The recession remains fresh in the minds of high street retailers, and the recent stagnation of sales has proved worrying for many. However, July saw a comfortable bounce back with the BDO’s monthly High Street Sales Tracker recording a 1.7 per cent like... Read More
Mary Portas’ scheme to reduce retail vacancy rates and breathe life back into town centres is failing, a prominent retail expert claims. Bill Grimsey (pictured, right) says the Government-backed plans for rejuvenation are “over-promising and... Read More
After 18 months of planning the Dutch budget retailer HEMA — which already has 660 outlets across Europe — has opened its first two stores in the UK, with a promise of a third before the end of the summer. Placed somewhere between Ikea and the now... Read More
As consumer habits continue to change amidst the economic recovery, many high street brands are identifying a growing need to adapt in order to survive. This has led to a wave of so-called retail “chameleons” springing up in town centres throughout the... Read More
The latest research from accountancy and advisory firm Deloitte indicates that consumer confidence is steadily improving and is now four points higher than a year ago. The improvement has been particularly good in the West Midlands, an area where the level of... Read More
For several years now the Sports Direct chain founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has been a dominant force in the British retail industry, with a raft of high street openings and numerous brand acquisitions propelling it to massive success. Yet... Read More
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the number of people in employment rose by 254,000 to 30.6 million between March and May, marking a new record and hinting that further improvements are on the horizon. In addition, the unemployment... Read More
British businesses have in recent years enjoyed a boom in interest from international investors, with many having been taken over by multinationals based in the Middle East and Far East due to their market penetration in growing economies. Now Pizza Express... Read More
Although consumer confidence has improved since the recession, a combination of low wage growth and changing spending habits continues to affect high street retailers. This has led to several popular names voicing concerns for the future with upmarket pram... Read More
Amid the changing consumer habits in the UK at present, discount stores are expanding at a previously unknown rate as households attempt to cut down on spending and stick to a weekly budget. This has played a huge part in Poundland’s hugely successful year,... Read More
