Footwear retailer Deichmann has opened its new 165,000 sq ft warehouse in Corby, Northamptonshire. The £3m Deichmann warehouse will create 50 new jobs in the area and supports Deichmann’s ongoing growth, further improving service levels across the business, it said. Corby was chosen as the site for the brand’s new UK distribution facility as a... Continue Reading →
Meta to open first physical retail shop for virtual reality products
Social media brand Meta, formerly the Facebook Company, is opening its first permanent Meta Store for customers to purchase its virtual reality products as a "gateway to the metaverse". The 1,550-square-foot shop will open on 9 May in Burlingame, California, near the company's Reality Labs campus – a research and development hub for virtual reality products. Meta Store is the social... Continue Reading →
Reliance and Apollo plan joint bid for Walgreens’ Boots business
Boots operates 2,200 stores in the UK, including pharmacies, health and beauty stores. India’s largest listed company Reliance Industries and US buyout firm Apollo Global Management, are planning a joint bid for the UK health and beauty retailer Boots, a spokesperson for Apollo confirmed. If their bid for Boots is successful, both Reliance and Apollo would own... Continue Reading →
Meta is opening its first retail store next month
Meta is launching its first hardware retail store on its campus in Burlingame, California. The store, which opens May 9th, will let visitors try out and buy Meta’s Portal videophones and Quest virtual reality headsets. They’ll also be able to demo the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses that debuted last year and get help ordering them online. Meta’s store... Continue Reading →
Primark raises prices as its unable to offset rising inflation
Primark will raise prices on selected items Primark will be forced to raise prices in its second half as it is unable to offset rising costs. The fashion giant had managed to keep prices static in spring/summer, however, it admitted it will “implement selective price increases” across its autumn/winter stock. However, George Weston, chief executive of Primark... Continue Reading →
Reliance calls off $3.4 billion retail deal with India’s Future Group
Aditya KalraApril 23, 20221:35 PM GMT+1Last Updated a day ago MUMBAI, April 23 (Reuters) - India's top retailer Reliance (RELI.NS) on Saturday called off its $3.4 billion deal with Future Group, saying it "cannot be implemented" after Future's secured creditors rejected it. The deal was at the centre of legal battles since 2020 after Future's partner Amazon.com... Continue Reading →
South African retailer Mr Price acquires 70% of Studio 88 Group
South African value fashion and homeware retailer Mr Price recently announced acquiring 70 per cent of the ownership of the Studio 88 Group, which includes the SideStep, John Craig, Skipper Bar brands, for 3.3 billion rand (R). The partnership gives Mr Price “an ideal entry into the high-growth urban wear and athleisure segments”, and presents... Continue Reading →
Banana Republic to close UK website
Banana Republic has announced it is closing its UK website on the 31 May. Banana Republic had nine stores across the UK, but made the decision to close them all in 2016 due to falling sales. While its high street presence ended, Banana Republic continued to be available online via its own website in the UK.... Continue Reading →
Retailers that have gone online-only
Going online-only is a big risk retailers have been willing to take after the Covid-19 pandemic presented a set of challenges. While some retailers decided to accelerate their online offerings via click-and-collect and rapid home deliveries, others saw their business collapse. TM Lewin recently secured a rescue deal and will be relaunching as an online brandbut... Continue Reading →
Walgreens set to lose billions on Boots sale
Boots trades from more than 2000 stores and employs over 50,000 people // Walgreens risks shedding billions after the one-time favourite to purchase Boots valued the retailer at a steep low cost The American owner of Boots could risk losing billions after the chemist and health and beauty retailer was valued at a steep discount. Walgreens has... Continue Reading →
Gymshark restructures international business, 121 jobs at risk
Gymshark is set to make redundancies in its international business Gymshark is set to make redundancies as part of a restructure of its international business, with 121 jobs at risk. The roles on the line are global and are subject to a consultation process, which will take place before the end of Gymshark’s financial year... Continue Reading →
Morrisons owners will sell petrol stations to force through £7bn takeover
Morrisons private equity buyers have agreed to sell a number of petrol stations to accelerate the £7 billion takeover. Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, which also owns forecourt operator Motor Fuel Group (MFG), won over control of the Big Four grocer in October. However, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation because MFG owns 921... Continue Reading →
The Works forced to close some stores after cyber-attack
