Retail news

• Wilko left on the shelf despite final sales push

  15-09-2023 22:00
  Hopes of rescuing jobs and stores at collapsed discounter unravelled during at times ill-tempered administration
  
  Read more

• Investors’ Chronicle: Associated British Foods, Wickes, Fevertree Drinks

  15-09-2023 19:00
  Companies analysis from our sister publication
  
  Read more

• Directors’ Deals: Wetherspoon founder raises stake

  15-09-2023 19:00
  Bullish Tim Martin buys £6.8mn of shares
  
  Read more

• If John Lewis wants to save the high street, it should lead by example | Letters

  15-09-2023 17:59
  
  Bryan Merton thinks a royal commission is a good idea, while Mark Glover suggests relocating stores. Plus letters from Angela Bogle and Susan HowesAt last, a clear, loud and influential voice speaking out to try to save our cities and towns (John Lewis boss calls for royal commission to save UK high streets, 11 September). Dame Sharon White rightly identifies the symptoms (boarded up, empty shops, dwindling services, shabby streets) evident before the lockdowns, but escalated since by online sho
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• ‘It’s organised looting’: UK in grip of a shoplifting epidemic, say store owners

  15-09-2023 16:24
  
  Shop thefts have more than doubled in the past three years, costing retailers £953m a year, according to the British Retail ConsortiumIn recent months, David, the manager of a Leeds Co-op store, and his staff have been threatened with razors, knives, screwdrivers, needles and hammers by shoplifters who have become more brazen and aggressive.“It feels like these offenders can simply come in and take what they want, and do what they want,” the 36-year-old says. “Not one or
  
  Read more

• Iceland workers ‘slapped, punched and threatened with weapons’ amid shoplifting epidemic

  15-09-2023 13:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iceland employees have been “slapped, punched and threatened with weapons” amid the recent surge in shoplifting, the supermarket’s boss has said.
  Executive chairman Richard Walker told the MailOnline: “Every single week I receive an average of 12 reports of ‘serious incidents’ where managers and other colleagues have been attacked in our stores, almost always by shoplifters.
  “Colleagues are being slapped, punched and threatened with a range of weapons in
  
  Read more

• Iceland workers injected with HIV as shoplifting epidemic escalates

  15-09-2023 13:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Three Iceland employees have been injected with HIV following an attack by shoplifters carrying hypodermic needles.
  Speaking to MailOnline, Iceland Foods executive chairman Richard Walker said: “Every single week I receive an average of 12 reports of ‘serious incidents’ where managers and other colleagues have been attacked in our stores, almost always by shoplifters.
  “Colleagues are being slapped, punched and threatened with a range of weapons including knives, hammers,
  
  Read more

• ‘They’re meaningless’: why women’s clothing sizes don’t measure up

  15-09-2023 12:00
  
  Are you a 10 in one store and a 14 in another? We examine what’s behind this sizing crisis – and how to solve itIn my wardrobe, I have a long Cos dress with a label that reads XS. A similar style from Doen is labelled M – theoretically a whole two sizes up, while a Topshop dress that always feels a little on the large side is labelled a 6. Weird. A vintage mini that I can’t get on without undoing the zip is a 14, and two Asos denim jumpsuits are an 8 and a 10 respectively
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Zalando launches immersive content platform with Highsnobiety

  15-09-2023 10:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Zalando has launched a new immersive fashion content platform in partnership with Highsnobiety.
  The German fashion retailer said the new platform, dubbed ‘Stories’, will offer customers curated editorial content on new trends or exclusive brand collaborations to serve as a source of inspiration for when they shop.Stories will feature weekly updated content, including the five leading series: Cover Story, Style Bible, Guest Edit, The Perfect X and Unpacked.
  Zalando and Highsnobiety wi
  
  Read more

• H&M posts ‘flattish’ summer sales as it lags behind rival Zara

  15-09-2023 10:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  H&M saw its sales flatline in the three months ending 31 August 2023 as the business struggled to keep up with its rival Inditex, which hailed strong sales.
  The Swedish retailer said its net sales, in local currencies, were “flattish” year-on-year, missing analyst expectations.
  The retailer posted a 6% increase in net sales to £4.38bn for the three months to 31 August, 2023, lagging behind the £4.57bn forecast by analysts.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign
  
