Retail news

• Lush reveals new UK head of retail

  14-02-2023 16:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Lush hires new Lead Retailer for the UK & Ireland
  // Kasey Swithenbank first joined the retailer as a sales associate in 2010Lush has appointed Kasey Swithenbank as its new Lead Retailer for the UK & Ireland.
  Swithenbank most recently served as a Retailer on its UK&I retail team. She first joined the retailer as a sales associate in 2010.
  She was appointed as Lush’s supervisor and then worked as shop manager from 2012 through to 2017.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
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• Ikea: Price cuts and promotions help boost footfall and sales

  14-02-2023 16:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ikea says lower prices on popular ranges have led to customers returning to stores
  // Visitor numbers and sales volumes were up so far in the group’s fiscal year through August 2023Ikea has said promotional campaigns have helped boost footfall and sales across its business.
  The homewares giant said lower prices on popular ranges have led to customers returning to stores as the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect budgets.
  Ikea owner Ingka’s chief executive Jesper Brodin said
  
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• M&S scraps home energy business to focus on omnichannel growth

  14-02-2023 15:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S ends home energy supply investment to simplify its services
  // The retailer is prioritising its app and Sparks offering and says its energy business is not a strategic priorityMarks & Spencer has terminated its home energy supply venture to simplify its services as it transfers customers to partner Octopus.
  The retailer has introduced M&S Connect, bringing together banking, services and Sparks loyalty teams – to “focus on the services and experiences that will make
  
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• M&S scraps energy business as it focuses on omnichannel growth

  14-02-2023 15:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S ends home energy supply investment to simplify its services
  // The retailer is prioritising its app and Sparks offering and says its energy business is not a strategic priorityMarks & Spencer has terminated its home energy supply venture to simplify its services as it transfers customers to partner Octopus.
  The retailer has introduced M&S Connect, bringing together banking, services and Sparks loyalty teams – to “focus on the services and experiences that will make
  
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• Getir poised to lay off staff at UK office

  14-02-2023 15:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Getir is poised to layoff roles at its UK office, just a week after slashing 100 jobs at its US headquarters, according to Sifted.
  The cuts come off the back of Getir’s merger with quick commerce rival Gorillas, which it acquired at the end of the year for $1 billion.READ THE FULL STORY HERE
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• Currys begins selling refurbished tech online in response to customer demand

  14-02-2023 13:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Currys sells refurbished technology on its website
  // The retailer said it has noticed a growing demand for eco-friendly and cheaper productsCurrys is selling refurbished technology on its website as part of a new trial.
  The retailer said it has noticed a growing demand for eco-friendly and cheaper products as customers face financial challenges during the cost-of-living squeeze.
  In response to this, Currys started selling cheaper, pre-owned mobiles, laptops and Chromebooks on its website in
  
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• Waitrose and Deliveroo offer last minute Valentine’s Day oysters

  14-02-2023 12:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // READ MORE ON GROCERY GAZETTEWaitrose is offering its shoppers new menu items this Valentine’s Day available for last minute deliveries via Deliveroo.
  For the first time, the upmarket retailer has launched oysters on the delivery platform, as sales of its Waitrose No1 Fresh Oysters are up 11% on last year.
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• Serial fashion investor takes Sosandar stake

  14-02-2023 12:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  //  A serial fashion investor has snapped up 3.5% stake in Sosandar following its recent funding round
  // William Currie Investment currently owns interest in Asos, Boohoo, In The Style and THGSerial fashion investor Bill Currie has snapped up a 3.5% stake in Sosandar following the fashion retailer‘s recent funding round.
  The latest acquisition by William Currie Investment comes just a few months after it bought a 4% stake in In The Style.
  Currie also holds interest in Asos, Boohoo an
  
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• Amazon boss: We’re ready to “go big” on physical stores

