Retail news

• ebay UK becomes Love Island: All Stars headline sponsor

  07-01-2025 17:02 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  eBay UK has been announced as the headline sponsor for ITV2 and ITVX’s second-ever Love Island: All Stars series. The news means that the marketplace will... View Article
  
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• The Cotswold Company outshines market with 22% Christmas sales boost

  07-01-2025 15:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Cotswold Company has reported a 22% increase in year-on-year sales over the key Christmas trading period, totalling £19.9m.
  This strong growth significantly outpaces the wider UK home and furniture market, which has seen a 4% decline, according to Barclaycard data.
  The furniture and homewares retailer reported ecommerce sales rose 13%, accounting for 77% of its total sales during the nine-week period from 28 October to 29 December 2024.
  Meanwhile, showroom sales rocketed 66% year-on-ye
  
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• Ebay UK returns as Love Island: All Stars sponsor

  07-01-2025 14:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ebay UK is returning as the headline sponsor of Love Island: All Stars season 2, under the retailer’s ongoing mission to get more people buying and selling pre-loved fashion.
  The ecommerce giant will once again dress the islanders head to toe in second-hand outfits, having initially partnered with Love Island in 2022.
  Ebay’s season 2 campaign will encourage viewers to start the new year by letting go of unworn items and take advantage of the fact that it’s free to sell pre-owne
  
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• Ebay UK named Love Island: All Stars sponsor

  07-01-2025 14:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ebay UK is returning as the headline sponsor of Love Island: All Stars season 2, under the retailer’s ongoing mission to get more people buying and selling pre-loved fashion.
  The ecommerce giant will once again dress the islanders head to toe in second-hand outfits, having initially partnered with Love Island in 2022.
  Ebay’s season 2 campaign will encourage viewers to start the new year by letting go of unworn items and take advantage of the fact that it’s free to sell pre-owne
  
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• Exclusive: Next to trial self-service tills amid £67m wage bill increase

  07-01-2025 13:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Next will begin trialling self-service tills in the next couple of months to improve store efficiencies as it looks to mitigate the incoming £67m added to its wage bill following tax increases.
  The high street giant’s chief executive Simon Wolfson told Retail Gazette that the business would introduce its first set of machines across selected stores in February, March and “if that’s successful, then we’ll roll it out as the year progresses”.
  Wolfson said the re
  
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• New Year, renewed focus: How Secret Linen Store champions women in menopause

  07-01-2025 13:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  As we kick off the new year, it’s natural to set fresh goals for ourselves and our organisations – especially when it comes to supporting our... View Article
  
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• In pictures: Primark launches biggest-ever athleisure collection for 2025

  07-01-2025 12:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark has launched its biggest-ever athletic performance collection, marking a major expansion of its athleisure offering for 2025.
  The retailer‘s new range includes over 150 products across menswear, womenswear, kidswear, and accessories, featuring innovations like four-way stretch, sweat-wicking, and breathable fabrics.
  New items include leggings, seam-free sports bras, performance trainers, and shower-resistant outdoor workout gear for both men and children.
  Primark said the collectio
  
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• John Lewis customer director to step down after 3 years

  07-01-2025 12:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  John Lewis Partnership’s customer director Charlotte Lock has stepped down after almost three years.
  Lock shared on LinkedIn that she was leaving the business “for a role which is a personal passion” but did not provide any details.
  “For now, I want to thank the talented JLP Customer team, fellow partners (past and present) and agencies for your friendship and support over the years,” she said. Related StoryBest of 2024: Never Knowingly Undersold is back – and
  
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• Next to increase prices to help pay for budget tax changes

  07-01-2025 11:30
  
  Retailer says festive trading was better than expected but forecasts UK sales growth will slow this yearBusiness live – latest updatesNext has said it will increase prices by 1% this year to help offset a £67m rise in wage costs driven by budget tax changes, which it expects will slow UK sales growth this year.The fashion and homewares retailersaid the tax increases for employers announced by the government in October and their potential impact on prices and the job market “beg
  
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• UK food price inflation hits 3.7%, the highest level since March

  07-01-2025 11:28
  Supermarkets celebrate bumper Christmas as households’ spending reaches record £460 on averageBusiness live – latest updatesFood price inflation jumped to 3.7% last month, the highest level since March, helping fuel a bumper season for supermarkets.Sales at the big grocery chains were up 2.1% over the four weeks to 29 December compared with a year before, according to the analysts Kantar. However, that rise was flattered by food price growth, which jumped more than one percenta
  
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• Dragons Den star returns to helm Crafter’s Companion amid insolvency

  07-01-2025 11:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Arts and crafts business Crafter’s Companion is set to appoint administrators under a pre-pack insolvency of the company.
  The business is gearing up to appoint administrators at management consultant Interpath as part of a fast-track process,The Times reported.
  Under the restructuring, Crafter’s Companion founder, minority shareholder and Dragons Den star Sara Davies will increase her investment in the company and return as its CEO. The financial terms of the deal remain unknown.
  A n
  
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• Data: Millennials outshop Gen Z on social media

  07-01-2025 10:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Millennials have overtaken Gen Z as the fastest growing demographic for social commerce purchases, according to new research by the Retail Technology Show (RTS).
  The study, which surveyed over 1,000 UK shoppers, found that Millennials now make more purchases than Gen Z across social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
  On average, Millennials made 21 purchases on TikTok in the past year, compared to 20 by Gen Z shoppers. Millennials also outspend Gen Z on Facebook (20 purch
  