UK retailer says security breach has not given hackers access to customer payment data A cyber-attack targeting The Works has caused the closure of some of the retailer’s stores, delayed the resupply of stock and online order deliveries to customers. The cut-price seller of books, crafts and toys, which operates 520 stores across the UK,... Continue Reading →
Next opens first department store
Next opened its first department store in Watford this week // Next opens new department store in Watford that brings together its fashion, home and beauty offer for the first time // The store spreads across three floors and is more than 94,000 sq ft Next has opened a new department store which combines the brand’s home,... Continue Reading →
IKEA UK to close Tottenham store, 450 jobs impacted
LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - Home furnishings retailer IKEA said on Wednesday it planned to close its store in Tottenham, north London later this year, impacting 450 workers. IKEA said it was committed to retaining as many affected workers as possible, noting it would create over 600 other jobs across the capital before the store... Continue Reading →
Clicks sets goal to have 900 stores in South Africa by 2026
Bertina Engelbrecht, Clicks Group CEO (centre) at the opening of Clicks 800th store at Somerset Crossing Shopping Centre with (left to right) Vikash Singh (Clicks managing executive), Gift Jeffrey (Clicks area manager), Dhevan Pillay (Clicks chief store operations officer) and Musa Mkhwanazi (Clicks regional manager). Photo credit: Jaco Cilliers Photography. This rate of store expansion... Continue Reading →
Timpson sheds over 800 jobs as profits surge amid “traumatic transformation”
“In October 2020, sales were starting to recover to pre-pandemic levels, when we were affected by further lockdowns," More than 800 jobs were shed by Timpson during its latest financial year after a “traumatic transformation” led to surging back into the black. The family-owned group founded in 1865, posted pre-tax profits of £24.5m for the 12... Continue Reading →
H&M to open first UK outlet store
H&M will open its first UK outlet store this spring H&M will open its first outlet store in the UK at the Affinity centre, Staffordshire this spring. The fashion retailer will open a 7,000 sq ft store at Affinity Staffordshire, which will have “a lower volume of products which will be displayed in an inspirational way”.... Continue Reading →
M&S to open Early Learning Centre ‘shop-in-shops’ in ten UK locations
The dedicated shops will offer best-selling toys and interactive play tables. M&S is launching Early Learning Centre ‘shop in shops’ in ten UK locations. Credit: © Marks and Spencer plc. British multinational retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has revealed plans to pilot Early Learning Centre ‘shop in shops’ in selected stores in the UK. The Early Learning... Continue Reading →
Gap re-enters the UK market less than a year after closing all of its stores
Anne Stych, Staff Writer, BizwomenMar 15, 2022, 10:29am EDT Gap has re-entered the British market via a partnership with the United Kingdom’s largest clothing retailer less than a year after closing all of its UK stores. Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) and Next Plc announced they have opened the first Gap-branded shop-in-shop within Next’s largest store in London's... Continue Reading →
Nearly 20% of all LEGO stores were opened in 2021
The LEGO Group’s financial results for 2021 have revealed that nearly 20% of all LEGOstores around the world opened in 2021 alone. Anyone who thought that 2021 seemed like a busy year for LEGO store openings wasn’t crazy as the 2021 financial results for the company has revealed that just under 20%, specifically 19.8%, of all LEGO branded stores globally were... Continue Reading →
A futuristic McDonald’s in Australia is on the cutting edge of experiential retail
Trevor Mein To keep consumers engaged, more store designers are pushing the “wow” button. Everyone’s seen more McDonald’s than they can remember. But there’s one McDonald’s that, once they see it, they never forget. It’s in Sydney Airport’s Terminal 1, and it wasn’t conceived, at least not initially, to stop passengers and their Samsonites in their... Continue Reading →
Ted Baker signs new UK franchise agreement
Ted Baker has signed a new UK agreement with franchise company Aldrich Group. Under the new agreement, Aldrich Group plans to open a minimum of 30 stores across the UK for Ted Baker over the next ten years. Helen Costello, Ted Baker group commercial and business development director said of the partnership: "[Aldrich Group’s] experience... Continue Reading →
M&S appoints joint CEOs as Steve Rowe stands down
M&S hires co-chief executives // M&S has promoted Stuart Machin to chief executive and made Katie Bickerstaffe his co-chief executives as current boss Steve Rowe steps down // Machin will carry out the “day-to-day leadership” of M&S and with carry on leading food, operations, property, stores and technology, whilst Bickerstaffe will lead omnichannel, digital and data,... Continue Reading →
Asda’s billionaire Issa brothers race to overtake Sainsbury’s
