Coronavirus lockdown: Kingfisher sales plunge due to store closures May 12, 2020 B&Q owner Kingfisher reported plummeting sales in the first quarter due to coronavirus lockdown measures, but said trading was beginning to bounce back after stores reopened. The DIY retailer said first quarter like-for-like sales were down 24.8 per cent to £2.2bn due to the impact of coronavirus. Online growth increased fourfold from mid-March as Kingfisher [...]
Morrisons retail sales surge in lockdown but fuel demand drops May 12, 2020 Morrisons retail sales jumped in the first quarter of the year due to coronavirus stockpiling, however a drop in demand for fuel hurt overall sales. Like-for-like retail sales jumped 5.1 per cent in the 14 weeks to 10 May, driven by a 10.8 per cent surge in sales between weeks 12 and 14 of the [...]
High street suffers biggest ever decline in footfall as Brits obey lockdown May 11, 2020 The UK high street suffered its greatest ever decline in footfall last month as Brits steered clear of shops during the coronavirus lockdown. Retailers were hit with an “unprecedented” 80 per cent plunge in footfall in April, with high streets and shopping centres the worst affected. Retail parks were the most resilient thanks to the [...]
Retailers call for shop reopenings based on safety standards May 10, 2020 The reopening of shops after the coronavirus lockdown should be based on safety standards rather than size or business type, a top retail chief has said. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said she expected a “gradual lifting” of the restrictions, with schools and transport the first to reopen. But she [...]
Adverts in adversity: Johnny Hornby on the case for advertising through Covid-19 May 8, 2020 There’s no doubt the advertising industry has taken a battering in recent weeks, with the coronavirus crisis sparking the biggest fall in ad spend on record. In fact, with TV production on hold, it seems brands may have to turn to Zoom to keep their campaigns going. The downturn comes as little surprise. Marketing budgets [...]
UK lockdown: Online sales soar 109 per cent to record high May 8, 2020 Online sales soared to a record high in April after high street stores shut their doors during the UK’s coronavirus lockdown. Non-store sales surged 109.6 per cent last month, the strongest result since records began 10 years ago, after all non-essential physical stores closed. However, overall retail sales plunged 29.6 per cent during the month [...]
Long queues and no discounts: London’s West End sets out rules as 600 shops prepare to reopen May 8, 2020 West End businesses have been advised to cut opening hours and abandon in-store promotions as London’s shopping and entertainment district prepares to reopen after the UK coronavirus lockdown. Retailers have been urged to only offer sales and promotions online to avoid drawing big crowds into stores. Visitor numbers will be managed with waiting areas to [...]
Are we heading back towards single-use plastic because of coronavirus? May 7, 2020 The battle against plastic pollution has rapidly gained momentum in recent years. Our 2018 report – Plastics phase-out: exposure through the value chain – analysed the challenges across sectors beyond the use of carrier bags, microbeads and straws. We concluded that the issue was not just a point of public concern but either an opportunity for forward-thinking [...]
Coronavirus: Superdry suspends dividend and delays full-year results May 7, 2020 Superdry suspended its dividend and delayed its full-year results this morning as the retailer announced a dive in revenue due to the impact of coronavirus and the brand’s shift away from discounting. The clothing brand said its full-year results, which were due to be published on 9 July, will be postponed by five to eight [...]
BMW lowers guidance as coronavirus stalls demand May 6, 2020 German automotive giant BMW has lowered its guidance for the year due to coronavirus, the firm announced today, saying the pandemic would “seriously dampen demand” across all of its markets. The Munich-headquartered company said that its earnings margin for the year would fall to zero to three per cent, down from the two to four [...]