Retail news

• Exclusive: Currys cuts head office jobs amid rising staff costs

  23-05-2025 16:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Currys is planning to cut around 80 head office roles as it looks to trim costs across the business.
  The electricals giant has entered a consultation period with impacted staff across all head office functions, Retail Gazette has learnt.
  The redundancies come as the retailer is looking to reduce its central cost base by 10% this year as it faces a £30m increase to its tax bill following changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions and National Minimum Wage. It employs aroun
  
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• M&S tech provider launches probe following cyber attack

  23-05-2025 13:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  M&S’ technology provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has launched an investigation into whether it was a gateway for the retailer’s cyber attack.
  The retail giant warned this week that its profits will take a £300m hit from the fallout of an attack on its systems over the Easter bank holiday weekend that led to hackers stealing customer data.
  The retailer was forced to shut down its online clothing business and the disruption is expected to continue until the beginning
  
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• The Perfume Shop launches UK boutique stores as demand for niche scents grows

  23-05-2025 12:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The Perfume Shop is introducing two boutique stores to the UK this summer as part of its continued expansion.
  The new stores located at Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London and Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock, are designed to make luxury perfumes more accessible and will offer shoppers “high quality and niche perfumes” in a more “personalised and exclusive shopping experience”.
  The stores are set to feature a selection of high-end brands, including Contes de Parfums, Hu
  
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• Sneak peek: Inside Tala’s first physical store on Carnaby Street

  23-05-2025 12:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Athleisure brand Tala will open the doors to its first-ever brick and mortar store this Sunday (25 March) on London’s Carnaby Street.
  The store at 3-4 Carnaby Street, founded by former fitness influencer Grace Beverley in 2019, covers 2,00 sq ft over two-floors and houses omnichannel and mobile checkout capabilities.
  The flagship will stock Tala’s bestselling collections, including its DayFlex and 365 ranges as well as its new Airform and Outerwear collections.
  Tala has been gai
  
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• Poundland: TOFS owner Modella drops out of auction

  23-05-2025 12:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The Original Factory Shop owner Modella Capital has been eliminated from the auction of Poundland.
  The discounter’s parent company Pepco Group is said to have shortlisted Hilco, the former owner of HMV and Homebase, and former Laura Ashley-owner Gordon Brothers, Sky News reported.
  It is understood that a decision on a preferred bidder for Poundland was likely to be made within days.
  If a deal is agreed with either of the shortlisted bidders, the new owner would be required to repay roughly
  
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• Morrisons unveils ‘farm shop’ overhaul in premium push across UK stores

  23-05-2025 12:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Morrisons is set to revamp its UK stores in a bid to offer shoppers a more premium “farm shop feel”.
  The overhaul is being implemented under a strategy dubbed Morrisons magic, headed by the supermarket’s group trading director Andrew Staniland, The Grocer reported.
  Its Warrington shop has been the first to implement the changes, with its major alterations including the axing of 2,500 SKUs and the launch of 500 new SKUs to its offering.
  Morrisons is set to launch the changes to
  
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• Tata Consultancy Services carries out internal probe into M&S hack

  23-05-2025 12:12
  Indian IT company investigating whether it was gateway used by criminals to access retailer
  
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• Monsoon Accessorize forecasts return to profit following ‘painful’ year

  23-05-2025 11:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Monsoon Accessorize is set to return to profitability this year following a “painful” last 12 months.
  The retailer’s CEO Nick Stowe told Drapers the company was forecast to hit high single-digit or low double-digit EBITDA by the end of its current financial year.
  It comes as Monsoon swung to a £2.2m loss in the year to 31 August 2024, down from EBITDA of £20m the year before. Sales dropped 11.8% to £218.7m.
  Stowe blamed its losses on increasing running costs,
  
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• Conversation with… Charlotte Hall, MD of audiology at Specsavers UK & Ireland

  23-05-2025 10:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  Here we speak with Charlotte Hall, the recently appointed MD of audiology at Specsavers UK & Ireland, to learn about her career journey from supermarket retail... View Article
  
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• Consumer confidence improves as retail sales rise

  23-05-2025 09:56 via theretailbulletin.com
  UK consumer confidence has risen in May to largely reverse April’s decline. GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index has increased by three points to -20 compared to a... View Article
  
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• Alo Yoga to open first store outside London

  23-05-2025 09:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Alo Yoga is set to open its first store outside of London on Manchester’s Cathedral Street.
  The US brand has signed a 10-year lease agreement for the 7.018sq ft store at 5 Cathedral Street.
  It said the store will stock a curated collection of elevated performance and lifestyle apparel for both women and men “designed to inspire mindful movement and modern living”.
  Alo Manchester will be the brand’s fifth location in the UK, following the openings of its Kings Road, Regent
  
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• British retail sales rose more than expected in April

  23-05-2025 09:46
  Warm weather encouraged shoppers to spend more across most sectors, says statistics office
  
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• Mamas & Papas to open new concept store at Trafford Centre

  23-05-2025 09:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  Mamas & Papas is to open a new concept flagship store at Trafford Centre as it relocates within the scheme. The nursery brand has moved to... View Article
  
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• Poundland simplifies loyalty scheme amid turnaround efforts

  23-05-2025 09:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Poundland has simplified its loyalty scheme in its latest turnaround efforts by returning boss Barry Williams.
  The discount chain has scrapped its exclusive prices for Poundland Perk members as it doubles down on offering the “very best pricing on the shelf and online”.
  Customers will still be able to collect ‘perk points’ when they spend money at the retailer, which can be turned into vouchers to spend in store or online when they’ve accumulated at least 5000 point
  
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• April retail sales rise as consumer confidence improves

  23-05-2025 08:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail sales rose for the fourth consecutive month in April as consumer confidence in the UK improved.
  Sales volumes rose 1.2% last month, up from a flat 0.1% increase in March, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the year to April, sales were up 5%.
  The uplift was driven by strong demand across most sectors, including food stores, household goods and department store retailers all reporting increased spending.
  Retailers credited the uplift to the warme
  
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• Toolstation appoints new retail director

  23-05-2025 08:35 via theretailbulletin.com
  Toolstation has appointed Sam MacGregor as its new retail director. MacGregor previously worked with Homebase, most recently as retail and people director. Prior to that, she... View Article
  
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