Retail news

• How much is that dragon in the window? Aldi’s £4 cuddly toy infuriates posh plushie-maker Jellycat

  02-09-2024 17:22
  
  Remember the war of the caterpillar cakes, when Aldi’s Cuthbert took on M&S’s Colin? Now, the discount retailer has opened another frontName: Dexter Dragon.Age: Introduced in 2019. Continue reading...
  
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• Holland & Barrett partners with Provenance to support customers to shop sustainably

  02-09-2024 16:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Holland & Barrett is today announcing a pioneering partnership with Provenance, the leading sustainability data platform. This collaboration positions Holland & Barrett as one of the... View Article
  
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• Gymshark to open first permanent store outside of the UK in Dubai

  02-09-2024 16:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Gymshark, the fitness community and apparel brand, is gearing up to open its first-ever permanent store outside the UK, choosing the world-renowned Dubai Mall in the... View Article
  
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• Harrods hails resilient performance as sales near £900m

  02-09-2024 16:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harrods enjoyed its highest turnover on record as it raked in nearly £900m of sales in its most recent financial year.
  Sales for the luxury retailer covering its Knightsbridge flagship and online operations jumped 8% to £898.4m in the 53 weeks to 3 February, up from £831.6m, filings on Companies House show.
  The record sales helped to push operating profit up 2% to £162.9m, compared to £158.4m the year before.
  However, its pre-tax profits plunged 65% from £470m
  
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• Poundland Foundation donates £100,000 to Family Action

  02-09-2024 15:47 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Poundland Foundation has donated £100,000 towards the Family Action charity’s free FamilyLine helpline which supports people aged 18+ through its telephone, online and text message... View Article
  
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• Bird & Blend Tea Co. opens first store in Sheffield

  02-09-2024 15:47 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Independent tea company Bird & Blend Tea Co., arrives in Sheffield with a tea-licious bang. Sheffield is the 20th retail store in its portfolio, following recent openings in... View Article
  
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• Mango names new ecommerce boss as it enters 12 new markets

  02-09-2024 15:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Mango has extended its online business to 12 new markets and promoted Marlies Hersbach as its new ecommerce executive director.
  The Spanish fashion retailer said Hersbach will be responsible for developing, leading and executing the company’s online business strategy, reporting to Elena Carasso, online and customer director and member of the steering committee.
  Hersbach joined Mango in 2020 and previously served as its international retail director for France, supervising the brand’s
  
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• Specsavers keeps £15m payout despite profit decline

  02-09-2024 14:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Specsavers has maintained the £15m payday for its Guernsey-based owners, despite posting another year of declining profit.
  Pre-tax profit for the eyewear specialist slipped to £323.6m in the year to 29 February, down from £327.7m the year before and £449.5m it posted in 2022, according to newly filed accounts.
  New accounts for Specsaver’s UK business show sales at the company rose from £3.4bn to £3.7bn in the year. However, its annual report states that
  
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• Frasers Group boosts Boohoo stake to over 26%

  02-09-2024 13:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has upped its stake in Boohoo to more than 26% as it continues to build on its “strategic investment” into the fashion retailer.
  The retail giant – which is the largest shareholder in the online business – increased its holdings from 25.02% to 26.19% on Monday (2 September).
  The Sports Direct owner has been steadily building its holding in Boohoo since it first made a “strategic investment” in June 2023. At the start of t
  
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• Harrods owners hand themselves £180m more despite profit dip

  02-09-2024 13:50
  
  Knightsbridge department store’s sales rise but company is forced into £46m writedown on pension schemeBusiness live – latest updatesThe Qatari owners of Harrods have paid themselves the second £180m dividend in a row despite a 17% fall in profits at the Knightsbridge department store amid fears of a slowdown in the luxury market.The retailer, owned by the investment arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, increased sales by 8.2% to £1bn in the year to 3 Februar
  
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• Specsavers teams up with Millie Bobby Brown on Florence by Mills frames collection

  02-09-2024 13:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Specsavers has partnered with actress and creator of the Florence by Mills beauty and skincare range, Millie Bobby Brown, on an exclusive line of optical frames.... View Article
  
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• Gymshark to open first permanent store outside of UK in Dubai

  02-09-2024 12:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Gymshark is set to open its first permanent store outside the UK this year inside UAE’s Dubai Mall.
  It will be the gymwear giant’s third store, following the opening of its flagship on London’s Regent Street in October 2022, and its recent launch in the city’s Westfield Stratford City this summer.
  The new store will open towards the end of 2024 on the ground floor of Dubai Mall – the second-largest mall in the world by total land area, welcoming over 54m shoppe
  
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• Mountain Warehouse rescues US outdoor retailer for £7.6m

  02-09-2024 12:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Mountain Warehouse has rescued US-based retailer Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) for £7.6m ($10m) as it looks to expand its footprint stateside.
  The outdoor retailer will pay £3.8m ($5m) for the EMS brand, website and seven profitable stores, as well as another £3.8m for its other assets.
  The agreement will save more than 100 jobs at EMS, which filed for Chapter 11 protection – the US equivalent of an administration – on 18 June. Related StoryMountain Warehouse sales
  
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• LEGO to open second store in Bristol

