Retail news

• M&S debuts industry-first braille greetings and gift cards

  19-07-2023 22:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S has introduced a ‘Happy Birthday’ braille gift card, in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
  The retail giant has also brought out a range of three braille greeting cards, suitable for various occasions.
  The first-of-its-kind gift card includes an embossed outer sleeve, which communicates the “Happy Birthday” message, as well as an embossed gift card inside.
  Shoppers can use the card online or throughout more than 700 M&S sto
  
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• Asda owners rapped by MPs over reluctance to open up on fuel prices and jobs

  19-07-2023 21:17
  Parliamentary committee says executives were damaging their own brand by leaving questions unanswered
  
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• Asda’s profit margins at the pump have trebled, MPs told

  19-07-2023 20:30
  
  Competition regulator tells business committee of ‘significant change’ in retailer’s fuel pricingAsda’s profit margins on fuel have tripled since before the pandemic, according to the competition regulator at a bad-tempered parliamentary hearing where the supermarket chain’s co-owner repeatedly refused to explain its pricing strategy.Mohsin Issa declined to answer multiple questions on whether Asda had increased its profit margins on fuel since its takeover in 2021,
  
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• Rent-free Oxford Street shops up for grabs as plans “much-needed facelift” revealed

  19-07-2023 17:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Westminster City Council is joining forces with New West End Company to offer rent-free shops on Oxford Street to small businesses as a consultation on the future of the famous shopping street begins.
  Up-and-coming brands, entrepreneurs and creatives who want to launch their first physical store can apply for a site on the famous street, under the Meanwhile On: Oxford Street programme.
  Those who manage to nab a spot will be given “a six month tenancy in a rent free, fully fitted store&rdqu
  
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• Křetínský’s Casino bet: can the French retailer be revived?

  19-07-2023 15:18
  Billionaire edges out rivals but indebted supermarket group needs hefty investment to recover market share
  
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• Liberty EBITDA grows as footfall returns but profits lag pre-Covid levels

  19-07-2023 14:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  London department store Liberty’s EBITDA increased in its last year as footfall continued to improve, however profitability lagged behind pre-pandemic levels.
  EBITDA before one-off costs swung into the black at £3.96m for the year to 28 January, against a £3.53m loss in 2021/22.
  Sales rose by a stellar 42% as its flagship store was closed for three months due to Covid restrictions the prior year.
  However, profits were well behind the £14.4m generated in pre-Covid.
  Operati
  
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• Shein/Temu: ultra-fast fashion lacks durability for investors too

  19-07-2023 13:55
  Rivalry between the two Chinese online platforms has come to the fore
  
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• John Lewis trials virtual ‘Try On’ service for fashion rental offer

  19-07-2023 13:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  John Lewis is offering a new service allowing customers to virtually ‘Try On’ their chosen outfits before committing to their rental purchase, in partnership with fit software firm Zyler.
  According to Retail Times, the high-street staple’s trial is now live across over 750 different garments where shoppers can upload their headshot, input their height, bra size and dress size which then allows them to click on the ‘Try It On’ icon above the product.
  An image will be
  
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• Co-op launches new member prices advertising campaign

  19-07-2023 12:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Co-op has taken a different direction with its latest brand campaign to highlights its membership proposition and the launch of Member Prices.
  The group’s multi-channel campaign which has launched across TV, print, digital out of home and in stores focuses on the money-saving benefit of being a Co-op Member and features a regular Co-op shopper, visually represented as a ‘Proper Donut’, who loves a bargain and waxes lyrical about Co-op’s new Member Pric
  
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• First look: Fortnum & Mason to open luxury Cornwall beach huts

  19-07-2023 12:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fortnum & Mason will be opening a trio of beach huts later this month ‘inspired by the nostalgia of summers spent on the British coast’ at Watergate Bay near Newquay, Cornwall.
  The experience will run from July 25 to September 10, Daily Mail reports, with two and a half hour booking slots available, with a chef-curated picnic menu crafted by Emily Scott Food.
  Although to book a slot in the hut, beachgoers must purchase a Fortnum hamper containing a picnic that ‘combines the
  
