Retail news

• Morrisons offers discounts as IT glitch hits loyalty cards and click-and-collect

  23-12-2024 17:39
  
  Cardholders offered 10% off entire shop, as shoppers fear for Christmas food and drink orders Morrisons shoppers have been left unsure whether their Christmas orders will arrive on time after the supermarket chain was hit by IT problems, prompting the retailer to offer discounts.The supermarket chain is giving loyalty card holders 10% off an entire shop on Monday and on Christmas Eve after a glitch hit the promotional scheme, and it discounted prices on some items for all shoppers. Continue read
  
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• Homebase to live on within former stores reopened under the Range name

  23-12-2024 17:29
  
  DIY brand will be used online and in some departments of new superstores opened from JanuaryHomebase is to live on as a brand online and within up to 70 former stores reopened next year as branches of the Range, its new owner has announced.CDS said it would open the first three converted outlets from the collapsed DIY retailer in January under the Range Superstores name, and then 10 a month from February. Continue reading...
  
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• UK shoppers spending more on high street and online than last Christmas

  23-12-2024 15:17
  
  Department stores experience rise in sales of almost 7%, while Visa says online spending up 6.1%Shoppers surged on to UK high streets on Saturday amid signs they are spending more in stores and on the internet than last year in the run-up to Christmas as retailers hope for a last-minute rush.Spending was up 2.3% year on year during the seven weeks to 20 December, led by a 6.1% rise online, according to the credit and debit card provider Visa. Shoppers focused on electronics and homeware, with sa
  
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• Iceland doubles Christmas sales thanks to Morrisons’ festive failures

  23-12-2024 14:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iceland enjoyed a surge in last-minute Christmas orders today (23 December) with sales doubling and website traffic tripling, as thousands of Morrisons customers turned to the frozen food specialist amid widespread issues.
  Morrisons’ technical problems with its More loyalty card system left customers unable to redeem discounts. Many also reported cancelled online orders, leaving families scrambling to secure turkeys, trimmings, and festive staples just days before Christmas.
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• Morrisons in Christmas chaos with cancelled orders, delayed deliveries and failed discounts

  23-12-2024 13:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons has issued an apology as customers were unable to access discounts on their festive shopping due to issues with the More loyalty card system.
  The supermarket has also been hit with complaints over cancelled online orders during the crucial festive shopping period, particularly affecting click and collect services.
  A spokesperson for the retailer confirmed that the system issues were impacting some loyalty card discounts, and said: “For More Card customers who have Morrisons Fiver
  
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• Morrisons IT glitch hits discount cards and raises fears for Christmas orders

  23-12-2024 13:18
  
  Shoppers voice anger at being unable to access loyalty prices and worry their festive deliveries may arrive lateMorrisons shoppers have been unable to access loyalty card discounts, with some left unsure whether their Christmas orders will arrive on time after the supermarket chain was hit by IT problems.The retailer apologised to customers for the “system issues” after many could not apply the lower More loyalty card prices at the till, adding that some click-and-collect orders had
  
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• Asda: November inflation spike to squeeze Christmas budgets

  23-12-2024 12:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  November’s rise in inflation is expected to dampen Christmas spirits and restrict spending ahead of the big day, according to the latest figures from Asda’s income tracker.
  The period marked a second consecutive month of faster price rises, according to the supermarket’s tracker, despite households being better off than last year.
  The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 2.6% in November, up from 1.7% in September and 2.3% in October, driven by higher clothing and footwear prices
  
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• Data: £1.13bn Christmas rush to hit UK high streets today

  23-12-2024 12:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The UK’s high streets are bracing for a festive surge, with £1.13bn expected to be spent in-store today (23 December) as consumers rush to secure last-minute Christmas gifts.
  According to VoucherCodes.co.uk’s Shopping for Christmas Report, retail sales — both online and in-store — are forecast to hit £1.46bn, a 6.6% rise compared to the same day last year.
  Around 16 million shoppers are anticipated to hit the shops, with 12.6 million opting for physical stores
  
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• The Range to open first set of former Homebase stores next month

  23-12-2024 12:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Range is set to open the first three of its new-format stores following the acquisition of the Homebase brand and up to 70 stores last month.
  The DIY chain’s branches in Pollokshaws in Glasgow, Christchurch in Bournemouth, and Kings Heath in Birmingham will reopen their doors as The Range Superstores on 17 January.
  CDS, which owns The Range, Homebase, and Wilko, said the new-format locations “combines the exceptional product variety The Range is known for with the home improvemen
  
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• Commentary: Primark’s ‘Bring the Joy’ campaign shines bright this Christmas

  23-12-2024 10:46 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  As the festive season unfolds, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the good news and inspiring acts of kindness happening around us. One... View Article
  
