Retail news

• Wilko: Poundland and B&M among retailers lining up to bid

  14-08-2023 23:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Wilko rivals Poundland, B&M, The Range and Home Bargains are among the firms mulling snapping up the collapsed chain.
  The retailers have until Wednesday to lodge offers with administrator PwC.
  A shortlist will then be made with second round bids will then need to be submitted by Friday this week, according to The Sun.
  It is understood that some of the interested firms could bid for as many as 300 of Wilko’s 400 stores. One would-be bidder would keep the Wilko brand, according to the ne
  
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• B&Q apologises for ‘White Supremacy’ books in product listing

  14-08-2023 17:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  B&Q has issued an apology after books titled “White Supremacy” appeared in a product listing on its website.
  The two books were included in an image for radiator covers on the DIY retailer’s webpage.
  The photo was spotted by online customers, who were left shocked by the image.
  B&Q said the product was offered for sale by a third-party seller, which had now been suspended.
  The company has since taken the listing down from its website, Sky News reports.
  According to Metr
  
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• Rural areas being hit hardest at pumps as fuel prices rise again, says AA

  14-08-2023 15:49
  
  Motoring body highlights major differences in prices of supermarket petrol around BritainSupermarkets have been accused of overcharging customers in rural areas for petrol, as holidaymakers face the highest fuel prices since early this year.The cost of petrol reached 149.13p a litre on Sunday, the highest since early February, while diesel broke 150p a litre for the first time since May, at 150.61p, as increases in oil prices caused by global production cuts fed through to prices at the pump, th
  
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• What store staff really think about your workforce strategy

  14-08-2023 15:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Today’s frontline retail colleagues are under extreme pressure to deliver an increasingly personalised customer experience while navigating a workplace where automation and tech-driven systems are being adopted at pace.
  Logile recently sponsored a report that surveyed 530 UK store colleagues to learn how equipped they feel in 2023 to support today’s operational and workforce needs.
  Report highlights:Nearly half, 49%, do not feel loyal to their retail business and would consider leavi
  
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• Exclusive access to behavioural science insight for retail

  14-08-2023 15:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Creating something as deeply subjective as a retail atmosphere without a strong understanding of human behaviour means you’re missing a trick (or several, in fact). That’s why behavioural science is at the core of everything we do at Startle.
  There are no medals for nice music and wishful thinking, just a fair bit of risk. We leave that to others, and we focus on the science behind good vibrations that curate atmospheres with real intention.
  And now, we want to share how you can
  
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• Wilko bidders given two days to submit offers with 12,000 jobs at stake

  14-08-2023 14:53
  
  Administrator PwC understood to have brought deadline forward as retailer risks running out of moneyBidders interested in buying the collapsed budget retailer Wilko have been given two days to submit their offers as the future of its more than 12,000 employees remains in doubt.The family-owned household and garden products retailer, which has about 400 outlets, called in administrators last Thursday after it failed to secure a rescue deal. Continue reading...
  
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• Wilko administrators set deadline for rescue bids

  14-08-2023 12:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The administrators of Wilko have given bidders until Wednesday to submit their offers for the ailing retailer following its collapse last week.
  PwC has told interested parties to put forward its rescue bids by the middle of this week before the discount chain runs out of cash, Sky News reported.
  Several private equity firms – Laura Ashley-owner Gordon Brothers, Bensons for Beds-owner Alteri and OpCapita – and a rival retailer are said to be considering offers, but a full takeover of
  
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• Basic food costs surge more than 30% in two years

  14-08-2023 09:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The cost of British food basics including cheese, butter and bread have surged by more than 30% in the last two years.
  According to Which?, food inflation has cooled in recent months but prices remain much higher than they were two years ago.
  Grocery price inflation fell to 14.9% in the four weeks to 9 July, compared to 16.5% the month before.
  Despite the drop, figures from the consumer group show that food costs have continued to rise over the past two years – with some rocketing more tha
  
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• Data: London retail spend hit by tourist tax

