Retail news

• A grand exit: why four-figure coats have become a high street fixture

  13-02-2025 19:28
  
  From John Lewis to Cos, high street stores are selling coats costing more than £1,000 in a move to cast themselves as ‘luxe’ brandsIf you were given £1,000 to splurge on the high street, what would you buy? Perhaps a head-to-toe new season wardrobe from Zara? Enough knitwear to see you through several winters, or maybe a lifetime supply of socks from Marks & Spencer?Whatever you decide, you’d need to factor in the cost of a taxi to lug all those bags back from t
  
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• Sloane Street completes £46m transformation project

  13-02-2025 17:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sloane Street has completed its £46m transformation project, funded by property manager Cadogan.
  The project, delivered in partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Council, has created a green 1km long boulevard running from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square.
  The investment includes 23% widening of the street’s pavements, a planting scheme of more than 100 trees, street furniture and LED lighting to create a more welcoming environment for pedestrians.
  The redevelopment was given the gree
  
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• In The Style on verge of administration

  13-02-2025 14:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  In The Style is edging towards insolvency less than two years after the online fashion retailer was forced into a fire sale to a family office investor.
  TS Recovery is being lined up to act as administrator to the business which was founded by Adam Frisby in 2013, Sky News reported.
  One source told the outlet that a pre-pack insolvency potentially involving Baaj Capital was one possible outcome from the process.
  In The Style, which was once valued at over £100m, was sold to Baaj Capital fo
  
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• Desert Island Stores: Lara Chant, co-founder of Brityard

  13-02-2025 14:13 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lara Chant is co-founder of Brityard that brings together independent British brands together in a physical space on London’s Regent Street. The objective is to highlight... View Article
  
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• Illegal imported sweets ‘flooding UK high streets’, councils say

  13-02-2025 14:01
  
  Social media driving demand for US products containing banned additives linked to cancer and behaviour issuesIllegal imported sweets that contain banned additives linked to cancer and behavioural problems are “flooding UK high streets”, councils have said.The warning first came from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), which said that demand for American confectionery was being driven by influencers on social media platforms. Continue reading...
  
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• Steve Madden to acquire Kurt Geiger in £289m deal

  13-02-2025 13:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Steve Madden is set to acquire Kurt Geiger in a £289m deal, marking the end of its seven-year ownership under private equity firm Cinven.
  Kurt Geiger, which has grown into a key player in the luxury footwear, handbags, and accessories market, operates more than 70 stores across the UK and US, and has a notable presence in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
  Cinven, who took control of the brand in 2015, has been instrumental in expanding the brand’s reach, particularly in North Americ
  
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• Co-op launches in-app member pricing on Deliveroo

  13-02-2025 13:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Co-op has launched its member pricing on Deliveroo, providing another boost to its membership ambitions of 8 million customers signed up by 2030.
  The convenience chain’s exclusive pricing applies to 100 key lines and everyday essentials, which can be accessed by customers inputting their membership number at checkout.
  Co-op said its online business had “grown at pace” and around 1,300 of its stores now act as local fulfilment hubs for online orders placed via Deliveroo. Re
  
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• Freemans appoints former N Brown exec as CCO

  13-02-2025 10:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Online and catalogue retailer Freemans has hired former N Brown director Paul Horsfield as its new chief commercial officer.
  Horsfield previously served as N Brown director of group transformation, after joining the company as its director of group trading and merchandising in 2019. Prior to this he worked as merchandising director at Boohoo group, and spent more than ten years in various roles at online retailer Shop Direct.
  Horsfield currently works as non executive director and company direct
  
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• Hobbycraft owner makes last-minute bid for The Original Factory Shop

  13-02-2025 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital has made a last-minute bid to buy The Original Factory Shop after talks with another suitor stalled.
  The private equity firm, which also has its eye on WHSmith’s high street stores, is close to eclipsing In The Style owner Baaj Capital, Sky News reported.
  It is understood that a deal for the discount chain, which has 180 stores around the UK, could be made within days. Related StoryHobbycraft owner eyes WHSmith’s high street business27/01/2025 x 1:36
  
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• Why are Frasers Group and Currys banking on credit to drive growth?

  13-02-2025 09:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Credit is emerging as a new route to growth for some of the UK’s biggest retailers, with the likes of Frasers Group, Currys and John Lewis revamping their financial services offers last year.
  The appeal is clear. Adobe Analytics reported online spending using buy now, pay later schemes rose to £1.26bn in January, up 3.3% on the year before.
  Frasers CFO Chris Wootton told Retail Gazette in December that the group’s growth in the UK “is really going to be predicated on Fras
  
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• Birkenstock to open two new London stores in 2025 as UK sales soar

  13-02-2025 09:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Birkenstock is set to expand its retail presence in London, with two new stores slated to open this year as it UK sales outperformed expectations.
  The footwear brand’s new stores, which will be located on King’s Road and in Shoreditch, are part of its strategy to bolster its direct-to-consumer business. The King’s Road location will be a permanent store, while the Shoreditch site will operate as a pop-up.
  Birkenstock’s recent financial performance shows strong momentum in
  
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• Monsoon to debut new travel boutiques at Gatwick Airport

  13-02-2025 08:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Monsoon is set to open two new travel boutiques at London Gatwick’s North and South Terminals tomorrow (14 February).
  The new travel concept represents an evolution of the fashion retailer‘s small boutique format, which has already been rolled out in UK high street locations, including George Street in Edinburgh and Upper Street in Islington over the past two years.
  The Gatwick boutiques will feature an expanded selection of ladies beachwear, resortwear collections, accessories, and
  
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• Shein eyes Vietnam expansion to offset Trump tariffs

  13-02-2025 08:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Shein is ramping up its production base in Vietnam to mitigate the impact of rising US tariffs on its supply chain.
  The fast-fashion giant is offering key Chinese suppliers temporary incentives, including up to a 30% increase in procurement prices and larger order guarantees, as it shifts some of its production outside of China.
  The move comes after the President Trump removed the “de minimis” rule, which allowed duty-free imports of low-value goods. Shein hopes that expanding in Vie
  
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• Tesco aims to offer 1,500 apprenticeships by 2027

  13-02-2025 08:34 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco has announced a major expansion of its apprenticeship scheme. The supermarket will be offering five times more places on its Stronger Starts programme in 2025... View Article
  
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• Søstrene Grene to open flagship store at Oxford Circus

  13-02-2025 07:53 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Søstrene Grene is continuing its UK expansion with the opening a new central London store this spring. Situated in Argyll Street, just off Oxford Circus, the... View Article
  
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• Freemans appoints Paul Horsfield as chief commercial officer

  13-02-2025 07:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Freemans digital department store has appointed Paul Horsfield to the newly created role of chief commercial officer. Horsfield previously worked with N Brown Group for... View Article
  
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• Space NK founder joins Philip Kingsley board

  13-02-2025 07:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Premium hair care brand Philip Kingsley has appointed Space NK founder Nicky Kinnaird as a non-executive director. Kinnaird founded the beauty retailer in 1991 and opened... View Article
  
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• Palm Angels acquired by Bluestar Alliance

  13-02-2025 07:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Palm Angels luxury streetwear brand has been acquired by global brand management firm, Bluestar Alliance. The move follows Bluestar’s recent acquisition of Off-White from LVMH... View Article
  
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