Retail news

• Frasers ups stake in Currys

  11-07-2023 14:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers has upped its stake in Currys from 10.4% to 11.1% as the pair start discussions about a possible tie-up.
  The Mike Ashley-owned group increased its shares on Monday as part of its “strategic investment” into the electricals retailer.
  Currys chief executive Alex Baldock revealed last week that begun talks with the retail group.
  He said: “This is a potentially interesting partnership. There are a number of avenues that we’re exploring.”Subscribe to Retail Gazet
  
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• Hugo Boss profits climb amid turnaround attempt

  10-03-2026 15:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Hugo Boss saw profits rise in its latest full year results amid its turnaround effort.
  The retailer’s EBIT was up 8% to £337.9m over the year, as it shot up 22% over the fourth quarter.
  Currency-adjusted sales increased 2% during the year to £3.7bn, while Q4 revenues grew 7%.
  The German clothing specialist saw growth of 9% and 2% throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for its fourth quarter and full year respectively.
  Additionally, it pulled in 6% growth in the Am
  
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• OpenAI pulls back from in-chat shopping as ecommerce reality bites

  10-03-2026 14:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  OpenAI has scaled back its plans to turn ChatGPT into a fully integrated shopping destination, marking a significant shift in its ambitions to reshape online commerce.
  The AI giant had previously launched an ‘Instant Checkout’ feature that allowed users to browse products and complete purchases directly within the ChatGPT interface. The initiative, unveiled last September, was developed in partnership with ecommerce platforms including Shopify and Etsy, with retailers such as Walmart
  
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• B&Q launches paint recycling trial in bid to tackle UK’s 34 million litre waste problem

  10-03-2026 11:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  B&Q has launched a new paint recycling trial across several UK stores as part of an industry-wide initiative aimed at tackling the country’s growing decorative paint waste problem.
  The retailer has joined the PaintCare programme, an initiative developed by the British Coatings Federation, which aims to significantly increase the reuse and recycling of leftover decorative paint and packaging.
  The UK currently generates an estimated 34 million litres of waste decorative paint each year,
  
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• Wickes adds buy now, pay later option for customers

  10-03-2026 11:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Wickes has expanded payment options for its trade customers through a new partnership with Billie, allowing tradespeople to buy materials and pay later.
  The retailer said TradePro customers can now pay invoices within 30 or 60 days, interest-free, after receiving real-time approval at checkout.
  The service is available online and through the Wickes TradePro app, with options for home delivery or click-and-collect.
  Once the approval process is completed during checkout, customers can begin using
  
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• The Perfume Shop launches scent sanctuary for National Fragrance Week

  10-03-2026 11:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The Perfume Shop is launching a “scent sanctuary” this month in celebration of National Fragrance Week.
  The scent sanctuary consists of a “sensorial pop-up designed to restore energy, inspire calm and sharpen focus through the power of perfume,” according to the retailer.
  The event, which will take place at Noho Showrooms on Great Titchfield Street, London, will open with an exclusive preview for media and influencers on 19 March.
  Customers and VIP members from The Perfum
  
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• Waitrose deploys AI route optimisation to improve delivery efficiency

  10-03-2026 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Waitrose has partnered with AI specialist Satalia to optimise its home delivery network, improving delivery slot availability while cutting delivery mileage across its fleet.
  The retailer has implemented Satalia’s AI-powered route optimisation platform across its grocery delivery operations, enabling more efficient planning of delivery routes and schedules.
  The technology analyses variables including traffic conditions, vehicle capacity and delivery time windows in real time to generate th
  
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• Target, Sephora and Wayfair among retail brands dominating early ChatGPT ad trials

  10-03-2026 09:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail and grocery brands are dominating early advertising activity on ChatGPT, according to new data from app analytics firm Sensor Tower.
  As OpenAI enters the fourth week of trialling ads on its flagship chatbot, retail and grocery promotions account for 44 per cent of all ad impressions served on the platform, making them the largest category by a significant margin.
  Retailers including Target, Sephora and Wayfair are among the brands already experimenting with the ne
  
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• Review: Customer Centric Retail 2026

  10-03-2026 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  With mounting economic pressures and impressive recent technological advances there are growing tensions for retailers as they seek to deliver great customer service while maximising efficiency... View Article
  
