All High street & town centre articles – Page 16
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AnalysisWhy 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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NewsRetail 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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AnalysisData: The retailers expanding and retreating from high streets in 2020
New data compiled by the Local Data Company charts both the toll the coronavirus crisis has taken on many UK retailers but also highlights the categories that are proving more resilient.
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AnalysisNightmare before Christmas: bosses of John Lewis, M&S and The Entertainer on lockdown 2.0
It’s the news the industry dreaded. This Thursday so-called ‘non-essential’ retail will be shut down until December 2 in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus. Many fear chaos, but could click and collect come to the rescue?
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NewsSadiq Khan calls for business rates holiday extension
London mayor Sadiq Khan has written to housing secretary Robert Jenrick calling for an extension of the business rates holiday for retail and hospitality businesses in the capital.
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NewsPrimark profits and sales battered by coronavirus store closures
Primark has posted falls in both its full-year profits and sales blaming the closure of its store estate during the third quarter in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
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AnalysisThe Big Question: Is John Lewis’ Oxford Street office conversion a good idea?
With the pandemic leaving London’s West End devoid of workers and tourists, the news earlier this week that John Lewis has been green-lit to turn half its Oxford Street store into office space received mixed reviews. Industry experts offer their view on whether it’s the right move for the retailer.
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NewsIntu Metrocentre taken over by Sovereign Centros
Shopping centre operator Sovereign Centros has taken ownership of the Metrocentre in Gateshead, as the assets of former institutional landlord Intu continue to be sold off.
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NewsRetail sales continue recovery with fifth consecutive month of growth
UK retail sales increased for the fifth consecutive month in September, boosted by an uptick in non-essential categories according to official figures.
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NewsGap mulls closure of all European stores and UK warehouse
American fashion chain Gap is considering closing all of its European stores and operating in the region purely through partnerships, potentially putting hundreds of jobs at risk.
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AnalysisLocal heroes: The retailers benefiting from the rise of localism
Since the lockdown, people have taken to shopping where they live and local retailers have come to the fore. Many have adapted, served and won loyal customers over the past eight months. Retail Week highlights some of the thriving businesses that hold lessons for all of retail.
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NewsSunak unveils changes to job support scheme as golden quarter kicks off
The chancellor has today announced new business support schemes to deal with the ongoing coronavirus crisis, including changes to the job support scheme that replaces furlough at the end of the month.
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NewsLiverpool footfall plummets to July levels in first week of Tier 3 restrictions
Footfall in Liverpool has plunged to levels last seen at the end of the national lockdown in the summer, in the week since it became the first city to be placed into the government’s highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions.
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NewsRetail footfall slumps as three-tier Covid restrictions take effect
The government’s three-tiered Covid restrictions have had an “immediate impact” on retail footfall across the UK after coming into force late last week.
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NewsPret to axe another 400 jobs amid ‘setback’ in Covid recovery
Pret a Manger is to axe another 400 jobs and shut six more stores as it wrestles with the damaging impact of the coronavirus crisis.
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NewsLondon mayor warns of ‘inevitable’ tighter restrictions across the capital
London mayor Sadiq Khan has said it is almost “inevitable” that the capital will face tightening restrictions from next week as Covid-19 cases continue to grow across the UK.
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NewsFootfall increase slowed by rule of six and 10pm curfew
Retail footfall across the UK slumped over the last five weeks as the government’s new restrictions on hospitality took their toll.
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NewsLandlords mull legal action against retailers as rent slumps to new lows
Landlords are considering taking action against “well capitalised” retail businesses refusing to pay rents under the cover of the government’s moratorium, as takings for yesterday’s September quarterly rent day slid to just 12.7%.
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NewsRevo chief executive warns of £2bn retail rent blackhole
Revo’s chief executive has warned of the consequences of retailers not paying rents, saying landlords are facing a £2bn arrears blackhole that will have knock-on effects across the industry.
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AnalysisAnalysis: How Greggs and Hotel Chocolat are creating new recipes for success
With the coronavirus pandemic laying waste to once-thriving city centres and travel hubs across the UK, both Greggs and Hotel Chocolat offer insights into trading in the new normal