Retail news

• M&S bolsters third-party offer with LK Bennett launch

  18-03-2024 22:23
  
  M&S has added LK Bennett to its roster of third-party brands, adding the fashion retailer’s spring/summer collection to its website.
  The addition takes the retail giant’s third-party brand tally to more than 90, after launching Pour Moi’s swimwear to the platform last week.
  The LK Bennett collection spans UK sizes 6 to 20, with prices ranging from £59 for a jersey V-neck vest to £499 for a printed silk-tiered maxi dress.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  
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• Ikea slashes hundreds of prices in new wave of cuts

  18-03-2024 22:18
  
  Ikea has unveiled its next wave of price cuts across hundreds of its popular products, including its famous Billy Bookcase, as it passes on savings it has made from easing inflation.
  The furniture giant is slashing prices on 400 products across its ranges ahead of the Easter holidays, including living room, bathroom and bedroom, after it made £125m of savings easing cost pressures.
  Earlier this year, Ikea said it had experienced improvements to purchasing goods costs during 2023, following
  
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• Top tips for entering the Customer Services Team of the Year Award

  18-03-2024 19:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Are you ready to showcase your customer service champions? Consider entering the 2024 Customer Service Team of the Year Award and let your efforts shine! The... View Article
  
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• Barbour and Oxfam partner for charitable jacket rental scheme at Glastonbury Festival

  18-03-2024 18:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Barbour, the British heritage outerwear brand, has announced a unique partnership with Oxfam to offer a sustainable and charitable rental service at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.... View Article
  
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• British luxury sector’s £81bn contribution calls for legislative support, Walpole Reports

  18-03-2024 18:21 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The British luxury sector, a cornerstone of the UK economy, now boasts an annual worth of £81 billion, according to a groundbreaking report from Walpole, the... View Article
  
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• Leading UK Companies unite in open letter urging government action on food waste

  18-03-2024 18:13 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In a unified effort to combat food waste, social impact company Too Good To Go, in collaboration with the British Retail Consortium has led an open... View Article
  
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• The Perfume Shop celebrates National Fragrance Week with a look back at iconic scents

  18-03-2024 18:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In commemoration of National Fragrance Week, running from the 18th to the 24th of March, The Perfume Shop, is honouring its storied legacy by showcasing its... View Article
  
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• Asda confirms new pay rates and fresh staff benefits

  18-03-2024 17:42
  
  Asda has introduced new staff benefits and confirmed its proposal to raise retail pay rates to £12.04 per hour has been accepted by workers.
  The Care Concierge benefit, managed by Legal & General, offers workers assistance in later-life care for loved ones, via free confidential one-to-one telephone services, while the Mortgage Advice Bureau provides guidance for staff navigating property purchase or remortgaging.
  The new benefits, whiich are available to all 150,000 of the supermarket
  
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• Foundever achieves remarkable success in Comparably’s Best Places to Work Awards 2024

  18-03-2024 17:28 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Foundever has been recognised as a Best Place to Work across three important categories – Global Culture, HR Teams and Engineering Teams. The awards, organised by... View Article
  
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• Barbour to rent secondhand jackets at Glastonbury

  18-03-2024 16:50
  
  Barbour has partnered with Oxfam to launch a charity rental scheme at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
  Under the Barbour Re-Loved jacket rental initiative, upcycled, pre-loved jackets will be available to rent from Oxfam stores on the festival site, with all proceeds donated to the charity.
  The premium brand’s jackets will be sold for £45 each for the full weekend rental. Customers will then have the chance to return their wax jackets at the end of the festival or purchase it
  
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• Barbour to rent out secondhand jackets at Glastonbury

  18-03-2024 16:50
  
  Barbour has partnered with Oxfam to launch a charity rental scheme at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
  Under the Barbour Re-Loved jacket rental initiative, upcycled, pre-loved jackets will be available to rent from Oxfam stores on the festival site, with all proceeds donated to the charity.
  The premium brand’s jackets will be sold for £45 each for the full weekend rental. Customers will then have the chance to return their wax jackets at the end of the festival or purchase it
  
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• Dr Martens launches new expert repair service including customisations

  18-03-2024 15:54
  
  Dr Martens has launched a new repair service for its shoes, in partnership with expert footwear restorers The Boot Repair Co.
  The British footwear specialist said it will offer more than 10 different services, ranging from sole to eyelet replacements, using the same machines, methods and materials that are used to make its brand new pairs.
  The services cover the brand’s boots, sandals and accessories, with prices starting from £22 per item.
  Additionally, shoppers will also be ab
  
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• Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s call for government action on food waste

  18-03-2024 15:31
  
  Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury’s are among more than 30 food businesses calling for government action to tackle food waste.
  The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and anti-food waste organisation Too Good To Go have led an open letter, with signatories including M&S, Lidl, Waitrose, Danone, Nestle and Innocent Drinks, urging the government to introduce mandatory public food waste reporting.
  The letter, which is addressed to environment secretary Steve Barclay, comes as more than a third of all
  
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• Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s among retailers calling for government action on food waste

  18-03-2024 15:31
  
  Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury’s are among more than 30 food businesses calling for government action to tackle food waste.
  The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and anti-food waste organisation Too Good To Go have led an open letter, with signatories including M&S, Lidl, Waitrose, Danone, Nestle and Innocent Drinks, urging the government to introduce mandatory public food waste reporting.
  The letter, which is addressed to environment secretary Steve Barclay, comes as more than a third of all
  
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• Watchdog would get powers to ‘smash’ supermarket duopoly under Greens bill

