Retail news

• Stockpickers: DIY chains in need of repairs as they pin their hopes on tradespeople

  28-03-2025 19:00 via ft.com
  
  Kingfisher and Wickes hope to make gains after the collapse of Homebase
  
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• The UK high street is no match for WHSmith’s wanderlust

  28-03-2025 18:01 via ft.com
  It is really decades since the stores were a destination, particularly in provincial towns
  
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• Inside the Experience Store that’s rewriting the rules of High Street wellness

  28-03-2025 17:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The creative story behind Holland & Barrett’s new era When Holland & Barrett opened its first Experience Store in Cardiff last week, it wasn’t just a... View Article
  
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• Boohoo to rebrand as Debenhams despite Frasers Group’s vote to block it

  28-03-2025 16:26
  
  Shareholder meeting turned into latest episode in battle between fashion retailer and Mike Ashley’s retail empireBusiness live – latest updatesThe fashion group Boohoo is to forge ahead with a plan to change its name to Debenhams, despite Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group voting to block formalisation of the move amid a stinging battle between the two retailers.Boohoo said earlier this month it wanted to rename itself Debenhams, the department store brand it bought out of administrat
  
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• Boohoo confirms Debenhams rebrand despite Frasers opposition

  28-03-2025 15:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boohoo has confirmed that it will go ahead with its rebranding to Debenhams group, despite a special resolution to approve the move not achieving the required support from shareholders.
  At its general meeting, 62% of shareholders voted in favour of the name change, missing the minimum 75% required for approval of special resolutions, while 38% voted against the move.
  Boohoo group’s largest shareholder Frasers group voted against the resolution, according to the fast fashion retailer.
  Booho
  
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• What does WH Smith’s new high street name TGJones actually mean?

  28-03-2025 14:56
  
  New owner Modella says made-up moniker aims to evoke ‘sense of family’, but brand experts unconvincedWH Smith name to disappear from high street in agreed £76m sale to ModellaBusiness live – latest updatesThe news of the disappearance of the WH Smith name from British high streets after 233 years has rapidly been supplanted by a question: who, or perhaps what, is its replacement TGJones?Included in the announcement from the new owner, Modella Capital, which has acquired t
  
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• In pictures: Søstrene Grene unveils Oxford Circus flagship

  28-03-2025 13:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Søstrene Grene has opened the doors to its new Oxford Circus flagship as it continues its expansion across the UK.
  The two-storey 441sq m flagship on Argyll Street stocks the Scandi brand’s extensive homeware ranges and features for the first time an interactive customer experience room as well as a room focussed on the senses.
  Shoppers are guided to the first floor of the store and are met with the retailer’s kitchenware, bakeware, tea, as well as garden and home accessories
  
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• WHSmith: Modella Capital outlines plans following high street arm acquisition

  28-03-2025 12:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Private equity firm Modella Capital has set out its initial plans for the WHSmith’s high street business, following the £76m acquisition announced this morning.
  The deal, which covers approximately 480 WHSmith stores across high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks in the UK, marks the firm’s latest expansion.
  Under Modella’s ownership, the stores will rebrand to TGJones, with plans to retain the existing product offerings, including Post Office and Toys “R&r
  
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• Retail sales in Great Britain given lift as shoppers splash out

  28-03-2025 12:21
  
  Sales volumes rise 1% in February after City economists had predicted fall amid weak consumer confidenceRetail sales in Great Britain rose last month amid a sharp increase in consumers spending at department stores, hardware shops and clothes outlets.Reflecting a stronger economic backdrop than feared, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed sales volumes rose by 1% on the month, although spending at supermarkets fell after a bumper month in January. Continue reading...
  
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• Ask Green: Where do you go when you’re lonely?

  28-03-2025 12:00 via ft.com
  Sainsbury’s cafés offered elderly people and young families a place to mingle over a hot cuppa. What to do now?
  
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• Co-op launches wholesale division with new MD at the helm

  28-03-2025 11:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Co-op group has launched Co-op wholesale in a bid to re-affirm its commitment to the independent retail sector.
  Drawing on more than 160 years of wholesale heritage, the move re-enforces the group’s commitment to drive increased value for independent retailer.
  In addition, former Nisa retail and sales director Katie Secretan has been named as the new managing director for Co-op wholesale.
  Secretan, who joined Nisa in January 2024, was instrumental in unlocking growth opportunities for
  
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• AI scheduling in retail: Addressing efficiency, compliance and employee satisfaction challenges in the UK

  28-03-2025 10:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retail leaders in the UK currently face a critical challenge – balancing efficiency, compliance, and employee satisfaction amid a myriad of labour shortages, shifting consumer expectations and post-Brexit workforce regulations.
  In the chaotic modern business world, those traditional workforce management approaches that once cut the mustard are no longer sustainable. Outdated scheduling methods are leading to high costs, poor employee retention, and, perhaps most essentially, inconsistent c
  
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• What does TGJones mean?