  14-02-2023 11:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy vows the giant is ready “go big” on physical stores
  // Jassy said the ecommerce giant has faced several setbacks from the lack of “normalcy” during the pandemicAmazon boss Andy Jassy has squashed rumours that the online giant’s grocery store business has been put on hold, claiming the ecommerce giant is ready to “go big” on bricks-and-mortar stores.
  The chief executive told the Financial Times that the company ha
  
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• Pret A Manger hires 250 Ukrainian refugees at over 100 shops across the UK

  14-02-2023 10:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Pret has hired 250 Ukrainian refugees as part of its employment programme set up for people fleeing the war
  // Those fleeing have been employed in roles such as chefs, baristas and front-of-house staff at over 100 Pret shops across the UKPret A Manger has hired 250 Ukrainian refugees as part of its employment programme set up to support people fleeing the war.
  Launched last April following the Russian invasion, Pret’s Ukraine Employment Programme offers refugees arriving in the UK job o
  
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• In pictures: Ikea x Marimekko’s new wellness-inspired collection

  14-02-2023 09:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ikea teams up with Finnish design house Marimekko for limited-edition ‘Bastua’ collection
  // The Ikea x Marimekko will be available in all Ikea stores and online from March.Ikea has unveiled a limited-edition collection in collaboration with Finnish design house Marimekko inspired by Nordic nature, wellness, and self-care rituals.
  The limited-edition ‘Bastua’ collection launches worldwide next month and features of 26 products ranging from furniture to glassware and te
  
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• What retail can learn from the fast-changing foodservice world

  14-02-2023 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Although sometimes it feels like all we do is talk about the long-term effects of the pandemic, it’s hard for us to really understate the obvious impact it has had on the foodservice industry.
  While bars and restaurants still struggle to offer the ‘complete’ experience they used to because of a lack of staff, increased wage bills, inflation on raw ingredients, higher energy bills and increased rents, rapidly changing consumer expectations and behaviour also mean that how, when
  
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• Very to transform product discovery experience with AI

  14-02-2023 09:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Very has unveiled a new AI product discovery experience partnership with Constructor
  // The first phase will see the retailer roll out new search, browse and autosuggest tools across its website & appVery has teamed up with Constructor to transform its product discovery experience with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learningThe first phase will see Very implement new search, browse and autosuggest tools across its website and app.
  By using AI, natural language processing, m
  
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• Tile Giant undergoes pre-pack administration,13 stores closed

  14-02-2023 09:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tile Giant has had 13 of its stores closed with immediate effect after calling in administrators
  // Administrators at Interpath Advisory have been appointedTile Giant’s new owner has called in administrators and carried out a pre-pack deal after it emerged that the retailer needed a “greater funding requirement” than anticipated.
  Following the deal, 13 Tile Giant stores will close and 43 jobs will be lost.
  The tiling retailer was acquired last month by former Topps Tiles chi
  
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• 13 stores closed and over 40 jobs lost as Tile Giant falls into administration

  14-02-2023 09:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tile Giant has had 13 of its stores closed with immediate effect after calling in administrators
  // Administrators at Interpath Advisory have been appointedTile Giant has called in administrators citing “significant trading difficulties” throughout last year, much like other retailers in the home improvement sector.
  Interpath Advisory was appointed joint administrators on February 13 and as a result, the retailer has had 13 of its stores closed with immediate effect.
  Headquartered
  
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• 13 stores closed and over 40 jobs lost as Tile Giant calls in administrators

  14-02-2023 09:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tile Giant has had 13 of its stores closed with immediate effect after calling in administrators
  // Administrators at Interpath Advisory have been appointedTile Giant has called in administrators citing “significant trading difficulties” throughout last year, much like other retailers in the home improvement sector.
  Interpath Advisory was appointed joint administrators on February 13 and as a result, the retailer has had 13 of its stores closed with immediate effect.
  Headquartered
  
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• Online sales growth slows to near 2019 levels

  14-02-2023 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Online sales growth has seen slow growth so far in 2023, nearing growth levels seen pre-pandemic in 2019
  // Andy Mulcahy: “It is probably fair to say that the market is a bit better off than might have been expected if there was no pandemic”So far in 2023, online sales have grown slowly, approaching growth levels seen in 2019.
  According to the IMRG online retail Index, the rate of online sales growth has accelerated to levels that could have been expected if there was no pandemic.
  
