vigorously defends lawsuit and brings counterclaim against German discounter
  
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• Lidl accuses Tesco of ‘deception’ in legal dispute over yellow circle logo

  07-02-2023 18:01
  
  German discounter claims its rival has infringed its trademark by using design for Clubcard promotionsLidl has accused its bigger rival Tesco of “deception” during the latest round of a long-running legal battle between the two supermarket chains over the use of a yellow circle logo.The dispute centres around a yellow circular design on a blue background, which is used by Tesco to promote offers available for members of its Clubcard loyalty scheme, as well as being used by Lidl as it
  
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• M&S trials paid-for loyalty subscription Sparks Plus

  07-02-2023 17:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S trials premium paid-for loyalty tier Sparks Plus
  // The “VIP treatment”, which costs £120 for 12 months, includes unlimited delivery, a monthly £10 voucher and free hot drinkM&S is trialing a premium paid-for loyalty tier, Sparks Plus, and is encouraging shoppers to sign up to receive “VIP treatment”.
  Selected Sparks members have been invited to join the new tier, which requires an upfront fee of £120 for 12 months.
  The new subscripti
  
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• M&S launches paid-for loyalty subscription Sparks Plus

  07-02-2023 17:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S launches premium paid-for loyalty tier Sparks Plus
  // The “VIP treatment”, which costs £120 for 12 months, includes unlimited delivery, a monthly £10 voucher and free hot drinkM&S has soft launched its premium paid-for loyalty tier, Sparks Plus, and is encouraging shoppers to sign up to receive “VIP treatment”.
  Sparks members have been invited to join the new tier, which requires an upfront fee of £120 for 12 months.
  The new subscript
  
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• Tesco and Lidl begin High Court battle over trademark logo

  07-02-2023 15:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco and Lidl begin High Court fight over the use of a yellow circle logo
  // Lidl has said a trademark, and copyright, has been infringed, while major grocer Tesco has made a counterclaimTesco and Lidl have started their High Court battle over the use of a yellow circle logo.
  German discounter Lidl has said a trademark, and copyright, has been infringed, while major grocer Tesco has made a counterclaim.
  Lidl has a yellow circle in its main logo, and Tesco features one to list offers availabl
  
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• Data: The 10 most and least expensive locations for retail rents

  07-02-2023 15:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // New data from Real Business Rescue reveals the 10 most and least expensive retail rental areas in the UK
  // Blackpool is the most affordable area, where the average price is 75% lower than in LondonLondon has unsurprisingly topped the UK’s most expensive area for retail rents.
  Insolvency specialists Real Business Rescue analysed current commercial retail listings to find the most and least expensive areas in the UK for business owners to open stores.
  The capital was the most expensive w
  
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• Lidl slows down store openings to focus on boosting warehouse capacity

  07-02-2023 14:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Lidl is rolling back its store opening programme to focus investment on expanding its warehouse capacity
  // The discount retailer plans to open 25 new stores in 2023, down from 54 stores last yearLidl is scaling back its store opening programme as it focuses investment into expanding its warehouse capacity instead.
  The discount grocer intends to unveil 25 new stores this year, down from an average of about 50 new locations each year, The Grocer reports.
  A Lidl GB spokeswoman told the pub
  
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• Royal Mail postal strikes called off after legal challenge

  07-02-2023 14:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Plans for a two-day walkout by Royal Mail postal workers later this month have been scrapped
  // The Communication Workers Union is revising its plans after receiving a legal challenge from Royal MailPlans for a two-day strike by postal workers later this month has been scrapped after a legal challenge by Royal Mail.
  The walkouts, which were due to take place on 16 and 17 February, have been called off after the Communication Workers Union (CWU) received correspondence about a legal chall
  
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• How much could OpenAI make from ChatGPT?