  02-09-2024 11:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The LEGO Group has announced plans to open a second store in Bristol at Cribbs Mall. The news means that LEGO will have 20 stores in... View Article
  
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• Currys CEO: VAT should be scrapped on refurbished electricals

  02-09-2024 11:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Currys boss Alex Baldock has called on the government to slash VAT on refurbished electrical products to keep them out of landfills.
  The chief executive told The Guardian: “It has already been charged once on these products. I would like to see a radical reduction or entire cut on these products.”
  His comments come as the electricals giant is aiming to increase its repair and resale operations.
  The retailer offers video calls to customers to problem-solve often basic problems with th
  
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• Tesco’s F&F launches first homeware brand

  02-09-2024 10:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco’s in-house F&F clothing label has launched its first homeware brand, F&F Home.
  The new range includes over 1000 lines across home dining, glassware, rugs and footstools, bedding, soft furnishings, and decorative accessories.
  The supermarket said the new brand had been developed in response to the idea that many now see their home style as an extension of their fashion style, with shoppers spending more time curating their home space each season.
  Tesco’s in-house F&F
  
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• M&S trials grab-and-go coffee shops

  02-09-2024 10:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S is introducing more grab-and-go food and drink options in its cafes as its looks to attract lunchtime customers and younger shoppers away from major coffee... View Article
  
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• F&F launches first homewares brand

  02-09-2024 10:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco’s F&F clothing brand has launched its first ever homewares range. The selection of F&F Home products includes over 1,000 lines spanning all areas of home... View Article
  
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• Police chiefs say new unit is ‘turning the tide’ against shoplifting gangs

  02-09-2024 09:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Police chiefs have insisted that a new centralised police unit established this year is beginning to “turn the tide” against prolific shoplifters used by gangs.
  The Operation Opal group, which gathers crime reports, CCTV and other evidence from the 43 police forces across England and Wales has found 152 prolific shoplifters involved in organised retail crime within the initial three months of its operation, The Times reported.
  The news comes as police have faced increasing criticism
  
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• Kurt Geiger CEO: Scrapping tax-free shopping is having ‘massively negative effect’ on UK

  02-09-2024 09:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Kurt Geiger boss Neil Clifford has warned the loss of tax-free shopping for tourists is having a “massively negative effect” on UK spending.
  The retail boss argued tourists had been visiting other countries in Europe to do their shopping since the scheme was scrapped in 2021, The Times reported.
  Clifford said: “International tourists, whether it be Middle Eastern or American travellers, are spending less time in London.
  “If you go to Milan or Paris or Madrid — my te
  
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• Kurt Geiger CEO: Scrapping tax-free shopping is having a ‘massively negative effect’ on the UK

  02-09-2024 09:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Kurt Geiger boss Neil Clifford has warned the loss of tax-free shopping for tourists is having a “massively negative effect” on UK spending.
  The retail boss argued tourists had been visiting other countries in Europe to do their shopping since the scheme was scrapped in 2021, The Times reported.
  Clifford said: “International tourists, whether it be Middle Eastern or American travellers, are spending less time in London.
  “If you go to Milan or Paris or Madrid — my te
  
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• M&S urges Angela Rayner to approve flagship overhaul plans

  02-09-2024 09:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is being called to approve plans by M&S to scrap its Oxford Street flagship.
  Rayner is currently reviewing the controversial proposals, which were previously blocked by the Conservatives, This is Money reported.
  The food and fashion giant wants to demolish its flagship site near Marble Arch, London, to build a bigger ten-storey retail and office block in its place.
  M&S operations director Sacha Berendji argued: “Unlocking this investment would se
  
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• F&F launches first homeware brand

  02-09-2024 09:34 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco’s F&F clothing brand has launched its first ever homewares range. The selection of F&F Home products includes over 1,000 lines spanning all areas of home... View Article
  
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• H&M Beauty to open flagship Swedish stores

  02-09-2024 08:52 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M is to open two flagship stores in Sweden for its H&M Beauty brand this month. The new stores will aim to provide an “elevated and... View Article
  
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• Exclusive: The Cotswold Company’s strategic growth driven by people-centric initiatives

  02-09-2024 08:20 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Chief Commercial Officer Alan Joseph reveals how investing in employees fuels business success, enhances customer satisfaction and supports sustainability. We had the opportunity to speak exclusively... View Article
  
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• Dunhill and Frieze Masters confirm three-year partnership

  02-09-2024 08:20 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Dunhill has announced that its partnership with Frieze Masters has been confirmed as ongoing until 2026. The move means that the luxury menswear brand’s sponsorship of... View Article
  
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• Students’ university shopping lists expand to include air fryers and steamers

  02-09-2024 08:00
  
  Spike in sales of items never previously considered essential on campus as school leavers prepare for first termIt once included bedding, pots, pans and paracetamol. But it seems the checklist of university essentials now covers gadgets such as air fryers and steamers, as searches for and sales of these items have jumped in the run-up to the new term.As freshers’ week approaches and thousands of students prepare to head to university for the first time, they face the perennial question of
  
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• Strathberry appoints managing director

  02-09-2024 07:51 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Luxury accessories brand Strathberry has appointed Martin Byrne as managing director as it aims towards a revenue of £100 million over the next three years. With... View Article
  
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