Retail news

• Mike Ashley nears final showdown in Boohoo bust-up

  13-12-2024 18:44
  
  Retail tycoon will learn next week whether his bid to be appointed to board of fast-fashion group has been successful
  
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• SYNC Beauty announces launch of natural, sustainable cosmetics line for 2025

  13-12-2024 16:38 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  SYNC Beauty, a cosmetics brand founded by beauty enthusiasts Kateryna Fistal and Anne Zloch, is set to launch in early 2025. With a mission to embrace... View Article
  
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• Paige opens second international store at Bicester Village

  13-12-2024 14:17 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Paige, the international apparel brand known for premium denim and wardrobe staples, has opened its second UK boutique in Bicester Village. The 1,400-square-foot Paige boutique offers an... View Article
  
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• JD Sports and Sturdy Off partner to empower UK youth

  13-12-2024 13:59 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  JD, the UK’s leading retailer for youth fashion and sportswear, has announced an exciting partnership with Sturdy Off, a burgeoning social media platform dedicated to empowering... View Article
  
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• Activists go shopping at Macy’s (again)

  13-12-2024 13:24
  It is not clear that selling or spinning off retail group’s most valuable assets will help
  
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• Boohoo says Frasers can have seat on board – but not Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley

  13-12-2024 13:10
  
  Fast fashion retailer offers largest shareholder a seat on its board - but not Frasers' founder AshleyBoohoo has offered its largest shareholder, Frasers Group, a seat on its board – but not for the retail tycoon Mike Ashley, Frasers’ founder.The fast fashion retailer said on Friday it was willing to have “constructive” talks about Frasers joining its board. But it said current nominees Ashley and Mike Lennon, a restructuring expert, would have “irreconcilable confl
  
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• Sainsbury’s opens first store in an airport

  13-12-2024 12:56 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has opened its first store in an airport location at Edinburgh Airport. Situated before security, the Sainsbury’s Local convenience shop will be open 24 hours... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s launches first airport store at Edinburgh Airport in major revamp

  13-12-2024 12:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has opened its first ever airport store at Edinburgh airport, under a major revamp of its food, drink and shopping options available to those passing through on their travels.
  Located before security, the local store will be open 24 hours a day and includes a store team of 26 supermarket staff members at the site.
  Sainsbury’s Edinburgh airport store manager Jordan Mudie said: “My team and I are thrilled to be open for business in Edinburgh Airport from today –
  
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• In pictures: Sainsbury’s launches first airport store at Edinburgh Airport

  13-12-2024 12:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has opened its first ever airport store at Edinburgh airport, under a major revamp of its food, drink and shopping options available to those passing through on their travels.
  The 2,449 sq ft Local store, located before security, will be open 24 hours a day and includes a store team of 26 staff members at the site.Sainsbury’s Edinburgh airport store manager Jordan Mudie said: “My team and I are thrilled to be open for business in Edinburgh Airport from today –
  
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• Asda brings back 15p festive veg sale as it gears up for Christmas

  13-12-2024 11:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda is reducing its prices of key Christmas veg to just 15p as it prepares to support customers with their Christmas shopping.
  From 19 December until 24 December, shoppers will be able to purchase 1kg carrots (currently 69p), 500g sprouts (currently 85p), 360g broccoli (currently 79p) and 500g parsnips (currently 75p) for 15p each instore and online.
  The supermarket’s campaign, which it has run in previous years, will for the first time include 2kg potatoes in the offer (currently &p
  
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• Ebay and Klarna expand BNPL to new European markets

  13-12-2024 11:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ebay and Klarna have expanded their partnership to bring buy now pay later (BNPL) options to new European markets.
  Following a successful launch in Germany, the ecommerce giant is offering Klarna’s flexible payment options to millions of shoppers across the UK, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with more markets on the way.
  Ebay shoppers can choose from Klarna’s payment options depending on their location, including interest-free pay in 3, pay in 30 days, or financin
  
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• John Lewis 2024 bestsellers: Silk sheets, dehumidifiers and Oura rings

  13-12-2024 11:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Soggy weather, retro 80s trends and the quest for a good sleep were among the biggest influences for those shopping at John Lewis this year.
  According to the department store chain’s annual ‘How We Shop, Live and Look’ trend report, the Oura Ring was the “ultimate status symbol” 2024 as one in every two rings John Lewis sells is an Oura, making it the biggest tech product of the year.
  Dehumidifiers continued to prove popular thanks to the UK’s persistent wet w
  
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• Fortnum & Mason launches pop-up in Heathrow Terminal 4

  13-12-2024 10:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fortnum & Mason has launched a new pop-up in Heathrow Terminal 4, designed to offer a “little piece of Piccadilly” to those passing through the airport.
  The pop-up has been designed to replicate travel trunks that have sprung open to reveal various items from the luxury department store, with a hot air balloon hovering in the centre of the space.
  The display features products including the brand’s tea blends, like Royal Blend, and Fortnum’s Sparkling Tea, as well as i
  
