All articles by George MacDonald
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News
The Body Shop buyer has lined up working capital deal
The expected purchaser of The Body Shop is in advanced discussions to secure new financing as a deal nears.
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News
Convenience store giant rejects $38bn takeover bid
The owner of c-store powerhouse 7-Eleven has spurned a $38bn takeover bid, but said it is open to further discussions.
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News
John Lewis will revive its famous ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ promise
Department store business John Lewis is to bring back its famous price pledge – ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ – and apply it to online rivals too.
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Opinion
‘Oasis surge pricing debacle will stoke wider retail digital price gouging fears’
The appearance of digital labels on retailers’ shelves sounds innocuous but is raising suspicions that it will open the way to dynamic pricing. After the row over Oasis tickets, scrutiny of retailers such as grocers’ use of the technology must only be more likely, cautions George MacDonald
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News
John Lewis reveals plans to turn former warehouse into homes for rent
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has submitted plans to turn a former distribution centre in Reading into rental housing.
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News
Andy Clarke’s Farmison is beefing up its wholesale business with a top chef tie-up
Upscale online butcher Farmison is targeting wholesale growth and has teamed up with a top chef to create a specialist range for restaurants.
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News
Dobbies likely to seek rent cuts as restructuring advisers drafted in
Garden centre group Dobbies is working on restructuring proposals that may lead to store closures and rent reductions.
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News
Homebase is poised to kick off talks with potential investors
DIY specialist Homebase is preparing to start discussions with potential new investors, Retail Week can reveal.
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News
Sainsbury’s snaps up a raft of Homebase stores in a deal valued at £130m
Grocer Sainsbury’s is buying a raft of stores from DIY specialist Homebase as it seeks to extend its presence and “offer more food choice to more customers”.
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News
Shein has discovered child labour cases among suppliers
Fast-fashion giant Shein has revealed that it found two cases of child labour at suppliers last year.
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News
Fashion retail star Kate Bostock to open store in top shopping centre
Kate Bostock, one of the best-known names in clothing retail, is opening a shop for her children’s brand in a leading shopping mall, Retail Week can reveal.
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News
John Lewis steps in to help bust retailer The Floor Room’s staff and customers
John Lewis is offering assistance to customers and staff who were formerly John Lewis partners impacted by the collapse of The Floor Room, Retail Week can reveal.
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News
Retail sales have risen driven by discounts and a summer of sport
Retail sales increased in July, official data has shown.
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Gallery
Marks & Spencer unveils its new-look, small-format food store in London
Marks & Spencer has opened the latest iteration of its small-format food stores in central London.
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News
John Lewis is to restructure its store teams and ramp up its tech adoption in a huge customer service push
Department store group John Lewis has proposed sweeping changes to its in-store operations as it seeks to put customer service at the top of its agenda, Retail Week can reveal.
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News
Lord Rose has become first patron of Fashion Retail Academy
Former Marks & Spencer chief executive Lord Stuart Rose, now chair of Asda, has become the first patron of the Fashion Retail Academy.
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News
An indoor adventure park is to open in a former John Lewis store
A specialist leisure business to take space formerly occupied by department store group John Lewis.
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Opinion
‘Riots are one more unwelcome challenge for troubled high streets’
Retailers and residents are acting to put communities back on their feet following widespread rioting. The new government should act quickly to put its town centre pledges into action, believes George MacDonald
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News
Exclusive: John Lewis is restructuring its buying and merchandising teams to ‘turbocharge’ transformation
Department store group John Lewis is reshaping its buying and merchandising teams as part of its transformation programme, Retail Week can reveal.
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Analysis
Next has posted weather-busting, expectation-beating results – what do the analysts say?
Fashion powerhouse Next knocked the numbers out of the park in its second quarter when full-price sales climbed 3.2% year on year.