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• Currys slashes £400k from annual fuel bill thanks to green fleet tech

  07-01-2025 10:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Currys has slashed over £400,000 from its annual fuel bill by using Lightfoot’s driver coaching system across its delivery fleet, enhancing efficiency and cutting emissions.
  The electricals giant, which operates a fleet of Ford Transits and Iveco Dailys, reported a 10.8% improvement in fuel efficiency and an 11% drop in CO2 emissions.
  The technology, which provides drivers with real-time feedback, has also reduced vehicle idling and improved driving standards.
  Currys supply chain hea
  
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• Tesco and Sainsbury’s crowned Christmas winners by Kantar

  07-01-2025 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Britain’s two biggest supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been crowned the winners of Christmas by Kantar as sales rose 5% and 3.5%, respectively.
  Tesco’s hold of the market rose 0.8 percentage points to 28.5% – the biggest of any supermarket – thanks to growth across its convenience, superstore and online channels.
  Sainsbury’s achieved its highest share since December 2019 at 16% as its sales growth outpaced the market. Related StoryWickes poaches Tesco d
  
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• Next raises profit guidance but warns that UK growth will slow

  07-01-2025 09:39 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Next has raised its annual profit outlook after sales exceeded expectations in the run-up to Christmas. The fashion and home retailer said its full price sales... View Article
  
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• Next further raises profit outlook but warns tax increases will hit growth

  07-01-2025 09:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Next has warned that its growth in the UK is “likely to slow” in the coming months as the impact of upcoming tax rises filter through the economy.
  The fashion and home giant raised its full-year pre-tax profit guidance by £5m to £1.01bn following a better-than-expected Golden Quarter.
  However, it cautioned that its wider UK growth will be hampered “as employer tax increases, and their potential impact on prices and employment” starts to affect the overall econ
  
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• Next warns of ‘anaemic’ growth after UK Budget tax increases

  07-01-2025 08:41 via ft.com
  
  Retailer says measures will cost it £67mn in current financial year and warns of potentially chilling effect on economy
  
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• Quiz lender hires advisor to explore options

  07-01-2025 08:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lenders to Quiz have hired restructuring advisors days before the troubled fashion brand is due to hold a vote on delisting from the London stock market.
  The brand’s principal lender HSBC is understood to have drafted in Interpath to advise it on the growing crisis at the retailer, Sky News reported.
  Quiz, which is chaired by former JD Sports Fashion boss Peter Cowgill, is holding a shareholder vote this week as it looks to revert back to a private company. Related StoryQuiz losses double
  
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• Kingfisher appoints Ian McLeod as non-executive director

  07-01-2025 07:46 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  B&Q parent company Kingfisher has appointed retail veteran Ian McLeod as a non-executive director, with effect from 20 January. McLeod has over 40 years experience in... View Article
  
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• B&Q to buy five Homebase stores in the UK

  07-01-2025 07:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  B&Q is to acquire five leasehold stores in the UK, currently trading as Homebase, for £2.5 million. The sites are situated in Altrincham, Basingstoke, Biggleswade, Leamington... View Article
  
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• Ulta Beauty names new chief executive

  07-01-2025 07:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ulta Beauty has appointed Kecia Steelman as its new chief executive. She has succeeded Dave Kimbell who has retired after working for 11 years with the... View Article
  
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• Luxury tights brand Wolford apologises for delays to orders and refunds

  07-01-2025 07:00
  
  Exclusive: Skinwear firm admits delivery services overstretched amid heavy criticism from customersThe luxury tights and lingerie brand Wolford has apologised after heavy criticism from customers over delays to orders and refunds, admitting its delivery services were overstretched.Shoppers have taken to the reviews site Trustpilot to warn others against making orders, with some saying they had waited for more than a month for their goods to arrive and had been unable to obtain a refund. Continue
  
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• Dr. Martens’ global creative director leaves the business

  07-01-2025 06:44 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Dr. Martens’ global creative director Darren Mckoy has stepped down after ten years with the footwear brand. He joined the business in 2015 initially as global... View Article
  
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• UK retailers may have to cut thousands of jobs after bleak Christmas

  07-01-2025 01:01
  
  British Retail Consortium figures show sales growth close to flatlining, as card spending fails to riseBritain’s largest retailers are warning they could be forced to cut thousands of jobs this year as the industry braces for higher taxes and employment costs after a bleak Christmas shopping season.In the latest sign of tough trading conditions on the high street, figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show sales growth over the “golden quarter” between October and De
  
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• UK retail sales growth ‘minimal’ in final quarter of 2024, data shows

  07-01-2025 01:01 via ft.com
  
  BRC survey suggests consumers stayed cautious during what is usually busiest time of year
  
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• Data: Christmas does little to revive weak retail sales in 2024

  07-01-2025 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK retail sales showed a modest increase in December 2024, but the crucial Christmas period failed to provide the boost retailers were hoping for, the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show.
  Total retail sales grew by 3.2% year-on-year, compared to a 1.9% rise in December 2023. However, the shift of Black Friday into December this year impacted the overall figures.
  “The later timing of Black Friday in 2024 meant it fell into December, rather than November figures, whi
  
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