Retail news

• CVC’s beauty IPO shows private equity must pretty up sales for success

  04-03-2024 17:02 via ft.com
  Any investor attraction to retailer Douglas will depend on its valuation
  
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• Footasylum names new CEO as Barry Bown exits

  04-03-2024 16:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Footasylum has revealed its executive chairman and CEO Barry Bown is stepping down to take up a consultancy role with the retailer’s owner Aurelius.
  Bown has been replaced as chief executive by David Pujolar, who joins this month from AW LAB, a multi-brand, multi-channel streetwear, sportswear and lifestyle retailer, where he has been General Manager since 2016.
  Prior to AW LAB, Pujolar has held a range of leadership positions in buying and merchandising at adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, and Foot
  
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• Ocado becomes latest supermarket to launch ‘Buy British’ aisle

  04-03-2024 16:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado has become the latest supermarket to launch a “Buy British” tab to its website, following a call for grocers to support local farmers.
  The virtual aisle houses more than 800 items from UK farmers and growers, from fresh fruit and vegetables, to meat, eggs and dairy products.
  The online retailer’s move follows in the footsteps of Aldi, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s who all similar sections this year, as it revealed searches for “British produce” had risen 77%
  
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• Holland & Barrett and Wellbeing of Women boost women’s health education and support fund

  04-03-2024 15:31 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  This International Women’s Day (Friday, 8 March 2024), Holland & Barrett and Wellbeing of Women announce the extension of their successful Women’s Health Community Fund donating... View Article
  
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• John Lewis rebrands for International Women’s Day campaign

  04-03-2024 14:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  John Lewis is launching a campaign ahead of International Women’s Day, inviting designers, producers and emerging women-led brands to join “John Lewis & Sisters” and have their products stocked for Christmas.
  The retailer is changing its name to reflect the campaign on social media from 8 to 10 March, and says it will be a platform for women to share their talents, stories and ideas with buyers as it searches for more makers.
  Any brand can put themselves forward, with detai
  
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• Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot returns with Easter makeover

  04-03-2024 13:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi’s beloved Kevin the Carrot character will return to the supermarket’s middle aisle next week with a festive Easter makeover.
  The discounter has released two limited edition Kevin soft toy collectibles, dressed in either a removable soft grey bunny suit or a boucle style lamb outfit.
  The £3.99 Easter Kevin will appear in Aldi’s specialbuys on 14 March.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
   Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morn
  
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• Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot returns with an easter makeover

  04-03-2024 13:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi’s beloved Kevin the Carrot character will return to the supermarket’s middle aisle next week with a festive Easter makeover.
  The discounter has released two limited edition Kevin soft toy collectibles, dressed in either a removable soft grey bunny suit or a boucle style lamb outfit.
  The £3.99 Easter Kevin will appear in Aldi’s specialbuys on 14 March.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
   Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morn
  
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• First look: Gymshark debuts premium range at Selfridges in first wholesale partnership

  04-03-2024 13:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Gymshark has officially opened a permanent space in Selfridges London which sees the luxury retailer become the activewear giant’s first-ever wholesale partner.
  The opening follows the success of Gymshark’s Regent Street flagship, which opened its doors in October 2022 and the recent news of it Westfield Stratford City set to open this summer.
  Customers will be be able to shop the brand in Selfridges London (Womenswear Body Studio, Level 3 and Menswear Designer Street Room, Level 1),
  
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• Currys invests £13 million in staff pay

  04-03-2024 11:55 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Currys has announced a £13 million investment in staff pay in which hourly paid workers will benefit from a higher hourly rate, combined with a “market-leading”... View Article
  
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• Matalan integrates generative AI tool for enhanced product marketing

  04-03-2024 11:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Matalan has become the UK’s first retailer to launch a generative AI tool to create its product descriptions.
  The fashion and home specialist has partnered with digital consultancy Kin + Carta to integrate the new GenAI and Large Language model tool, which creates product descriptions for items listed on its website.
  The GenAI model uses the product metadata and imagery to produce detailed descriptions of Matalan’s range.
  The retailer said its copywriters will continue to oversee des
  
