All Strategy spotlight articles
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AnalysisFive ways Cornish fashion brand Seasalt will continue to outperform the market
Seasalt is a rapidly growing lifestyle clothing brand that differentiates through its Cornish heritage and places social and environmental responsibility at its core.
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Marks Electrical is disrupting its competitors
In its most recent update, Marks Electrical reported a 24.8% increase in revenue, making it the UK’s fastest-growing electrical retailer. Firmly establishing itself as a challenger to larger competitors such as Currys and AO, what can others learn from its success?
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Very Group aims to be a world-class digital leader
The Retail Week analyst team examines five ways the digital retailer The Very Group is striving to become a “world-class” leader in its field.
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways The Works’ elevation strategy will win consumer spend
The Works is on a mission to change its legacy perception as a “pile it high, sell it cheap” discounter. As its “better, not just bigger” refocused strategy accelerates, the retailer topped Retail Week’s fastest-growing value ranking for 2021/22. We explore its five key drivers to profitability as consumer confidence lifts.
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Lush is building its brand identity to accelerate future growth
With an overriding ethos focused on “leaving the world Lusher than we found it”, the Retail Week analyst team explores five ways Lush is strengthening its brand identity to drive future growth
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AnalysisFive ways Shein is disrupting fashion as it posts £1bn in UK sales
In September 2023, Shein’s UK business posted £1.1bn in sales and a pre-tax profit of £12.2m in the 16 months to December 31, 2022, according to a Companies House filing. Here are the key things you need to know about this ecommerce powerhouse and how it is making waves in the fashion industry
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: How travel versus high street is playing out at WHSmith
WHSmith has been dependent on its growing travel division to offset a long-term sales decline across the high street, where annual revenues are now little over half 2010 levels. As its latest results show, the travel division is growing rapidly, but after years of cost-cutting its high street estate is now in dire need of investment. Our Retail Week analysts examine WHSmith’s performance and priorities for both divisions as the retailer continues to invest in one and cut costs in the other
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AnalysisFive key factors driving Marks & Spencer’s turnaround
As Marks & Spencer returns to the FTSE 100 after a four-year absence, Retail Week looks at five key factors driving its turnaround.
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Sephora is set to disrupt the UK market
Sephora returned to the UK in March 2023 with its first store after a nearly 15-year hiatus. What has brought the global beauty specialist back for round two and what can other retailers learn from its return?
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AnalysisBoots vs Superdrug: battle of the high street health and beauty heroes
As they continue to innovate both on- and offline and right-size their store estates, both retailers’ financial upward trajectories are expected to gain momentum. But which health and beauty retailer will emerge victorious when we put them head to head?
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Tesco is storming ahead of its big four peers
Despite squeezed consumer spending and the growing discounter threat, market leader Tesco has consistently held on to its dominant market share. Amid initial signs of food inflation starting to ease, our Retail Week analysts examine five ways we expect the grocery giant to intensify its focus and maintain its competitive advantage
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Pets at Home will retain its position as pack leader
Pets at Home has ambitious plans to unleash the ‘world’s best pet care platform’, but will it manage to stay one step ahead with Jollyes snapping at its heels?
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Zara owner Inditex can remain on top
Inditex saw group profits surge in its latest quarter, with pre-tax profit margins rising from 14.7% to 19.8% and group EBITDA jumping 14% to €2.2bn (£1.89bn) for the three months to April 30, 2023 (2023/24)
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Fast Retailing is driving growth
While it is still only half the size of Inditex in terms of total sales, Uniqlo’s Japanese parent company Fast Retailing is intent on closing the gap with the world’s two largest clothing retailers, H&M in second place and the Spanish giant firmly in the top slot
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: How AO is pivoting to profitable growth as Frasers Group snaps up stake
As Frasers Group snaps up a 19% stake in AO, the two retailers are “looking forward to realising the significant potential” of working more closely in partnership.
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Frasers Group aims to elevate its proposition
In 2021/22, Frasers Group’s total sales climbed 32.5% to £4.8bn for the 52 weeks to 24 April, 2022, and it recorded pre-tax profits of £335.6m.
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways TK Maxx’s off-price business model taps into consumer trends
The off-price retailer with an enviably agile business model, TK Maxx owner TJX Companies has just reported a 3% hike in net sales for Q1 and raised its full-year profit forecast. Our Retail Week analysts break down five ways the retailer is keeping up with demand and making the most of shoppers’ bargain-hunting missions
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Kingfisher is maximising growth with Screwfix
Barring the huge boost for the sector during the pandemic, DIY giant Kingfisher has been reliant on its Screwfix trade-counter format to drive sales and profit growth in recent years. Meanwhile, its larger businesses, including B&Q in the UK and Brico Dépôt and Castorama in France, have struggled in a difficult trading environment
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: Five ways Ikea will drive long-term success in the UK
As the long-awaited Ikea store in Oxford Circus is set to open later this year, what can we expect from the Swedish retailer?
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AnalysisStrategy spotlight: How Flying Tiger Copenhagen is succeeding despite cost-of-living crisis
Despite operating in an extremely discretionary market during an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, specialist retailer Flying Tiger Copenhagen continues to succeed. What makes it stand out from the field, and what’s next for the Danish brand?