  07-02-2023 13:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  OpenAI’s ChatGPT model has caused quite a stir online, from marketing to online retail, prompting the technology firm to launch a subscription tier.
  ChatGPT Plus has been released in the US at $20 per month (£16), giving subscribers a number of benefits which includes general access to ChatGPT, even during peak times, faster response times and priority access to new features and improvements.READ THE FULL STORY HERE
  Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email new
  
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• Mike Ashley’s Frasers paid £2m for online homeware brand Amara

  07-02-2023 13:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Frasers Group bought online luxury homeware retailer Amara.com for £2m in cash
  // Ashley’s retail empire continues to expand following its acquisition of Gieves & Hawkes, Missguided & I Saw It First last yearFrasers Group paid £2m cash to rescue the business and assets of Amara Living after the embattled homewares retailer ran out of alternative funding sources, The Furniture Report reveals.
  Chief executive Michael Murray snapped up the online platform back in Decemb
  
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• Gousto ‘significantly’ cuts valuation to secure £50m extra funding

  07-02-2023 13:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Gousto slashes its valuation after raising £50m to support it through a “volatile” economic period
  // The funding round took place at a “significant” discount to its $1.75bn valuation, Sky News reportsGousto has cut its valuation to riase £50m in extra funding to support it through a challenging economic period.
  Sources close to the food box provider said the funding round took place at a “significant” discount to its $1.75bn valuation from
  
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• The Top 50 B2B Ecommerce Retailers Of 2023 Are Revealed

  07-02-2023 13:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Research conducted by Fluid Commerce and Hokodo reveals which B2B retailers are excelling at ecommerce, and which are at risk of falling behind.
  Download the B2B Top 50 Ecommerce Report and discover:Who is leading the pack
  How to create the perfect product page
  What tech tools the market leaders are using
  How to boost your trust signals
  PLUS inspiring examples of ecommerce excellenceThe report analyses and scores 50 B2B Magento and Adobe Commerce retailers against a range of criteria includ
  
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• Lidl posts £10m sales growth as shoppers ditch M&S, Waitrose & Sainsbury’s

  07-02-2023 10:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  //  Lidl GB reveals it has gained nearly £11m in switching gains from M&S, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s in the past month
  // Switching was fuelled by Lidl’s high-quality fruit and vegetables, with the latter reaching a market share high of 10.2%Over the past 12 months, Lidl GB has seen a total of £120m coming from households choosing to shop at the discounter instead of the premium-priced supermarkets amid the cost-of-living crisis.
  Shoppers switched nearly £11
  
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• Asos expands ‘Partner Fulfils’ programme with Mirakl

  07-02-2023 10:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asos expands its Partner Fulfils programme powered by the Mirakl Marketplace Platform
  // The online retailer says the move will enable it to offer key territories more relevant local fashion through partnerships with smaller businessesAsos has expanded its Partner Fulfils programme powered by the Mirakl Marketplace Platform.
  The online fashion giant is working with the marketplace to expand the programme through which brands fulfil orders placed on its website and app directly.
  This allows th
  
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• Iceland ‘incredibly well positioned’ despite suspension of credit insurance

  07-02-2023 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Iceland “incredibly well positioned” despite the decision by Coface to temporarily suspend credit insurance cover to some of its suppliers
  // The frozen food retailer said only a handful of suppliers would be affected by Coface’s decisionIceland has said it remains “incredibly well positioned” as Coface decides to suspend credit insurance cover to some of the supermarket’s suppliers.
  The frozen food retailer said only a handful of suppliers would
  
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• The 5 retailers missed the most by UK shoppers

  07-02-2023 09:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  It can be devasting for both staff – and customers – when a retailer goes bust.
  New research by Raisin UK finds the top 5 retailers whose stores UK shoppers miss the most.
  The firm analysed Google search volumes of collapsed retailers and analysed social media sentiment. This is what they found:
  1. Toys R Us – closed in 2018Toy retailer Toys R Us has topped the list of the most-missed brands.
  Out of 149.7k posts analysed online, 78% of people reacted with love to the toy brand
  
