A digital tax is no way to reward our innovative online retailers July 28, 2020 Throughout lockdown, the advantages — indeed, the essentiality — of online retail became clear. Now, Rishi Sunak is rumoured to be mulling over a new online sales tax. Advocates for this new tax, such as SportsDirect owner Mike Ashley and Tesco boss Dave Lewis, believe that the existing business rates system creates an uneven playing [...]
UK retail sales bounce back as shops reopen from lockdown July 28, 2020 UK retail sales bounced back in July after “non-essential” shops were reopened, according to a closely watched gauge that hit its highest level since April last year. The CBI’s measure of retail sales volumes rebounded to a score of four in July from minus 37 in June. It indicated that sales grew slightly compared to [...]
Card Factory online sales soar 120 per cent over lockdown July 28, 2020 Card Factory has avoided its worst case scenario of a staggering drop in store sales since the end of lockdown, it said today, as digital sales soared 120 per cent during the quarantine period. The greetings card retailer said today that store sales have plunged 21.6 per cent year on year since mid-June, better than [...]
Selfridges to cut 450 jobs due to coronavirus pandemic July 28, 2020 Luxury department store Selfridges announced this morning it will make around 450 people redundant as the coronavirus crisis claims more UK high street jobs. The retailer said it will reduce its overall headcount by 14 per cent as sales this year are forecast to be “significantly less” than 2019. The retailer will focus on strengthening [...]
Amazon rolls out free grocery deliveries for Prime customers July 28, 2020 Amazon Prime customers will be able to order grocery deliveries to their home for free, the e-commerce giant announced today, in a huge blow to high street supermarket giants and small retailers. The tech titan will roll out free deliveries via its Amazon Fresh grocery service to Prime subscribers across 300 postcodes from today, with [...]
The Financial Promotion of Cryptoassets – Keeping the Virtual Cat Out of the Regulatory Bag? July 28, 2020 It is a sign of the times that a consultation by the UK’s financial regulators that does not mention COVID-19 is a rarity. However, apart from a single passing nod to the pandemic, HM Treasury launched two consultations last week on proposals to alter how financial promotions are regulated in the UK. Whilst the Cryptoassets [...]
B&M set to smash expectations as retailer reports lockdown boost July 28, 2020 B&M European Value Retail hailed a “strong” first half of the year on the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis, with earnings for the six months to September set to smash analysts’ expectations. The group expects adjusted earnings before tax, amortization and depreciation for the six months to 26 September to be between £250m and £270m, [...]
Moncler reports loss as second-quarter sales plunge July 27, 2020 Italian fashion group Moncler reported a first-half operating loss for the first time in its history today, as a drop in sales caused by the coronavirus crisis lockdowns accelerated sharply in the second quarter. The group did not provide a forecast for the rest of the year but said it expected no immediate relief from [...]
Retail footfall dips as face coverings become mandatory in English stores July 27, 2020 Retail footfall dipped slightly at the end of last week as face coverings became mandatory in English stores. Visitor numbers at retail destinations in England fell 1.7 per cent on Friday and Saturday. On Friday it became compulsory to wear a face covering in shops in England. However it is too early to identify the [...]
Oak Furnitureland to cut 160 jobs amid store closures July 27, 2020 Oak Furnitureland is preparing to permanently close 27 showrooms, putting 163 employees at risk of redundancy in the latest blow for the UK retail industry. The furniture retailer, which was bought by investment firm Davidson Kempner Capital Management last month, said adverse trading conditions after the coronavirus lockdown had forced it to close stores. All [...]