Retail news

• The Range buys Wilko brand in multimillion-pound deal

  13-09-2023 22:02
  
  The homeware retail brand has also bought the intellectual property rights of Wilko, but none of its storesThe homeware retail chain The Range has struck a multimillion-pound deal to buy the Wilko brand as administrators sell off the remnants of the 93-year-old retailer.PwC has been selling off parts of Wilko, founded in 1930 by JK Wilkinson in Leicester, after the chain went into administration last month, putting more than 12,000 jobs at risk. Continue reading...
  
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• The Entertainer hires John Lewis COO as new boss

  13-09-2023 19:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Entertainer has snapped up outgoing John Lewis Partnership COO Andrew Murphy as its new chief executive.Murphy, who resigned from John Lewis Partnership last year after 30 years at the retailer, will join The Entertainer in mid-October. He replaces Mark Campbell who left the toy retailer this summer.He said: “My time with The John Lewis Partnership comes to an end in the next few weeks. I owe the business a great deal and will forever be a well wisher.“It’s humbling to be t
  
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• BREAKING: The Range buys Wilko brand for £5m

  13-09-2023 15:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Range is understood to have bought Wilko’s brand in a deal worth around £5m.
  Sky News revealed that the deal is set to be confirmed by Wilko administrator PwC later today.
  The Range, set up by Devon-based entrepreneur Chris Dawson, had faced competition from online marketplace OnBuy to snap up Wilko’s brand assets.
  The deal could see the Wilko name live on as The Range could sell Wilko-branded goods in stores and could also trade under the name online.
  Dawson has grown
  
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• Ex-finance bosses face fraud charges over collapse of Patisserie Valerie

  13-09-2023 14:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Two former Patisserie Valerie finance bosses are among four individuals that have been charged in relation to the bakery chain’s abrupt collapse in 2018.
  The charges are connected to an investigation that began two days after the bakery chain suspended trading in October that year, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said.
  Among those facing charges is the company’s former chief financial officer Christopher Marsh, his wife Louise, financial controller Pritesh Mistry as well as financial
  
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• Zara owner bets on big stores to keep sales space growing

  13-09-2023 14:13
  Inditex says fashion retailer’s shops serve as showcase for the brand and as warehouses for ecommerce
  
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• Report Finds That Reducing Costs, Investing in Automation Are Top Priorities

  13-09-2023 10:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Report Finds That Reducing Costs, Investing in Automation Are Top Priorities
  In a 2023 benchmark survey from AutoStore, 300+ decision makers — from CEOs and COOs, to order fulfillment and logistics directors — share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences on how they’re coping with the global challenges of warehouse management and fulfillment.Download the full State of the Market report to see their insights and learn how warehouse automation is helping address problems, inc
  
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• H&M launches pre-loved service in Regent Street store

  13-09-2023 10:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  H&M is bringing its pre-loved shopping experience to the UK as it ramps up its sustainability efforts.
  The range will be available in the fashion retailer‘s London flagship on Regent Street store from 5 October, allowing consumers to pick up second-hand pieces from a range of brands and designers.
  H&M’s autumn/winter collection will span knits, classic trench coats, denim, metallic dresses and shirts, with a range of accessories on offer. 
  The range will be available on
  
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• Birkenstock files for IPO in New York

  13-09-2023 10:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Birkenstock has unveiled its filing for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.
  The footwear company said on Tuesday that it had not yet determined the value of its flotation, however it is understood to be worth over $8bn.
  Birkenstock parent company L Catterton reportedly hopes to list the business the week commencing 9th October, the Financial Times reported.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
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• Apple ditches leather as part of ‘net zero by 2030’ target

  13-09-2023 10:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Apple is to ditch the use of leather in all of its accessories in an effort to meet its ‘net zero by 2030’ goal.
  The tech giant will replace the animal-made material in its watch straps and phone cases with a 68% recycled textile called ‘FineWoven’.
  Apple vice president for environment Lisa Jackson said: “Leather is a popular material for accessories, but it has a significant carbon footprint, especially at Apple’s scale.
  “To reduce our impact, we will n
  
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• Primark enlists Rita Ora for new fashion collection

  13-09-2023 10:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark has teamed up with Rita Ora for its latest celebrity tie-up clothing collection.
  The 169-piece range will be available in 432 stores in the UK, Europe and the US from next Tuesday.
  The collection spans across knitwear, tailoring, casualwear and outerwear, as well as shoes and accessories. Sizes range from XXS and XXL.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning The range has been co-designed by Primark, Ora
  
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• Zara owner Inditex maintains lead over H&M as profits jump 40%

  13-09-2023 09:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Zara owner Inditex beat expectations as its half-year profits surged 40% in what the world’s biggest fashion company called a “very robust operating performance”, despite slowing the pace of its price increases.
  The Spanish giant’s sales across all of its brands, including Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Stradivarius, grew 13.5%, reaching £14.5bn in this period.
  It posted a net profit of £2.1bn for the six months to July 31 as the group widen
  
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• Wilko: A cautionary tale for retail – and the high street