  18-03-2024 15:00
  
  The party will table a private senator’s bill this week to enable the ACCC to force Coles and Woolworths to sell off parts of their businessFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s competition regulator would gain powers to “smash the supermarket duopoly” and force the breakup of big supermarket chains, under a push from the Greens to be introduced to federal parliament.The G
  
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• Majestic Wine CEO: ‘Unworkable’ post-Brexit tax rules will lead to wine price hikes

  18-03-2024 13:47
  
  The boss of Majestic Wine has slammed the new post-Brexit alcohol duty system, warning it will cost both businesses and shoppers more.
  The price of some red wines could rise by over 40% next year after the government ignored calls from the wine industry to scrap complicated post-Brexit changes.
  As a result, the number of tax bands for wine will rise from one to 30, with retailers saying it will now cost them more money to administer.
  Majestic Wine CEO John Colley said: “The minister demons
  
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• Majestic Wine CEO slams ‘unworkable’ post-Brexit tax rules set to cause price hikes

  18-03-2024 13:47
  
  The boss of Majestic Wine has slammed the new post-Brexit alcohol duty system, warning it will cost both businesses and shoppers more money.
  The price of some red wines could rise by over 40% next year, British shoppers have been told, after the government ignored calls from the wine industry to scrap complicated post-Brexit changes.
  As a result, the number of tax bands for wine will rise from one to 30, with retailers saying it will now cost them more money to administer.
  Majestic Wine CEO John
  
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• Whole Foods to close two stores and depot but insists it will ‘expand UK footprint’

  18-03-2024 12:19
  
  Whole Foods Market has said it is still working on expanding its UK footprint, despite its decision to close two stores and its Dartford distribution centre.
  The proposed closures will see the Amazon-owned supermarket’s stores in both Richmond and Fulham Broadway close and operations at its Dartford DC cease.
  The move “will allow us to invest in enhancing the customer and team member experience as we expand our footprint to serve more customers and communities in the UK”, a Who
  
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• Whole Foods still pressing ahead to ‘expand UK footprint’ despite shuttering stores

  18-03-2024 12:19
  
  Whole Foods Market has said it is still working on expanding its UK footprint, despite its decision to close two stores and its Dartford distribution centre.
  The proposed closures will see the Amazon-owned supermarket’s stores in both Richmond and Fulham Broadway close and operations at its Dartford DC cease.
  The move “will allow us to invest in enhancing the customer and team member experience as we expand our footprint to serve more customers and communities in the UK”, a Who
  
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• NIQ Retail Spend Barometer: Brits spent £281.5bn on consumer goods in 2023

  18-03-2024 09:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Consumer spending in the UK on FMCG and Tech and Durables products (T&D) increased by 5% last year compared to 2022. In total, this market amounted... View Article
  
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• Currys raises profit forecast as period for considering takeover bids ends

  18-03-2024 09:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Currys has said trading since its peak period has been stronger than expected as it announced that it had officially ended the period for considering takeover... View Article
  
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• Amazon unveils new five-day ‘Spring Deal Days’ sales event

  18-03-2024 08:57
  
  Amazon is launching its inaugural spring sales event later this week, offering shoppers discounts across its range of products.
  The online giant’s new event, dubbed “Spring Deal Days” will launch on 20 March, ending 52 March.
  While the business didn’t specify which products will be featured, it said customers will be able to “enjoy six days of big savings” of up to 40% on products across electronics, fashion, kitchen, homewares and more.
  There will also be off
  
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• Currys raises profit guidance as takeover interest ends

  18-03-2024 08:40
  
  Currys has upped its profit outlook after posting stronger-than-expected sales since Christmas, after investor hopes of a takeover were dashed last week.
  The electricals retailer said pre-tax profit was now expected to be “at least” £115m, versus its previous guidance of £105 to £115m as like-for-likes were “positive” and gross margins “robust”.
  It also said its services arm had “continued strong growth”, which boosted margins.
  Cu
  
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• Currys raises profit guidance after takeover interest ends

  18-03-2024 08:40
  
  Currys has upped its profit outlook after posting stronger-than-expected sales since the busy Christmas period as it officially ended its period for considering takeover bids without securing any offers.
  The electricals retailer, which confirmed that it no longer faced takeover threats from Elliott Advisors and Chinese giant JD.com, said pre-tax profit was now expected to be “at least” £115m, versus its previous guidance of £105 to £115m.
  Chief executive Alex Baldoc
  
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• Naked Wines explores refinancing options as tough trading conditions bite

  18-03-2024 08:17
  Naked Wines has called in debt advisers to look at possible refinancing options as the retailer struggles amid challenging trading conditions.
  The online wine retailer has hired Interpath Advisory after seeing investor confidence in the company plummet in recent months, Sky News reports.
  Shares in Naked Wines have fallen by almost a third over the last year, leaving it with a market capitalisation of less than £50m, although it has recovered from its lowest point of less than 30p.
  A spokes
  
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• Freemans launches first new customer credit offering in 13 years

  18-03-2024 08:09 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Freemans digital department store has launched a new customer credit offer, its first in 13 years. The new Flexi3 offering will be promoted across all... View Article
  
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• Phase Eight opens at Kingston’s Bentall Centre

  18-03-2024 07:51 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Phase Eight has opened a standalone store in Kingston’s Bentall Centre after previously trading in Fenwick and John Lewis in the area. Set across 146 square... View Article
  
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• Frasers Group calls in administrators for Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern

  18-03-2024 07:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Frasers Group has called in administrators for the Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern brands. Purchased in a £47.5 million deal, the brands were part of 14... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Tom Rigden, Commercial Director, idhl intelligence division

  18-03-2024 07:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tom Rigden is a client partner and digital strategist with 20 years in the industry and a keen focus on driving commercial and operational outcomes. He... View Article
  
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