All High street & town centre articles – Page 18
-
Gallery
In pictures: Festive footfall down as stores released from lockdown
Stores in England reopened their doors today, kick-starting the Christmas spending period after the latest lockdown, but shopper traffic was still steeply down year-on-year in key destinations.
-
Opinion
‘Covid may bring chance to rebuild high street experience for a new age’
We’re now in the middle of what would traditionally be the busiest period in the retail calendar and for the probably for the first time ever in the peak season, most shops were shuttered for four weeks.
-
News
Shops can extend opening hours in run-up to Christmas, says minister
Communities secretary Robert Jerrick has announced plans to allow shops to open for longer throughout the festive period and into the new year.
-
Analysis
Six groundbreaking ideas to revive the high street
As non-essential shops reopen, Retail Week looks into what can be done to breathe new life into high streets.
-
Analysis
Retail Horizon: Winning strategies for stores as non-essential retail reopens
As ‘non-essential’ stores prepare to reopen, pent-up demand from consumers is likely to be high, but which products and retailers stand to gain the most?
-
Analysis
The Big Question: Should consumers be given spending vouchers to boost high streets?
The Northern Ireland Assembly intends to give consumers high street vouchers worth up to £100 per person in a bid to stimulate spending and help retail and hospitality recover from the coronavirus crisis. Industry experts share their views on whether the scheme should be replicated across the UK.
-
News
Chancellor unveils new £4bn ‘levelling-up fund’ as part of spending review
The chancellor of the exchequer has unveiled plans for a £4bn “levelling-up fund” as part of his spending review today.
-
News
Non-essential retail to reopen next week as Johnson pledges end to national lockdowns
The prime minister has confirmed all non-essential retailers will be allowed to reopen stores next week, as he pledged an end to national lockdowns in future.
-
News
Retail sales boosted in October as Christmas shopping starts early
Customers looking to buy Christmas presents before the second lockdown started in England earlier this month helped boost retail sales for the sixth straight month.
-
News
Consumer confidence slips to six-month low as coronavirus restrictions tighten
UK consumer confidence fell to its lowest ebb since the spring as coronavirus restrictions tightened, leaving one in three hospitality businesses wondering whether they will survive.
-
Interview
Interview: Pano Christou’s plan to save Pret a Manger
The CEO looks back on his whirlwind first year in charge and ripping up the rulebook.
-
Video
Face time: Lord Rose on Christmas, the future of cities and limiting screen time
From bricks and mortar to online, Lord Stuart Rose’s experience spans all of retail and the industry’s ups and downs. The Ocado chair and former Marks & Spencer chief executive shares his thoughts on the second lockdown, vaccine hopes, Christmas prospects and the industry’s future.
-
News
Greggs makes 820 redundancies as new lockdowns hit business
Food-to-go giant Greggs has made 820 redundancies across the business with boss Roger Whiteside warning the “battle with Covid hasn’t gone away”.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Analysis
Data: 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.
-
Analysis
Nightmare 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?
-
News
Sadiq 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.
-
News
Primark 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.
-
Analysis
The 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.