‘Alarming’ drop in UK consumer confidence over last year August 16, 2025 Consumer confidence in the future UK economy has plummeted over the last year, figures suggest. Confidence has tumbled by 31 points over the last year, from an average of minus nine between May and July 2024 to an average of minus 40 between May and July this year, Which?’s Consumer Insight Tracker shows. On average [...]
London ‘staring down the barrel’ of £2bn hit from higher business rates August 14, 2025 London is set to take a massive blow from changes to business rates when the tax increases next April. Business rates could rise by an estimated 26 per cent across the capital, from £9bn to £11bn, according to the Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA). “Businesses in the West End and across London are staring [...]
What’s next for River Island as it enters ‘last chance saloon’? August 6, 2025 River Island will face its last chance to restructure its flagging finances this Thursday at the High Court, with the retailer set to fall into administration as early as September if the plan is not allowed. This follows months of uncertainty over the company’s future as customers increasingly turn away from middle-market, bricks-and-mortar stores. “River [...]
Longest-ever Prime Day to see Brits spend nearly £2bn on Amazon July 8, 2025 A four-day-long Prime event is set to see Brits spend £1.9bn as consumers increasingly look to deals and discounts for their shopping. Retailers are hoping the discount bonanza will be a boon after a tough first half of the year, and a chance to get ahead of what is expected to be a tough second [...]
AO World: Record earnings after Music Magpie acquisition June 18, 2025 AO World has reported better-than-expected revenue growth after its acquisition of Music Magpie and an expansion in its membership scheme helped boost the figures. The electrical retailers told markets this morning that life-for-like adjusted profit before tax grew 32 per cent to £45m in the year ended March 31, above the top end of its [...]
Oxford Street plan to ban taxis and buses gets green light June 17, 2025 Plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street have received a green light after a consultation found seven in 10 Londoners supported the move. Buses and taxis will be banned between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus up to Great Portland Street – almost a mile of London. “This is a hugely significant development for central London,” Leader of [...]
Poundland to close 68 stores in restructuring plan June 17, 2025 Poundland has announced the closure of just under 10 per cent of its estate as its restructuring plan takes shape under new ownership. The discount retailer, previously owned by Pepco, was acquired by investment giant Gordon Brothers for just £1 after a prolonged period of declining sales. The chain has struggled with “challenging trading conditions”, [...]
Dunelm’s ‘market-beating’ potential hailed as shares rocket June 16, 2025 Dunelm has been hailed as a “coiled spring” by London broker Peel Hunt amid rising sales and its shares rocketing in recent weeks. The Leicester-headquartered retailer, which is a member of the FTSE 250 index, a “clear moat” compared to its competitors due to a combination of more products, more active customers and a much [...]
Grenade: We invented ‘good’ protein bars June 16, 2025 It is difficult to walk around a supermarket without being screamed at by a collection of very similar labels on very different aisles: High-protein yogurt! Protein powder bread! All natural high-protein ketchup! As the final social-media-endorsed macronutrient standing, protein’s stock has soared from a good-to-have to a must-buy in the last decade. Somewhat inexplicably, Marks [...]
Spending more on less: Premiumisation emerges as retail winner June 10, 2025 Most people will be familiar with retail premiumisation from the pandemic. Faced with a sudden boost in the number of Brits on furlough with time to spend looking for products, a number of retailers – partially luxury and alcohol retailers – bumped up their supply of more expensive, premium products. The strategy worked well, for [...]