  Read more

• Lidl scouts former Wilko stores in expansion drive

  15-09-2023 09:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lidl boss Ryan McDonnell has revealed his property team are in “close contact” with Wilko’s administrator over potentially acquiring some of the retailer’s former stores.
  The chief executive told Retail Week that the discount grocer was “very, very active” in terms of its new store acquisition programme.
  McDonnell added that while nothing was finalised with administrators at PwC, Lidl was “certainly always interested in looking at properties where they m
  
  Read more

• As John Lewis’ road to recovery gets longer, is it on the right path? 

  15-09-2023 09:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Almost four years into Dame Sharon White’s five-year turnaround plan and not only has John Lewis Partnership unveiled another half of losses, it also revealed the plan would take another two years to complete.
  The business has put the delay down to rocketing inflation, which it said has increased its costs by £179m, along with the “greater than expected” investment requirements.
  White says: “The cost-of-living crunch means the plan will take longer. Transformation w
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s and Tesco accused of deceiving shoppers over loyalty prices

  15-09-2023 09:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s and Tesco have been accused by Which? of deceiving customers over savings under their loyalty card schemes.
  The supermarkets faced backlash after the consumer group accused them of using “potentially dodgy tactics” to make customers think savings are greater than they actually are.
  However, both grocers have denied the accusations.
  Which? examined 141 Nectar and Clubcard prices and looked at their pricing history over the last six months.
  It revealed roughly a third
  
  Read more

• M&S bolsters home offering with Swoon collaboration

  15-09-2023 08:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S has bolstered its home offering by joining forces with furniture brand Swoon to release two exclusive collections.
  The ranges, which feature sofas, coffee tables and sideboards, will be available in-store and online from 21 September.
  The first collection, Odette, consists of “playful shapes and decadent detail, fusing classic elegance with vibrant contemporary design”.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox
  
  Read more

• Zalando introduces new “Stories” fashion experience

  15-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Zalando has launched a new immersive visual-first fashion experience in collaboration with Highsnobiety. The online fashion retailer said Stories on Zalando will offer customers information on... View Article
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s and Tesco support communities affected by the Morocco earthquake and Libya floods

  15-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets have announced initiatives to support communities affected by the earthquake in Morocco and flooding in Libya. Sainsbury’s is donating £250,000 to... View Article
  
  Read more

• Royal Mail expands wellbeing support for colleagues and their families

  15-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Royal Mail has expanded its wellbeing offering for staff members and their families. The move will make it easier for colleagues to access support for mental... View Article
  
  Read more

• Marks & Spencer collaborates with Swoon

  15-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has embarked on a new collaboration with the Swoon furniture brand. Due to launch on 21 September, the range spans two collections. The... View Article
  
  Read more

• Kiki and Miumiu to expand Elephant Park store

  15-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Kiki and Miumiu, the independent food market specialising in pan-Asian produce, is to upsize in London’s Elephant Park neighbourhood. The move will almost double the market’s... View Article
  
  Read more

• French Bedroom appoints managing director

  15-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online furniture brand French Bedroom has promoted Holly Yates to the role of managing director. Yates joined the business in June 2020 as head of brand... View Article
  
  Read more

• Footasylum opens new 10,000 square foot store at Lakeside

  15-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Footasylum has opened a new, improved store in the Lakeside Shopping Centre. Spread across 10,000 square feet, the shop at the Essex scheme showcases a new... View Article
  
  Read more

• In pictures: Argos unveils its ‘top toys’ set to dominate Christmas

  15-09-2023 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Argos has unveiled its list of toys set to dominate Christmas lists this festive season, with “innovative” toys front and centre.
  The retail company revealed never-seen-before toys like Furby Purple Interactive Plush, as well as toys from iconic brands including the Nerf Elite Double Punch Blaster and LEGO Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica.  
  Toys from popular TV shows came out on top, including Gabby’s Dollhouse Cruise Ship, while the Barbie film led to Argos’ exclusive B
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!