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• Merseyside Police partners with Retail Trust to tackle abuse against shop workers

  10-03-2026 09:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Merseyside Police has become the first police force in the UK to partner with charity Retail Trust to tackle escalating levels of abuse, violence and intimidation against shop workers.
  The initiative will see retail staff across Liverpool city centre receive specialist de-escalation training delivered by the Retail Trust alongside enhanced support from local police officers.
  As part of the programme, around 500 shop workers will gain access to the charity’s dedicated wellbeing and support
  
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• Retail among UK’s ‘riskiest’ industries to work in as accidents rise

  10-03-2026 09:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail has been named one of the riskiest industries to work in the UK, according to a new workplace risk index analysing accident rates, enforcement action and employee wellbeing.
  The study from iHasco found that retail and construction jointly ranked as the UK’s riskiest sectors to work in for 2026, each scoring 85 out of 90 on its ‘Risk Index’.
  The ranking analysed the latest workplace safety data from the Health and Safety Executive alongside a survey of UK businesses, asse
  
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• Wet weather impacts February retail sales

  10-03-2026 09:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  Retail sales growth slowed in February as the month’s wet weather hit consumer spending. According to the British Retail Consortium, UK total retail sales increased by... View Article
  
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• Zalando launches new campaign with brand ambassador Lily Collins

  10-03-2026 08:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  Zalando has launched a new spring/summer campaign featuring Lily Collins as its first global brand ambassador. The campaign sees the Golden Globe nominated actress and Emily... View Article
  
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• Saks Global to shut an additional 15 stores

  10-03-2026 07:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  Saks Global has announced the closure of an additional 12 Saks Fifth Avenue and three Neiman Marcus locations as part of a planned optimisation of its... View Article
  
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• [ WEBINAR ] Hidden legal risks every online retailer needs to know

  10-03-2026 07:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Selling online opens up new opportunities to reach customers and scale your retail business. However, without solid legal foundations, everyday decisions can put you at risk... View Article
  
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• Coca-Cola unveils “bold” new track for football World Cup 2026

  09-03-2026 17:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The Coca-Cola Company has unveiled a new anthem for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  The song, which is performed by singer J Balvin, singer-songwriter Amber Mark, guitarist Steve Vai and drummer and producer Travis Barker, is a reimagining of Van Halen’s 1980s hit Jump. The new version uses “modern textures and high-impact production”.
  It was released via Real Thing Records in collaboration with Capitol Records.
  The official music video, part directed and designed by McFlyy, premiered
  
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• Guinness spotlights Premier League fans in new campaign

  09-03-2026 17:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  As part of its Premier League sponsorship, Guinness has unveiled a new campaign for Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.
  The marketing drive aims to put “real” Premier League fans at the heart of the story and strengthen brand recognition of Guinness as the official beer of the Premier League across “key” markets, including Africa and Asia.
  Devised by creative agency VML UK, the campaign features a documentary-style hero spot, directed by Arthur Neumeier.It was shot in Kenya us
  
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• AI is rewriting the rules of ecommerce discovery, but that hinges on trust

  09-03-2026 15:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retailers have spent years refining the digital shopping journey, optimising search, polishing product pages and investing heavily in performance marketing to capture consumer attention at the point of intent. But increasingly, that intent is being shaped before a shopper ever reaches a retailer’s website.
  Artificial intelligence is fast becoming the new shop window to retail discovery. Consumers are turning to tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI-powered assistants to compare produc
  
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• In pictures: House of Fraser rebrands to Frasers and launches Cat Deeley edit

  09-03-2026 12:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  House of Fraser has rebranded to Frasers and launched a spring edit with television presenter Cat Deeley. 
  As part of its rebrand, the retail giant has teamed up with Deeley to be the face of its 2026 spring campaign, which marks the brand’s first collaboration since entering its new era.
  The 100-piece edit, which has been hand-selected by Deeley, spans womenswear, footwear, accessories, kids, home and beauty. The collection is live in-store and online on frasers.com.
  The edit feature
  
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• Lily Collins stars in her first Zalando campaign