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• Aldi to invest over £40m in Scotland store estate over next two years

  23-12-2024 10:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi is investing over £40m into its Scottish stores over the next two years, with three new sites set to open in 2025.
  Shops in Arbroath, Baillieston and Kirkintilloch are set to open next year, while refurbishments are planned for its Carluke, Glenrothes and Stirling stores.
  The German discounter said the investment supports its growth ambitions north of the border and enables it to keep up with growing consumer demand.
  In 2025, Aldi will also launch a recruitment drive for over 100 new
  
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• Frasers Group shrugs off Boohoo boardroom rejection

  23-12-2024 10:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group’s coup against Boohoo’s board is set to continue despite the fashion retailer’s shareholders rejecting its initial proposals.
  The Sports Direct owner said it “respects the views of the independent shareholders” after 63.77% voted against the appointment of Mike Ashley and restructuring expert Mike Lennon as directors to the fashion retailer’s board on Friday (20 December).
  In a new statement this morning ( 23 December), Frasers wrote: “We w
  
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• Aldi to invest more than £40 million in Scotland over the next two years

  23-12-2024 10:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi is to invest more than £40 million in Scotland over the next two years as it continues its expansion. This will include the launch of... View Article
  
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• Boohoo sells Soho office to pay off debt

  23-12-2024 09:47 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Boohoo Group has announced that it has completed the sale of its London office for £49.5 million to Global Holdings UK, an independent property fund.  The... View Article
  
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• BRC warns that retailers are in for a challenging year

  23-12-2024 09:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The British Retail Consortium has warned that 2025 could be a challenging year for retailers. Following fieldwork conducted from 10 to 13 December, BRC-Opinium data shows... View Article
  
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• Moonpig launches AI handwriting tool

  23-12-2024 09:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Moonpig has launched an artificial intelligence-driven handwriting tool in a bid to recreate the authenticity of handwritten messages in its made-to-order cards.
  Customers are able to create their own digital handwriting by drawing each letter of the alphabet in lower and upper-case, which will then be stored in their account as a personalised font, The Times reported.
  Moonpig chief executive Nickyl Raithatha said: “Handwriting has always been a big barrier for people not wanting to send c
  
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• Best of 2024: As Dobbies and Homebase close stores, has the UK fallen out of love with garden centres?

  23-12-2024 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Dobbies Garden Centres revealed today (30 September) that it is set to close 17 stores as it looks to return to “sustainable profitability”.
  The garden centre chain is thought to have faced another difficult year after racking up losses of £130m last year driven by high inflation and unseasonable weather dampening sales.
  It is not the only retailer that sells garden goods that finds itself in a tough spot, with Homebase CEO Damian McGloughlin informing staff in late August that
  
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• Boohoo sells London head office for £49.5m

  23-12-2024 08:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boohoo has sold its London head office to private real estate firm Global Holdings Group for £49.5m.
  The fashion retailer said the sale will “further strengthen” the company’s balance sheet and part of the proceeds will be used to pay down its £47m term loan due for repayment in August next year.
  Boohoo put the 43,963sq ft six-storey building at 10 Great Pulteney Street up for sale in August, just two years after acquiring it in 2021 for £72m.
  The five-storey
  
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• The Original Factory Shop explores strategic options

  23-12-2024 08:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Original Factory Shop has called in advisors to explore its options after failing to find a buyer. The move follows current owner Duke Street Capital... View Article
  
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• Police flag ‘significant concerns’ over John Lewis housing proposals

  23-12-2024 08:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Police have raised “significant concerns” over John Lewis’ plan to transform a former warehouse site in Reading into 215 new rental homes.
  Thames Valley Police warned the layout of the proposed £80m housing development puts it at risk of “graffiti, antisocial behaviour [and] inappropriate loitering”, The Telegraph reported.
  The police said John Lewis’ plans for a neighbourhood garden in the project that would be open to the general public was at risk of
  
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• Who will be retail’s winners and losers in 2025?

  23-12-2024 08:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  As the year draws to a close, 2025 could be set to be another challenging period for the retail sector – with inflation still soaring and retailers hit by the impact of Labour’s first fiscal Budget.
  Retail Gazette speaks with industry experts to find out their predictions of which retailers will be the winners and losers of 2025.Nick Bubb
  Retailing analyst 
   
  Winner: M&S
  M&S has been one of the winners of 2024, but it is well placed to build on its recent succe
  
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• Furniture Village opens first store in Scotland

  23-12-2024 07:51 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Furniture Village has opened its first store in Scotland at Edinburgh’s Straiton Retail Park. The 25,780 square foot space  has a ground floor and mezzanine where... View Article
  
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