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• Currys boosts staff pay with £13m investment

  04-03-2024 10:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Currys is investing a further £13m into staff pay to boost salaries for its hourly-paid workers.
  Staff will now earn £12.33 per hour on average, with top performers pulling in a £13.95 an hour average, following a 9.5% rise in their hourly rate.
  The electricals retailer said some workers would earn even more as the potential for its bonuses was uncapped.
  Additionally, Currys is increasing its minimum pay rates to £11.50 per hour, or £12.50 for those working in Londo
  
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• M&S CEO Stuart Machin backs calls for business rates and apprenticeship levy reform

  04-03-2024 09:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S boss Stuart Machin has branded the business rates increase as “economically illiterate” and the Apprenticeship Levy as “overly restrictive” in fresh reform calls for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ahead of this week’s Spring Budget.
  The chief executive said in a LinkedIn post that the government must do more to understand the importance of the retail sector.
  He urged Hunt to revise the current business rates model saying the tax “balance is wrong and stymying
  
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• Retailers suffer longest dip in sales since Covid-19 lockdown

  04-03-2024 09:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retailers are suffering from the longest dip in sales since the 2020 pandemic as consumers cut back for the fifth consecutive month.
  Like-for-like sales across fashion, homewares and lifestyle slipped 1.3% in February, according to new figures from accountancy firm BDO.
  Fashion was hit the hardest, with overall sales down 4.8% and instore sales plunging 8.2% last month.
  Homewares was also down 4.2%, while the lifestyle sector reported a 3.9% increase.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
   Si
  
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• Frasers Group acquires Wiggle out of administration

  04-03-2024 09:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sports Direct owner Frasers Group has acquired online bike retailer Wiggle out of administration. The purchase has enabled Frasers Group’s to grow its portfolio of cycle... View Article
  
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• Shop theft and violence increases fivefold in a year

  04-03-2024 08:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Theft and violence against shop workers in convenience stores across the UK have increased more than fivefold, new data shows.
  Around 5.6m incidents of theft were recorded in 2023, up from the 1.1m set in 2022, according to a report from the Association of Convenience Stores.
  It found that retailers recorded over 600 cases of theft an hour over the last year, estimating the surge was costing shop owners an average of £4,946 per store with meat, alcohol and confectionery the most commonly s
  
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• Data: Shop theft and violence increases fivefold in a year

  04-03-2024 08:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Theft and violence against shop workers in convenience stores across the UK have increased more than fivefold, new data shows.
  Around 5.6m incidents of theft were recorded in 2023, up from the 1.1m set in 2022, according to a report from the Association of Convenience Stores.
  It found that retailers recorded over 600 cases of theft an hour over the last year, estimating the surge was costing shop owners an average of £4,946 per store with meat, alcohol and confectionery the most commonly s
  
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• Gymshark promotes Carly Natalizia to chief digital officer role

  04-03-2024 08:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Gymshark has promoted Carly Natalizia to the newly created role of chief digital officer. Natalizia joined the brand in 2022 as vice president marketing, international before... View Article
  
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• White Stuff joins line-up at Liverpool ONE

  04-03-2024 08:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Liverpool ONE has added White Stuff to its line-up following the launch of the fashion retailer’s regional flagship on the shopping destination’s Peter’s Lane. The 1,800... View Article
  
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• Arc’teryx opens biggest store in Europe in Covent Garden

  04-03-2024 08:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Canadian outdoor brand Arc’teryx has opened its biggest store in Europe in London’s Covent Garden. The shop is also the first to feature the brand’s ReBIRD... View Article
  
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• Theft and violence in UK’s small shops soars to record levels

  04-03-2024 01:02 via ft.com
  Shoplifting increased more than fivefold in convenience stores last year, according to latest data
  
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