The supermarket’s owners reveal ambitious plans to take on their rival in their first interview since buying the chain More than 3,000 Asda store managers and head-office staff descended on the First Direct Arena in Leeds last Wednesday morning for a long-awaited briefing. They tucked into a buffet of bacon and sausage sandwiches and then... Continue Reading →
South Africa’s Woolworths Sees H1 Profit Drop, Resumes Dividend
Woolworths Holdings has resumed its interim dividend despite reporting a 35.6% slump in half-year profit, as the South African retailer was badly affected by civil unrest at home and extended coronavirus lockdowns in Australia. The retailer also forecast annual turnover of 15 billion-16 billion rand (€930 million billion) by its 2024 financial year, up from... Continue Reading →
Alshaya brings unique shopping experiences to Dubai Hills Mall
Alshaya Group, a global brand franchise operator, is set to help make Dubai Hills Mall the hottest new shopping destination in Dubai. Visitors to the mall, which opened recently, will discover an exciting range of family, fashion, health and beauty, and dining experiences, expertly curated by Alshaya to reflect the tranquil and modern surroundings of... Continue Reading →
TK Maxx to sell 25% stake in Russian apparel retailer Familia
The company said it expects to take an impairment charge due to the sale. TJX Companies, the parent company of discount lifestyle retailer TK Maxx, has announced it would sell its 25% stake in the Russian value retailer Familia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The group has also committed to stop sourcing goods from Russia and Belarus.... Continue Reading →
Amazon closing 68 physical stores in U.S., U.K.
Amazon is trimming back its physical footprint by eliminating a couple of its brick-and-mortar banners. The company plans to close 68 brick-and-mortar stores, including its Amazon Books locations and Amazon 4-star locations, along with Amazon Pop Up sites. The news was first reported by Reuters. The closure dates, which are unspecified, will vary. "We’ve decided to close our Amazon... Continue Reading →
Ikea opens first city centre store in Hammersmith
Ikea is to hugely ramp up its presence in the “global retail mecca” of London through a £1 billion investment blitz over the next three years. The pledge came on the day of the first opening of a small format Ikea store in the UK on King Street in Hammersmith. It will be followed by... Continue Reading →
Asda strike looms as thousands of warehouse staff reject pay deal
Almost 70% of the GMB union’s 8,000 members within Asda’s distribution network voted to reject the pay rises. // The grocer offered base rate increases to warehouse and clerical staff ranging from 4.98% to 6.10% and 6.49% to 7.53% for transport staff Asda is now closer to facing potential disruption to its deliveries after thousands of lorry... Continue Reading →
M&S strikes new beauty partnership with Clinique
34 M&S stores will have Clinique counters and another 40 will have bespoke product displays Marks & Spencer has unveiled a partnership with Clinique to sell the beauty brand’s products both in-store and online. Around 500 Clinique products will be available for free next-day delivery through the M&S website as well as for click and... Continue Reading →
Mike Ashley selling Berryden Retail Park amid renewed investor interest in property
By David Mackay Mike Ashley bought the Berryden Retail Park in October 2020. Photo: PA/DCT Media Mike Ashley is plotting the sale of the Berryden Retail Park in Aberdeen as part of an auction of his property portfolio. The Sports Direct tycoon’s Frasers Group only bought the site in October 2020 in a series of... Continue Reading →
More than 17,000 chain outlets closed in UK last year, figures show
Kate Dennett • 1d In 2021, 17,219 chain store branches closed down, according to PwC researchIn comparison, just 7,160 new chains opening, leading to a net decline of 10,059Since 2019, the number of new shop openings has plummeted by 26 per centShopping centres dropped to the worst performing locations in 2020 and 2021 More than 17,000 chain... Continue Reading →
Saudi Arabia’s largest retail pharmacy chain to proceed with IPO
Nahdi Medical Co. plans to sell a 30% stake, or up to 39 million shares Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's largest pharmacy retail chain hired the local unit of HSBC Holdings Plc and the investment banking arm of Saudi National Bank in what could be the largest IPO in the kingdom since Aramco went public in 2019.... Continue Reading →
Revenues rise at Hotter as M&S partnership is agreed
Hotter launches on M&S.com today, initially offering 32 products and increasing to 75 available directly via M&S.com. Revenues have risen at footwear retailer Hotter as it agreed a partnership with Marks & Spencer to sell its products. In a trading update for the year ended 30 January 2022, its owner Unbound Group said Hotter sales were “significantly ahead” of last year... Continue Reading →
Dubai ruler steps in over retail empire’s inheritance dispute