  13-09-2023 09:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  After many twists and turns, the Wilko story came to a sad conclusion this week when it emerged that no white knight would save the retailer.It was confirmed that all 400 Wilko stores would close – although B&M and Poundland have now snapped up more than 120 shops between them – and 12,500 jobs would be lost as the value chain became one of the biggest high street casualties of the 21st century.
  However, unlike some of the other retailers on that list – Debenhams and BHS &n
  
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• Primark owner calls for tougher enforcement on shoplifting

  13-09-2023 09:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Judges need to toughen enforcement on shoplifting to tackle the rise in thefts across Britain, the owner of Primark has said.
  Associated British Foods chief executive George Weston revealed the fashion retailer was experiencing a record number of shoplifting cases and assaults on workers.
  He explained Primark was introducing body cameras for staff, and increasing its CCTV and security guards to tackle the issue.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign up here to get the latest news st
  
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• Iceland to sell groceries on Amazon

  13-09-2023 08:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon has introduced Iceland products to its website after the two businesses signed a deal.
  The frozen food specialist joins Co-op and Morrisons as a third-party supermarket partner on the ecommerce giant’s website.
  The items will initially only be available in some areas of Greater Manchester, before being launched elsewhere in the coming months.
  The food selection is set to range from Iceland’s own-brand fresh and frozen products to  branded items from Greggs and Heinz.Subsc
  
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• UK economy contracts as wet weather and strikes hit activity

  13-09-2023 08:25
  Output drops 0.5% between June and July
  
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• ‘You could get everything here’: Wilko customers make final shopping trip as closures begin

  13-09-2023 07:00
  
  Wilko in Brownhills has final trading day after retailer went into administration with the loss of 12,000 jobsThe shelves of Wilko on Brownhills High Street were largely bare on Tuesday, as shoppers roamed the aisles for bargains in the hours before this West Midlands branch of the discount retailer closed its doors for the final time.There were just a paltry few gummy sweets left on the pick and mix stall – now 50% off – while the remaining goods for sale included a mixture of Hallo
  
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• ‘I feel anger; it never needed to have happened’ – Wilko workers lament closures

  13-09-2023 07:00
  
  Staff at the stricken retailer talk of how things went downhill fast and voicefears for their futures Poundland moves to buy 71 Wilko sites with possible jobs guaranteeWhen James got back from travelling in 2008, he saw a job ad for Wilko. He applied and got it. Fifteen years of loyalty later – after he had worked on “practically everything you could possibly do” at the budget retailer – James* is likely to be made redundant within weeks.A rescue deal involving HMV to sav
  
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• Win for non-binary people as Post Office removes title option

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In a win for non-binary people, the Post Office has deleted the title section from its general enquiry form, following a petition by the LGBTQIA+ campaign... View Article
  
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• Waitrose bolsters customer team with three key appointments

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Waitrose is strengthening its customer team with two senior appointments and an internal promotion. Taking up her role on 31 October, Helen Carroll will join Waitrose... View Article
  
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• Uniqlo to upsize at Bluewater

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo is upsizing its store at the Bluewater shopping centre by moving to a new location on the ground floor of the scheme.... View Article
  
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• The Range acquires Wilko brand in £5m deal

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In a significant development, The Range, led by entrepreneur Chris Dawson, has successfully acquired the Wilko brand in a deal worth approximately £5 million. This acquisition... View Article
  
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• The Entertainer announces appointment of new CEO

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Entertainer  has announced the appointment of Andrew Murphy as Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Andrew most recently held the role of Group Chief Operating Officer... View Article
  
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• Midcounties takes new approach to helping members and communities

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Midcounties Co-operative is changing the way it engages and rewards its members. The Society has launched a new members-only offers programme to give customers the... View Article
  
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• Making the Case for a new HR System: How to Sell It to the Board

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Silver Cloud is an award-winning whole of market digital transformation consultancy, specialising in HR, payroll and people-related technology. Hear from their Head of Sales, Ben Myhill,... View Article
  
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• Leading brands, retailers, operators and airports confirm their presence at TFWA World Exhibition & Conference 2023

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  More than 400 exhibitors presenting thousands of brands across duty free and travel retail, have confirmed their participation in TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, taking place... View Article
  
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• John Lewis “turbo charges” fashion offering with addition of 20 new brands

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  John Lewis is “turbo charging” its contemporary fashion offering by bringing in a range of 20 new cutting-edge designers this autumn. The move is part of... View Article
  
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• Il Porticciolo opens first physical store

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sloane Stanley Estate has announced that luxury childrenswear boutique Il Porticciolo has opened a new store on Chelsea’s King’s Road. Designed in-house by the brand, the shop... View Article
  
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• H&M launches Pre-Loved experience in the UK

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M will be launching its pre-loved fashion offering in the UK next month as it looks to support a more circular fashion industry. The range will... View Article
  
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• Fanatics appoints Andrew Low Ah Kee as chief executive of Fanatics Commerce

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fanatics has appointed Andrew Low Ah Kee as the new chief executive of Fanatics Commerce. The group’s largest business, Fanatics Commerce designs, manufactures and sells licensed... View Article
  
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• Ann Summers joins the DSA as it intensifies focus on D2C

  13-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Direct Selling Association (DSA), the UK trade body for d2c retail, has announced that Ann Summers has joined the Association, in a move which signals... View Article
  
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