All Coronavirus articles
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VideoFace time: Why eBay is ‘putting purpose front and centre’ post-Covid
eBay UK’s head of social impact, Chris Gale, tells Retail Week about the launch of the etail giant’s new ‘eBay for Change’ programme, the consumer appetite to support social enterprises and the importance of “putting purpose front and centre” following the pandemic.
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News
Sainsbury’s boosts pay and awards Covid recognition payment for frontline staff
Grocery giant Sainsbury’s has issued a pay rise for all its frontline staff alongside a third one-off recognition payment for their work during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
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News
Pets at Home ups profit guidance again after strong fourth quarter
Pets at Home has upped its profit guidance for the second time in under two months, hailing continued strong trading in the fourth quarter of its current financial year.
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Opinion
Katie Bickerstaffe: ‘Why M&S is unlocking the power of alumni’
Few would argue the benefits that come from an engaged workforce, particularly in retail, which is fundamentally a people business and the UK’s biggest private-sector employer.
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Video
Retail Question Time with Theo Paphitis and Richard Walker
In the first edition of our new video series Retail Question Time, Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue owner Theo Paphitis and Iceland managing director Richard Walker discuss government aid for the industry during the pandemic, business rates reform, their hopes for next week’s Budget – and why they both ...
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Opinion
‘Tough choices about which staff to retain will soon come to a head’
Boris Johnson’s statement to the nation on Monday contained good and bad news for retailers. The good news is that non-essential retail will be allowed to reopen from April 12 barring a reversal in infection and vaccination trends.
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News
Boots plans to axe 300 roles at Nottingham HQ
Boots is set to cut 300 jobs across various functions at its Nottingham head office as it grapples with “changing consumer behaviours” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
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News
Primark positive over plans for April 12 reopening with 'worst behind us'
Primark finance boss John Bason has said the retailer believes it is “more than likely” it will reopen stores on April 12.
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Opinion
Erin Brookes: ‘There is no doubt that further retail consolidation is coming’
Green shoots of optimism may be germinating, but it is certain that the last 12 months have left an irreversible imprint on the UK’s retail industry.
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News
eBay launches multimillion-pound programme backing social enterprises
eBay has launched a multi-million-pound programme to create jobs and opportunities in parts of the UK that have been hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Analysis
Retailers wary of April 12 timeframe for store reopening
Retailers have voiced disappointment that they will not be able to fully open their doors again before April 12 and concerns about the possibility of the post-lockdown timeframe changing again.
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Opinion
‘Road to freedom will still be a long journey to retail normality’
The country, and therefore retail, is on a “one-way road to freedom” as prime minister Boris Johnson put it when he unveiled a route out of lockdown.
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Opinion
Rhian Bartlett: ‘Great value doesn’t have to come at the cost of quality’
You can’t have your cake and eat it, or so the saying goes. As a grocer, that’s meant that you can be known for low prices or for premium products – but you can’t be great at both.
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News
Non-essential retail to open on April 12 if Covid conditions met
Non-essential retailers will be allowed to reopen shops in April, alongside gyms, hairdressers and outdoor hospitality, if strict conditions are met, according to plans set out by the prime minister.
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News
M&S boss Rowe hits out at ‘unbearable’ business rates burden
Marks Spencer boss Steve Rowe has warned that the “unbearable yoke” of business rates will spark thousands more job losses unless the tax is overhauled by the government.
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News
John Lewis plots further store closures as Covid crisis bites
John Lewis is planning a fresh round of store closures as the impact of the coronavirus crisis on physical retail deepens.
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Analysis
The Big Question: Will Oxford Street regeneration plans revive retail’s fortunes?
Earlier this week, Westminster City Council unveiled a £150m strategy to revamp Oxford Street
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News
Asda sales rise as customers trade up over Christmas
Asda has reported that customers trading up and treating themselves over Christmas led to strong sales upticks in its fourth quarter.
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Opinion
Lisa Byfield-Green: ‘As Amazon grows, many retailers still struggle with online basics’
Online will remain the fastest-growing channel even when stores reopen, but are retailers really prepared?
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News
Retailer anger follows call with ‘rude’ business secretary Kwarteng
Retailers’ relations with new business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng have got off to a rocky start after a bad-tempered call this week.
