All Very Group articles
The Very Group operates Littlewoods and Very as digital-only, finance-centric retailers. It covers most product categories from fashion to electricals and homeware. Originally conceived as a catalogue retailer under the name Shop Direct, it stopped the presses in 2015 to focus on improving its online customer experience through the early adoption of personalisation and artificial intelligence. Elsewhere, the retailer runs logistics firms Yodel, Arrow XL and Collect+.
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AnalysisBlack Friday: How can retailers stand out to capture the wallets of cautious shoppers?
As Black Friday weekend nears, Retail Week takes a look at what retailers can do to stand out from a very busy crowd.
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InterviewQ&A: Chelsea Peers founder on continuing to capitalise on the loungewear boom
Retail Week sat down with premium pyjama and loungewear brand Chelsea Peers founder Tom Pyne, to discuss the ongoing boom of loungewear, the importance of a broad customer base, and how third-party partners have been the key to success.
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AnalysisDrowning in data? Learn from Tesco, The Very Group and more about how to connect, harness and scale up
Retail businesses having one holistic view of all data was once seen as an unreachable holy grail. Not anymore. New technologies are enabling meaningful and scalable data strategies.
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AnalysisSpeed, creativity and efficiency – how Very is using AI to shake up content marketing
Hood has been with the Co-op for seven years and running its food business for more than two. He was promoted at a time of huge change internally at the Co-op, following a sustained period of success under former group chief executive Steve Murrells and Hood’s predecessor Jo Whitfield.
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Retail Navigator AnalysisThe Very Group (Financials)
Revenue at The Very Group declined 1.0% to £2,125.3m in the 52 weeks ended 29 June 2024 (FY2023). Chief executive Robbie Feather commented: “In a challenging environment, our results reflect a resilient retail performance that remained ahead of the UK online non-food market, as well as a continued strong Very Finance performance.”
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NewsVery Group records ‘resilient’ performance as profit grows but revenue dips
The Very Group has reported a “resilient” performance for the full year as revenue saw a slight dip and operating profit grew.
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AnalysisThree retailers reveal the next steps in their retail media networks
Retail media networks continue to be a hot topic in the industry, and its growth shows no signs of slowing down.
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AnalysisRetail 2025: AI investment a top priority for next year, say retail bosses
Investment in AI will be central to retail strategies next year, with 35 CEOs revealing to Retail Week they are spending on various applications of the tech in a major new research paper.
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NewsThe Very Group is set to appoint bankers as it eyes £2.5bn sale
The Very Group is lining up banks to handle a strategic review of the business that could potentially lead to a sale in the range of £2.5bn.
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VideoVery has released a new campaign inviting families to start Christmas toy shopping early
Online retailer Very has unveiled its new campaign inviting families to start Christmas shopping for toys earlier this year.
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Retail Navigator AnalysisThe Very Group (Strategy)
The Very Group announces the launch of ‘Very Media Group’ in partnership with SMG, as it aims to be “the choice retail media network for brands”. The retailer’s “unique combination of personal, shopping and financial data” will be key differentiator.
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NewsVery Group has launched a new retail media network
The Very Group has launched a reimagining of its retail media proposition dubbed ‘Very Media Group’.
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NewsVery Group and Victoria’s Secret are considering offering same-day delivery
The Very Group and Victoria’s Secret are weighing up options of offering same-day delivery to their customers as demand for rapid service grows.
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NewsFrench Connection plots store openings and joins forces with Very for new season
French Connection is ramping up its growth strategy as it launches online at The Very Group and plots further store openings this year.
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NewsThe Very Group names ex-Matches boss as new non-executive
The Very Group, which owns and operates brands including Very and Littlewoods, has bolstered its board with two new non-executive appointments.
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NewsVery is launching its first fashion TV campaign in seven years
Very is making a TV comeback with its first television advert in seven years, showcasing its autumn collection through the group’s Haus of Flamingo fashion platform.
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AnalysisHyper-personalisation: Retail’s new battleground
This deep dive is the second in our new ‘Consumer 2025 – from acquisition to advocacy’ series.
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AnalysisShould you move your retail head office to a co-working space?
Hear from people leaders at Curry’s, Wickes and Very on how they’re making flexible working work at their retail businesses.
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AnalysisBoots, Very and THG crowned UK’s best machine-powered retailers
Retail Week’s new report recognises retailers successfully embedding adaptive AI and features exclusive interviews with industry leaders on their AI strategies.
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NewsVery Group records further losses amid lingering ‘market pressures’
The Very Group has posted further losses although the group said it delivered a “resilient performance despite market pressures”.