All General merchandise articles – Page 22
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Analysis
Analysis: Who will be retail’s winners and losers this Christmas?
It’s been a highly unusual year for retail, which has not been without its casualties. As ‘non-essential’ stores emerge from the second lockdown and shoppers swap Christmas parties for working from home and smaller gatherings, which retailers are set to reap the benefits of an unorthodox festive season?
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News
Studio Retail prepares for sale as profits boom
Online value retailer Studio has announced plans to explore its sale options as profits and sales soared during the coronavirus pandemic.
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News
Lidl joins retailers returning business rates relief with £100m payback
Discounter Lidl has become the latest retailer to agree to waive the business rates relief it received at the start of the pandemic by repaying £100m to the government.
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Video
Watch: What really happened on Black Friday – Very, eBay, Google and PwC unravel the trends
Lockdown created a very different Black Friday this year. We gather leaders from online powerhouses The Very Group, eBay and Google and consultancy PwC to delve into what really happened and what it means for the rest of the Christmas trading period.
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Analysis
Black Friday bargains snapped up early – but will shops see a last-minute rush?
Sales may have been down on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but don’t be fooled into thinking the discounting event was a damp squib. Grace Bowden reports.
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News
eBay poaches Asos exec for chief marketing officer role
eBay has snapped up Asos global brand officer Eve Williams to helm its UK marketing division with immediate effect.
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Analysis
How Halfords and Studio Retail emerged as Covid winners
From rapid pivots to reprioritising projects, two of retail’s big winners during Covid – Halfords and Studio Retail – share the secrets to their successful transformations.
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News
Sainsbury’s joins Primark and M&S in extending pre-Christmas opening hours
Grocery giant Sainsbury’s is set to extend its opening hours in the run-up to Christmas, joining rivals Aldi and Waitrose in making the move.
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Analysis
Watch: Who won the battle of the Christmas ads?
This year more than most, people have been looking forward to the beginning of Christmas ad season. We’ve had the return of Kevin the Carrot, John Lewis giving a little love and racist comments surrounding the Sainsbury’s ad. But which offerings have hit the mark?
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Opinion
Move of the Week: BBC’s Matt Grest is a Very good fit
Matt Grest’s move from the BBC to The Very Group demonstrates once again that previous retail experience is not a prerequisite for senior leaders so long as you have the correct skillset.
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News
HMV eyes recovery under Putman’s ownership
HMV has announced marginal losses amid the coronaviurs pandemic and owner Doug Putman says he is “positive about the months and years to come”.
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Data
Data: Covid job crisis deepens as major retailers swing the axe
Retail job losses have accelerated in 2020 as the coronavirus crisis batters the sector.
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Analysis
Why WHSmith boss Cowling sees ‘big opportunity’ from the pandemic
After a bruising year for both the high street and travel hubs amid the coronavirus pandemic, WHSmith suffered losses of £69m in the 12 months to August 31, compared with £155m profit last year.
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Analysis
Five categories set to lose out during lockdown
When the second lockdown was revealed last week, British Retail Consortium boss Helen Dickinson deemed it a “nightmare before Christmas” for retail.
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News
B&M half-year profits skyrocket as sales surge
B&M has recorded a jump in interim profits spurred by a leap in sales that boss Simon Arora says shows the retailer is “well-attuned to the evolving needs of customers”.
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News
WHSmith tumbles to full-year loss as sales slide
WHSmith has fallen into the red at the full-year mark as the retailer’s sales across travel and the high street were “heavily impacted” by the pandemic.
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Opinion
Lockdown to scupper Black Friday bonanza – but all is not lost
Lockdown has put the dampeners on a Black Friday sales surge with consumers expected to spend 20% less during the discounting event this year, according to PwC.
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Analysis
The Big Question: What does great leadership look like during a crisis?
Ahead of RWRC’s Virtual Leaders’ Summit, Skinnydip chief executive James Gold, BrewDog chief operating officer David McDowall, Mars Food global president Fiona Dawson, The Black Farmer founder Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones and former Tesco boss Dave Lewis give their take on what’s needed from retail leaders in times of crisis.
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News
Retail rages over government store closure guidance
Retailers have been left angry and confused by the government’s handling of second lockdown store closures, after its guidance on mixed essential and non-essential retail was published late.
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Opinion
Move of the Week: Tom Athron is a great match for Fortnum & Mason
It’s no great surprise to see Tom Athron assume his first chief executive position at Fortnum & Mason. If anything, the surprise is that it hasn’t happened sooner.