MPs plan to question Shein boss as firm eyes London IPO November 5, 2024 A cross-party group of MPs will call in Shein’s boss to comment on the risk of forced labour in fast-fashion supply chains, according to committee chair Liam Byrne. The House of Commons business select committee is finalising plans for an inquiry into employment rights in the workplace, which will, amongst other things, examine the risk [...]
‘Silent crisis’ for retailers with record online returns – but can fees stop it? October 21, 2024 Online returns are set to top £27bn this year as the ‘silent crisis’ continues to squeeze retailers, with over a fifth of non-food purchases now returned, according to fresh data. With 10 per cent of shoppers accounting for a quarter of all returns, so-called ‘serial returners’ will make up £6.6bn of that figure – with [...]
Oasis tickets and discounts ensure September spending doesn’t slide away October 8, 2024 Retail sales in the UK have held up despite a dip in confidence, driven by widespread discounts and a spike in entertainment spending after Oasis‘ tickets went on sale. Consumer card spending increased 1.2 per cent year on year in September, after returning to growth in August, according to data from Barclays. Discounting pushed spending [...]
Sosandar pushes ahead with brick-and-mortar expansion as new flagship store revealed September 19, 2024 UK fashion brand Sosandar has announced its expansion into in-store retail with historic Irish department store Arnotts, in a bid the company hopes will allow it to connect better with its customers. The London-listed company, which is headquartered in Cheshire, said the decision to base its flagship store in the Dublin department store had been [...]
Boohoo makes major US change in bid to broaden appeal September 11, 2024 Boohoo has announced significant changes to its operations in the US market as it looks to broaden its product offering across the Atlantic. The Manchester-headquartered group will stop supplying US customers from its distribution centre in Pennsylvania, as the company’s management look at ways to drive a more sustainable and profitable business. Orders will instead [...]
Inpost’s rapid expansion set to continue as more Brits switch to postal lockers September 6, 2024 Polish firm Inpost launched in the UK in 2013 with 100 lockers. Earlier this year, it celebrated its 7,000th locker. Inpost works by operating a set of lockers across a country, which work with the country’s postal service to deliver parcels to and from the lockers. Customers can then pick up or drop off the [...]
Samarkand: E-commerce firm shifts focus to UK amid China struggles August 12, 2024 E-commerce group Samarkand, which focuses on connecting Western brands with Chinese customers, has struggled to weather Beijing’s slowdown and said it will change its primary focus to the UK. Revenue at the group decreased by three per cent to £16.9m in the year ended March 31, down from £17.5m in 2023. Adjusted earnings before interest, [...]
Zalando: Online fashion giant reports strong growth after push into AI August 6, 2024 Online shopping giant Zalando reported strong growth in the second quarter as it leaned into artificial intelligence (AI) in search of a bigger share of the e-commerce fashion and lifestyle market. Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose to €171.6m (£147.3m), an 18 per cent rise from £144.8m year on year in the second [...]
From online to in-store: How retail is adapting to consumers August 3, 2024 The dual effects of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, as well as the ever-improving technology on offer, have changed the way people shop and how retail adapts to customers.
Wayfair profit down despite homeware giant laying off more than a quarter of staff July 25, 2024 The UK arm of online homeware retailer Wayfair has seen its profit dip despite cutting around 30 per cent of its workforce in a bid to save costs, newly-filed documents have revealed. The company, which sells furniture and homeware through its website, saw its pre-tax profit fall to £2.6m in 2023, down from £2.7m in [...]