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• Iceland: Bulk-buying frozen food avoided amid energy bill fears

  14-02-2023 08:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Iceland says that amid the cost of living crisis, families are no longer bulk-buying frozen food over fears freezers can’t be left running
  // Last month 3.2 million people in Britain ran out of credit on their prepayment meter last year – the equivalent of one every ten secondsIceland has said that households struggling with the high cost of living have stopped bulk-buying frozen food amid fears they may not be able to afford to keep their freezers running.
  Stuart Lendrum, head of
  
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• Waitrose offers last minute oysters via Deliveroo this Valentine’s Day

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Waitrose is offering couples the chance to order what is considered to be the nation’s favourite aphrodisiac via Deliveroo this Valentine’s Day. The move marks the... View Article
  
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• Very to use AI to help customers find new products

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Digital retailer Very is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help customers find new products. The Liverpool-headquartered company has teamed up with US-based tech platform Constructor... View Article
  
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• Serial fashion brand investor snaps up Sosandar shares

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  A former investor in the likes of THG, Boohoo and ASOS has snapped up shares in fashion label Sosandar. Liverpool-based Bill Currie has acquired a 3.5%... View Article
  
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• Pret A Manger hires 250 Ukrainian refugees in 100 shops across UK

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pret A Manger has hired 250 Ukrainian refugees as part of an employment programme that offers job opportunities at Pret shops through the retailer’s charity arm,... View Article
  
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• One Click Checkout: A Definitive Guide

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  One click checkout, as the name suggests, requires one simple click to buy stuff online. You land on a website, see a product you like and... View Article
  
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• Odd Muse to launch first pop up store in London

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online Retailer Odd Muse are set to open their first pop up store this March in Covent Garden. The approximately 3,000 square-foot store located at 4... View Article
  
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• Mango to join line-up at Touchwood

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Mango will be opening a new store at Solihull’s Touchwood Shopping Centre. The shop will span 5,250 square feet and will be situated on the ground... View Article
  
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• Lush appoints new Lead Retailer for UK & Ireland

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lush has appointed its new Lead Retailer of UK&I Retail, Kasey Swithenbank, for the UK & Ireland. With over 13 years of experience in retail at Lush,... View Article
  
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• Former Topps Tiles CEO acquires Tile Giant out of administration

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Two deals have saved around 300 jobs at nationwide retailer Tile Giant after its new owners called in administrators. The £46m turnover Leeds-based firm had been... View Article
  
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• FatFace to launch family-friendly summer festival

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lifestyle fashion brand FatFace is to launch a family-friendly festival this summer in Newquay. Called Rock Up and Sea, the event will be held on 17... View Article
  
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• Currys takes refurbished tech online

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Currys is trialling sales of refurbished technology on its website. The retailer has made the move in response to the impact of the cost-of-living squeeze and... View Article
  
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• Bath & Body Works hires new board member

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Bath & Body Works has appointed Lucy Brady to its board of directors as it continues to implement its growth strategy. Currently president of grocery and... View Article
  
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• Bang & Olufsen partners with Ferrari

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Bang & Olufsen has embarked on a new partnership with Scuderia Ferrari for the 2023 Formula 1 season. In addition to Bang & Olufsen’s logo being... View Article
  
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• Asda becomes first UK supermarket to offer in-store diabetic eye screening

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda has begun offering NHS diabetic eye screening in 16 of its stores across the UK. In a supermarket first, the service is being offered Monday... View Article
  
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• Amazon workers announce new strike dates

  14-02-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Amazon workers are to embark on a further set of strikes at the the company’s Coventry warehouse. More than 350 staff at the West Midland fulfilment... View Article
  
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