  09-03-2026 12:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Online shopping platform Zalando has unveiled its new summer campaign featuring Emily in Paris star Lily Collins, celebrating Europe’s “diverse fashion” during the warmer months.
  Devised by creative agency W+K Amsterdam, the marketing drive is part of the retailer’s ‘What Do I Wear’ platform.
  The spot follows Collins as she finds hidden coves, squeezes onto a packed terrace and finds somewhere to sit in a crowded square.
  Collin was recently appointed glob
  
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• Saks Global to axe 15 more shops amid restructuring

  09-03-2026 11:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Saks Global is reportedly set to close 15 more stores as part of its restructuring.
  The luxury department store retailer announced on 6 March that it would be shutting 12 Saks Fifth Avenue shops as well as three Neiman Marcus stores.
  The news comes after nine shop closures had previously been announced.
  Saks Global CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck said: “This strategic optimisation is part of our ongoing transformation and rooted in our long-term view of our business.
  Although the business said
  
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• UK businesses urged to prepare for EU agri-food trade reset

  09-03-2026 11:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  UK food and farming businesses are being urged to start preparing for a new trade agreement with the European Union that ministers say could cut red tape, lower costs and revive exports to Britain’s biggest trading partner.
  Today (9 March), environment secretary Emma Reynolds said the planned Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement aims to simplify trade between the UK and the EU by cutting paperwork and inspections that have slowed exports since Brexit.
  Ministers say the deal could hel
  
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• PAY360 2026: Shaping the Future of Payments

  09-03-2026 10:33 via theretailbulletin.com
  PAY360 2026, the largest event dedicated to the global payments ecosystem, will take place on 24–25 March 2026 at ExCeL London. Hosted by The Payments Association,... View Article
  
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• John Lewis bets on AI-powered shopping and TikTok Shop in £800m investment

  09-03-2026 09:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  John Lewis today announced that it is accelerating its digital transformation with a major investment in AI-powered shopping and social commerce, as the retailer looks to position itself at the forefront of the next wave of omnichannel retail.
  The department store chain has revealed plans to integrate its product catalogue with AI discovery platforms such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, enabling shoppers to discover (and eventually purchase) John Lewis products directly through AI-powered apps.
  Th
  
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• BCC warns ending low-value import tax break could push up prices

  09-03-2026 09:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ending the UK’s tariff exemption on low-value imports could drive up prices for consumers and create new pressures for small businesses, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned, as it urged the government to take a phased approach to scrapping the “de minimis” rules.
  The government plans to remove the customs duty exemption on imports worth less than £135, meaning these goods will become subject to tariffs. The reform is not expected to take effect until March 2
  
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• John Lewis partners face anxious wait over first bonus since 2022

  09-03-2026 08:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  John Lewis Partnership staff are set to discover this week whether they will receive their first annual bonus since 2022, as the employee-owned retail group prepares to unveil its full-year results on Thursday.
  The business, which operates the John Lewis department store chain and Waitrose supermarket arm, will report its performance for the year to January and is expected to use the update to confirm whether partners will once again miss out on the traditional payout.
  The annual bonus, once one
  
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• John Lewis invests in TikTok Shop launch and AI-powered shopping

  09-03-2026 07:17 via theretailbulletin.com
  John Lewis has launched a 90-day TikTok Shop trial in the run-up to Mother’s Day. It is also planning to invest in AI-powered shopping as part... View Article
  
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• Neptune doubles full year profit

  09-03-2026 07:14 via theretailbulletin.com
  Neptune has reported a doubling of profit in its 2024/25 financial year following its new strategy focused on design and product excellence, the customer experience, and... View Article
  
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• Ending UK customs relief on low-value imports could push up prices, BCC says

  09-03-2026 07:00
  Business group warns of harm to small firms and trade as it calls for phased end to ‘de minimis’ exemptionsRemoving the UK’s tariff exemption for low-value imports could push up prices and harm small companies and trade, a leading business group has said, as it called for a phased-in approach to ending the “de minimis” rules.The UK government plans to end the tax break on imports of goods worth less than £135, making them subject to customs duty, with the chan
  
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• [ EVENT ] CDO Retail Exchange 2026

  09-03-2026 07:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  CDO Retail Exchange 2026 brings together 70 senior retail data, analytics and AI leaders who are under pressure to move beyond pilots and deliver commercial impact.... View Article
  
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