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• Boohoo stands firm in boardroom battle: “Not for Frasers to pick and choose”

  13-12-2024 09:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boohoo Group has issued a fresh response to Frasers Group, as the two retail giants continue their battle ahead of Boohoo’s general meeting on 20 December.
  In a statement released this morning (13 December), Boohoo’s board responded to Frasers’ latest open letter, which challenged the recommendations of proxy advisors Glass Lewis and ISS that shareholders vote against the proposed resolutions to appoint Mike Ashley and Mike Lennon to the board.
  The board said: “Frasers st
  
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• Virgin Media O2 opens new concept store at Westfield Stratford City

  13-12-2024 09:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Virgin Media O2 has opened a new concept store at the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. At 5,000 square feet, the shop is the largest telco store in... View Article
  
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• 2024 in review: The biggest hires and fires of the year

  13-12-2024 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  As 2024 comes to an end, Retail Gazette takes a look at some of the biggest appointments and exits that took place over the year.
  Hires
  Allan Leighton, executive chair, Asda
  Former Asda boss Allan Leighton returned to the supermarket this month as its executive chair to head up its recovery efforts.
  Leighton succeeds Lord Rose, who will remain on the board “to ensure an orderly transition before stepping down”.
  It’s not Leighton’s first time turning around the grocer
  
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• Chapel Down names new chief executive

  13-12-2024 08:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wine producer and retailer Chapel Down has appointed James Pennefather as its new chief executive officer, with effect from 1 February. Pennefather was previously chief executive... View Article
  
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• Fortnum & Mason opens pop-up at Heathrow Terminal 4

  13-12-2024 08:46 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fortnum & Mason has launched a new pop-up store in Heathrow Terminal 4 as it looks to offer a “little piece of Piccadilly” to travellers. The... View Article
  
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• Consumer confidence remains subdued ahead of Christmas

  13-12-2024 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Consumer confidence remained subdued this month as it increased by one point in December, with the public still cautious about the “continuing uncharitable view on the UK’s general economic situation”.
  GfK’s consumer confidence index grew by one point to -17 in December as forecasts for personal finances moved into positive figures at one to three points higher than this time last year.
  Personal financial situation increased by two points over the past year to -7. The for
  
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• In The Style slashes jobs as it pulls in losses

  13-12-2024 08:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  In The Style is cutting jobs as it battles against falling sales ahead of its return to the London Stock Exchange.
  The fashion retailer reported a pre-tax loss of £2.6m for the year to 31 March, compared to its £7.7m loss recorded the year before.
  Revenues fell from almost £46m to £30.4m, while UK sales were down from £42.7m to £29m over the same period.
  During the period, In The Style slashed its headcount from 179 to 140, having taken “significant step
  
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• Harrods staff to strike over crucial pre-Christmas weekend and Boxing Day in pay dispute

  13-12-2024 08:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harrods workers, including cleaners, shop floor workers and restaurant staff are set to strike on 21, 22 and 26 December “if the luxury store continues to deny them a Christmas bonus and improved working conditions,” said United Voices of the World (UVW) union.
  Staff at the London department store, who are represented by UVW, say they had no option but to vote for a strike as the store’s management “refuses to recognise or engage with their union for negotiations”.
  
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• Waitrose reports boom in seasonal spending on pets this Christmas

  13-12-2024 08:16 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Waitrose has reported a huge uplift in seasonal spending on pets this Christmas with sales of festive pet lines up 964% on this time last year.... View Article
  
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• DP World starts first container port carbon inset programme

  13-12-2024 07:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  DP World is testing a new carbon reduction programme at its UK logistics hubs, London Gateway and Southampton, aiming to support cargo importers in cutting their emissions.
  Starting on 1 January 2025, for an initial six-month trial, the Carbon Inset Programme will reward importers with 50kg CO₂e of carbon credits for every loaded import container they move through DP World’s UK terminals. These independently certified credits, issued quarterly, will showcase participating companies&r
  
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• Consumer confidence remains low as ‘uncharitable view’ of UK economy persists

  13-12-2024 06:00
  
  GfK survey shows room for optimism on personal finances but people thinking twice about big-ticket purchasesConsumer confidence remained suppressed in December amid the “continuing uncharitable view on the UK’s general economic situation”, a survey suggests.GfK’s long-running consumer confidence index increased by one point to minus 17 in December as forecasts for personal finances moved into positive figures at one to three points higher than this time last year. Continu
  
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• Retro sofas were in and Christmas cards out in 2024, says John Lewis

  13-12-2024 01:00
  
  British shoppers are returning to bricks-and-mortar stores, chain finds in report on shopping trends
  
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