  14-08-2023 09:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  New spending figures from The New West End Company have highlighted the damage caused by the removal of tax-free shopping on the retail sector’s competitiveness.
  Retailers have been struggling to profit from the post-covid travel boom as tourists turn to other European cities like Paris, Madrid and Milan to shop instead.
  Visitors from the United States and the Gulf region have cut their spending in London’s West End by 1% and 17%, respectively, in the three months to June compared to
  
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• Amazon postpones rule change for some sellers after backlash

  14-08-2023 08:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon will phase in its new payment time terms following a backlash from sellers that the move could put them out of business.
  The online giant informed its UK and continental Europe marketplace sellers last week that it would no longer immediately credit their accounts once an online sale was made.
  Instead, sellers would receive the money a week after the product had been delivered leaving thousands of firms worried about their futures.
  Following pressure from businesses and min
  
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• Amazon postpones payment time rule change for some sellers after backlash

  14-08-2023 08:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon will phase in its new payment time terms following a backlash from sellers that the move could put them out of business.
  The online giant informed its UK and continental Europe marketplace sellers last week that it would no longer immediately credit their accounts once an online sale was made.
  Instead, sellers would receive the money a week after the product had been delivered leaving thousands of firms worried about their futures.
  Following pressure from businesses and minister
  
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• How the middle-class consumer is adapting to rising living costs

  14-08-2023 06:00 via ft.com
  Inflation and interest rates are eating into the spending power of the key demographic group, but the impact is unevenly spread
  
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• Wolverine Worldwide appoints new chief executive

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sweaty Betty owner Wolverine Worldwide has promoted Christopher Hufnagel to the position of president and chief executive of the business. Previously president of the Wolverine brand,... View Article
  
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• Tu Clothing introduces cardboard babywear hangers, saving 103 tonnes of plastic

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has rolled out new cardboard hangers across its Tu Clothing Baby range, replacing five million plastic hangers and saving an impressive 103 tonnes of plastic... View Article
  
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• Phase Eight and Hobbs upsize at Merry Hill

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Premium womenswear brands Phase Eight and Hobbs are upsizing their stores at Merry Hill. The sister brands are relocating from their existing separate units at the... View Article
  
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• [Lightspeed] How to Improve Customer Service in Retail: 27 Actionable Tips

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Written by Tess Bemporat  Have you ever seen a customer walk away from your store or website after a bad experience? Besides offering great products, stellar... View Article
  
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• John Lewis Partnership considers introducing buy-now-pay-later scheme

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The John Lewis Partnership is considering introducing a Klarna-style buy-now-pay-later offering for its hard-pressed customers. Speaking to This is Money, Nish Kankiwala, chief executive of the... View Article
  
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• Hotel Chocolat to open newest concept store in Leeds

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Hotel Chocolat is to open its latest out-of-town concept store at The Springs Leeds later this week. Due to launch on 17 August, the store will stock... View Article
  
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• Furniture retailer hits donation milestone for Shelter

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Leading furniture retailer, ScS, has donated £27,000 to homeless charity, Shelter, as part of its ongoing support of the organisation and its bid to end homelessness in... View Article
  
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• CommerceHub partners with Miravia to fuel its ecommerce growth

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  CommerceHub, one of the world’s largest commerce networks for global retailers and brands, today announced implementation of its ecommerce platform powered by ChannelAdvisor, with Miravia, a... View Article
  
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• Bird & Blend Tea Co. collaborate with Wallace & Gromit

  14-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Academy award-winning animation studio, Aardman is celebrating 30 years of “Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers” with Bird & Blend Tea Co. in a new collaboration.... View Article
  
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• Sharp rise in cost of food basics forces UK families ‘to make desperate choices’

  14-08-2023 01:01
  
  Which? research finds cheese, butter and bread are up by more than 30% in the past two years, hitting the poor hardestThe cost of some basic food items such as cheese, butter and bread has soared by more than 30% in the last two years, forcing poorer households to “make desperate choices between keeping up with their bill payments or putting food on the table,” campaigners have said.Food price inflation has slowed in recent months, but costs remain much higher than they were two year
  
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