  28-03-2025 10:38 via ft.com
  That old, familial feeling
  
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• WHSmith name to vanish from UK high streets as it rebrands to TG Jones in £76mn deal

  28-03-2025 10:35 via ft.com
  Station and airport outlets will continue to trade under 233-year-old brand
  
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• Asda offers free tea to Morrisons shoppers on Mother’s Day amid café cuts

  28-03-2025 10:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda is offering a free tea or coffee to visitors who shows their Morrisons More loyalty Card at the counter across its 205 cafes on Mother’s Day this Sunday (30 March).
  The move comes after Morrisons announced that it would axe 52 of its cafes earlier this week, as part of the supermarket’s major operational shake-up.
  Additionally, the grocery giant is scrapping all 18 of its Market Kitchens, 17 convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters, and four pharmacies
  
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• British retail sales outstrip forecasts to rise 1% in February

  28-03-2025 09:38 via ft.com
  Department stores and household goods led the increase, while supermarket sales volumes fell back
  
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• WH Smith name to disappear from high street in agreed £76m sale to Modella

  28-03-2025 09:00
  
  Under terms of deal with Hobbycraft owner, 233-year-old brand will become TGJonesBusiness live – latest updatesWH Smith is to sell its 480 retail stores to the Hobbycraft owner, Modella Capital, in a deal worth £76m, and has confirmed that the 233-year-old brand will disappear from the high street after a “short transitional period”.Under the terms of the deal, the high street business, which employs 5,000 staff, will be rebranded as TGJones. WH Smith is retaining its bra
  
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• Decathlon names new CEO in leadership reshuffle

  28-03-2025 08:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Decathlon has appointed Javier López as its new chief executive officer, replacing Barbara Martin Coppola, who held the role since March 2022.
  López, who has been with the sports specialist for over 26 years, previously served as the executive director in charge of Decathlon’s global value chain, a position he took on in 2022.
  His appointment comes shortly after Julien Leclercq, son of Decathlon founder Michel Leclercq, was named chairman of the board.
  López will now l
  
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• UK retail sales climb unexpectedly despite supermarket slowdown

  28-03-2025 08:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retail sales across the UK increased by 1.0% in February, following a revised 1.4% rise in January, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
  The increase was driven by a strong performance in non-food stores, which saw sales volumes rise across all categories, including clothing, household goods, and department stores.
  Household goods stores recorded the biggest growth, up 6.8% month-on-month – their largest increase since April 2021. Watches and jewel
  
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• WH Smith’s high street business sold to Modella capital for £76 million

  28-03-2025 08:28 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  WH Smith has agreed to sell its its high street business to Modella Capital, the owner of Hobbycraft, as it looks to focus on global travel... View Article
  
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• Breaking: WHSmith sells UK high street arm in £76m deal to Modella Capital

  28-03-2025 08:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  WHSmith has confirmed the sale of its UK high street business to Modella Capital in a £76m deal, marking a major shift in its strategy as it doubles down on its global travel retail operations.
  The deal, which will see the retailer exit the UK high street sector entirely, aligns with the retailer’s long-term focus on expanding its presence in airports, railway stations, and other travel hubs worldwide.
  Group CEO Carl Cowling said: “As we continue to deliver on our strategic amb
  
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• WHSmith sells UK high street arm for £76m to Modella Capital

  28-03-2025 08:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  WHSmith has agreed to sell its UK high street business to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital for £76m as it pivots to focus solely on its fast-growing travel retail division.
  The deal, which is set to complete later this year, will see the retailer‘s 480 high street stores, employing around 5,000 staff, transition to new ownership under Modella, with current high street boss Sean Toal set to lead the newly formed retailer.
  The stores will operate under the WHSmith brand for a short tra
  
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• TikTok Shop to expand into France, Italy and Germany

  28-03-2025 08:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  TikTok Shop has announced that it is expanding into France, Italy and Germany after entering Ireland and Spain late last year. The move means that the... View Article
  
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• Furniture Village to open biggest UK store to date in Glasgow

  28-03-2025 07:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Furniture Village is to open its biggest store to date in a prominent location adjacent to the M8 just west of Glasgow. The signing for the... View Article
  
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• Morrisons extends More loyalty scheme to Deliveroo

  28-03-2025 07:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has announced that customers are now able to link their Morrisons More account with their Deliveroo account to earn More Points on their purchases from... View Article
  
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• Very launches innovative new beauty hub

  28-03-2025 06:49 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Very has launched a new beauty inspiration hub featuring educational blog-style content to improve the customer experience. The move follows the introduction of the digital department... View Article
  
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• Arne chooses Liverpool One for debut standalone store

  28-03-2025 06:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Arne has selected Liverpool ONE as the location for its debut bricks-and-mortar store. The contemporary clothing and footwear brand has taken a 6,750 square foot space... View Article
  
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• Space NK returns to Bluewater

  28-03-2025 06:36 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Space NK is to return to the Bluewater Shopping Centre following the closure of its first store in 2012. With a trading space of 2,760 square... View Article
  
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• Castore unveils first motorsport pop-up at Harrods

  28-03-2025 06:01 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Castore, the performance sportswear brand, has launched an exclusive pop-up at Harrods for its motorsport collections. Situated on the second floor in the men’s sportswear department,... View Article
  
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• Why Denmark’s Søstrene Grene is betting on the UK High Street

  28-03-2025 06:00 via ft.com
  
  Family-owned homeware chain is targeting 100 British stores by 2027 as it launches flagship London outlet
  
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• Lululemon says US consumers are cutting back on spending

  28-03-2025 00:06 via ft.com
  
  Athleisure group’s shares sink as it warns on darkening sentiment among American customers
  
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