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• Retail sales suffer disappointing January as Brits keep tight budgets

  07-02-2023 08:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Total UK retail sales increased by 4.2% in January – less than half the 11.9% rise seen a year earlier
  // This was below the three-month average growth of 5.2% and above the 12-month average growth of 2.5%Retailers have suffered a disappointing January as shoppers kept a tight budget ahead of another round of household price rises.
  Total UK retail sales increased by 4.2% in January, less than half the 11.9% rise seen a year earlier, according to the BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor.
  This w
  
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• UK shoppers rein in spending despite sales as cost of living crisis takes toll

  07-02-2023 07:00
  
  British Retail Consortium says sales growth slowed in January amid soaring costs for energy and food British consumers sharply cut their spending in January as the cost of living crisis damaged household finances, retailers have warned, amid growing concern over the impact of high inflation on the economy.The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said sales growth slowed last month despite retailers offering steep discounts in the January sales, with households reining in their spending in the face of
  
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• As House of Fraser closes more stores, what’s next for the business?

  07-02-2023 01:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  When Mike Ashley bought House of Fraser in 2018, he set out his vision to turn the 174-year-old retailer into the “Harrods of the high street”.
  In the years that have followed, the department store has become synonymous with prolonged Sales and numerous store closures with Mike Ashley admitting in 2019 that buying the department store was a mistake.
  The retailer officially left central London last month, where it used to have four stores before Sports Direct bought the chain, after c
  
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• Victorian Plumbing announces chief financial officer succession

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing Group has announced that its chief financial officer Paul Meehan will be stepping down from his role on 31 March to... View Article
  
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• The Natural Love Company reveals 400% growth as consumers demand greener sex

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Covid start-up sex toy retailer, The Natural Love Company, reveal demand for eco-friendly pleasure is growing. The Natural Love Company has revealed a 400% year-on-year growth... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s opens brand-new store in Desborough

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s opened the doors to its newest store this morning as it welcomed the first customers to Sainsbury’s Desborough Harborough Road, in Northamptonshire. The highly anticipated... View Article
  
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• People in Retail Awards announce Krisi Smith as judge

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Krisi Smith, Cofounder of Bird & Blend Tea Co. has joined the People in Retail judging panel for the 2023 awards. With the awards looking at... View Article
  
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• LOOKFANTASTIC to open Valentine’s boutique pop up in Manchester Arndale

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  LOOKFANTASTIC is opening its first ever Valentine’s Boutique pop-up at the Manchester Arndale from 11th-12th February. The online beauty retailer is offering the ultimate experience to... View Article
  
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• Incubator initiative winner Kati Kaia takes up residence at Seven Dials

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Kati Kaia, the final winner of Shaftesbury’s ‘Start Up with Seven Dials’ incubator initiative, has launched its debut physical store at the scheme’s pop-up space in... View Article
  
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• Hush appoints Melissa Dick as chief creative officer

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Women’s fashion brand Hush has appointed Melissa Dick as its new chief creative officer. With more than 20 years’ experience in the fashion retail and media... View Article
  
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• H&M Home launches latest brand campaign

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M Home has launched its latest brand campaign which includes a playful twist on the idea that people can “fall deeply in love” with objects of... View Article
  
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• Barbour forced to raise prices due to “extraordinary challenges”

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wax jacket brand Barbour has been forced to raise its prices due to the impact of higher inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, and a slowdown in customer... View Article
  
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• ASOS expands Partner Fulfils programme

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion retailer ASOS has announced the expansion of the ASOS Partner Fulfils programme powered by the Mirakl Marketplace Platform. The initiative enables brands to fulfil orders... View Article
  
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• Asda teams up with Quaker to offer free warm kids’ breakfast in its cafes

  07-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda has teamed up with Quaker Oats to offer children a free warm breakfast in its cafes during the February half term holidays. Children will be... View Article
  
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