Dubai’s ruler has appointed a judicial committee to resolve a family dispute among the heirs of the late Majid Al Futtaim, founder of one of the emirate’s largest private companies. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s intervention is designed to oversee the transition of ownership of the Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) retail and leisure empire... Continue Reading →
Apple’s first new UK retail store in 8 years in the works
It’s been eight years since Apple unveiled its last retail in the United Kingdom. Now, it appears the company is readying another store in the region. As reported by Michael Steeber in his latest Tabletops newsletter, Apple has begun hiring for a brand new store in Greater London, which will be the first new store location in... Continue Reading →
Kohl’s adding 400 Sephora shops in 2022
Kohl's aims to add Sephora shops at 850 stores by 2023 Hundreds of Kohl's locations nationwide will be outfitted with a Sephora shop in 2022 as part of the ongoing partnership between the department store and cosmetics retailer. On Tuesday, Kohl's revealed a list of 400 additional stores in 36 states, from Alaska to Maine, that will have a... Continue Reading →
Mike Ashley-backed Studio Retail Group to file for administration
The online retail business, which was known as Findel until 2019, has now had its shares suspended on the London Stock Exchange as a result. Henry Saker-Clark1 day ago Studio Retail Group, which is backed by Mike Ashley, has said it will file for administration (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)(PA Wire) Studio Retail Group, which counts Mike Ashley’s... Continue Reading →
Leaked John Lewis memo reveals profit surge
John Lewis is considering reinstating its annual staff bonus after a leaked internal memo reveals it has smashed its £100m profit target. // The information raises hopes that the annual bonus for 80,000 staff could return this year Hopes are high that the John Lewis Partnership will reinstate its annual staff bonus after a leaked... Continue Reading →
Poundland opens biggest store
Poundland is gearing up for the opening of its largest ever store on Saturday morning. Retail Gazette visited the megastore in Nottingham’s Riverside Retail Park ahead of the grand opening to get a sneak peak of what’s on offer. From the largest selection of Pep&Co clothing and homeware to a dedicated Rimmel cosmetics display and hot... Continue Reading →
Pepkor expands to South America with acquisition of Brazil’s Avenida
JSE-listed Pepkor, which owns retail brands including Pep, Ackermans and Incredible Connection, has acquired Brazilian value retailer, Avenida, effective from 4 February 2022. Pepkor, which is Southern Africa's largest retailer by store footprint, plans to significantly grow Avenida's presence in Brazil. Representing less than 4% of Pepkor’s market capitalisation, the transaction enables Pepkor to partner... Continue Reading →
LEGO Group opens new store in Dubai
The LEGO Group is expanding its retailtainment concept with the opening of a new LEGO® Certified Store that is owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in The Dubai Mall. Located on the lower ground floor near the fountains, the new LEGO Certified Store opened its doors on 1 February and is the perfect destination for LEGO brick fans of all ages. The... Continue Reading →
Crew Clothing plans to open up to 12 new stores this year
British lifestyle brand Crew Clothing is reportedly planning to open between eight and 12 stores across the UK and Ireland this year. The first three stores are expected to open by mid-April - one in Kildare in Ireland and two in the southeast of England, Drapers reports. The retailer expects to open 20 in total... Continue Reading →
Aldi debuts first checkout-free store in Greenwich
Aldi has opened the doors of its first ever checkout-free store in the London borough of Greenwich. The ‘Aldi Shop&Go’ concept store is now open for public testing after months of being trialled with the grocer’s staff. The store is located on Greenwich High Street and allows customers to simply put items in a bag and... Continue Reading →
Mall of the Emirates and Cisco collaborate to create the ‘store of the future’
Mall of the Emirates, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim, has collaborated with Cisco to bring customers an immersive, digitalised, and personalised shopping experience – the ‘store of the future’. The first retailer to take over the space is THAT Concept Store, Majid Al Futtaim’s home-grown, luxury destination. For the first time ever in... Continue Reading →
Starbucks launches new energy drink
If Starbucks is your go-to spot for a caffeine boost, soon your options will include house-branded energy drinks. The company will roll out Baya Energy online and in grocery stores this week, before the drinks hit U.S. Starbucks locations in March. The new offering marks the coffee giant's first foray into the energy drink market,... Continue Reading →
Klarna launches a physical card in the UK
Klarna has announced it is launching a physical card in the UK through Visa. The card utilises the company’s buy now, pay later product and lets users defer payments on their purchases both in-store and online. The Swedish fintech giant already rolled the card out in Germany and Sweden, where it is currently used by over 800,000... Continue Reading →