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• Chinese fast-fashion rivals Temu and Shein take ‘war’ for US to court

  19-07-2023 11:12
  Antitrust suit launched as ecommerce companies top app download charts for sales of ultra-cheap clothing
  
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• Pret A Manger back in the black for the first time since 2018

  19-07-2023 09:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Pret A Manger has returned to profitability for the first time since 2018 driven by the success of its subscription service.
  The group, which suffered during the pandemic lockdowns, reported an operating profit of £50.6m in the year to December 2022, up from a loss of £225.9m in the previous year, according to its latest annual accounts. It’s first shift to profitability since the £19.6m recorded in 2018.
  It said the revival has continued into this year, with sales rocket
  
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• Amazon to hire 2,000 new staff as strikes spread to second warehouse

  19-07-2023 09:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon is to hire up to 2,000 people for its new warehouse in the northeast of England, which is due to open in October.
  It comes as warehouse workers at a second location voted to walk out in a dispute over pay.
  The ecommerce giant said on Tuesday it will hire a workforce of 1,000 initially before adding further staff when activity ramps up.
  More than 100 workers at Amazon’s Rugeley fulfilment centre will join the picket line, after 86% voted to back the strike, the GMB union said.Subscri
  
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• Hotter Shoes rescued in pre-pack deal by WoolOvers

  19-07-2023 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Hotter Shoes has been rescued by natural knitwear brand WoolOvers in a pre-pack administration deal.
  The sale will see all 421 employees as well as 27 stores and concessions transferred to the privately owned fashion brand.
  It is understood that the pre-pack sale will allow owner Unbound to stay out of insolvency proceedings while its board considers its options for the future.
  The group appointed Will Wright and Rick Harrison of Interpath Advisory as joint administrations of Beaconsfield Footwe
  
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• Tom Ford Fashion appoints chief executive

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Zegna Group has announced that Lelio Gavazza has been appointed to the newly created position of chief executive of Tom Ford Fashion. Due to take up... View Article
  
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• Tipton scores with new SPAR store

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wolves FC legend, Steve Bull MBE, officially opened the new £1.1m SPAR store in Tipton recently. Bull, the greatest goal scorer in the history of the... View Article
  
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• M&S rolls out braille range including industry-first gift card

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has created a ‘Happy Birthday’ braille gift card after working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). It has also introduced... View Article
  
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• M&S rolls our braille range including industry-first gift card

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has created a ‘Happy Birthday’ braille gift card after working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). It has also introduced... View Article
  
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• M&S launches Eat Well campaign ahead of summer of football

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has launched a new healthy food campaign ahead of a summer of football. Part of M&S Food’s Eat Well Play Well partnership with... View Article
  
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• Lyle & Scott launches ‘Kits for Clubs’ grassroots football initiative

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lyle & Scott has embarked on its biggest brand campaign to date with a new global initiative supporting grassroots football. The fashion brand is launching ‘Kits... View Article
  
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• Future of Hotter Shoes secured following pre-pack deal

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Footwear retailer Hotter Shoes has been acquired by knitwear brand WoolOvers in a pre-pack administration deal. With headquarters in Skelmersdale, Hotter is the main trading subsidiary... View Article
  
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• Comment: don’t let self-service kill service in retail

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Back in the early 2000s Tesco partly attributed its healthy profits at the time to the adoption of its ‘One in Front’ strategy that addressed the... View Article
  
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• Biscuiteers bakes in luxury gifting delivery experiences, in partnership with Scurri

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Partnership enables Biscuiteers’ 365 days a year, worldwide delivery promise. Scurri Track Plus gives Biscuiteers complete control over the branding and sending of post-purchase communications to... View Article
  
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• Apricot opens biggest store to date

  19-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Women’s fashion retailer has chosen Metrocentre Gateshead for the opening of its biggest store to date. Situated on the Upper Platinum Mall in a former H&M... View Article
  
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