All articles by George MacDonald – Page 20
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Opinion
'Shopify got its online gamble wrong – now the pureplays must spread their bets'
Ecommerce giant Shopify’s decision last month to axe 10% of its workforce turned received retail wisdom firmly on its head.
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Analysis
Data: As ecommerce sales retreat, has the Covid online boom finished?
With the news in recent weeks that Amazon has swung to a loss and Shopify has sacked one in 10 employees, new data shows that the ecommerce boom seen during the pandemic may finally be coming to an end.
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News
Sunak pledges to ‘save the high street’ with revitalisation plan
Prime ministerial contender Rishi Sunak has unveiled a plan to “save the high street”, as he battles for the Conservative leadership.
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News
JD Sports sells Footasylum to investment group
JD Sports has offloaded its Footasylum business to German investment group Aurelius.
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News
Asda, Asos and Boohoo face CMA probe into ‘green’ claims
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to investigate the sustainability credentials of online fashion specialists Asos and Boohoo, along with Asda’s George clothing division.
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News
Shop vacancies fall for third quarter in a row
The national store vacancy rate has improved for the third quarter in a row but is still above the pre-pandemic level.
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News
Amazon posts loss as ecommerce comes under pressure
Amazon has reported a second consecutive quarterly loss, but sales beat expectations despite its online retail business declining.
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Opinion
‘When Amazon and Walmart sneeze, all of retail could catch a cold’
Signs of pressure on two of the world’s leading retailers, US-based giants Amazon and Walmart, will send a shiver down the spines of businesses in the UK
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Opinion
Business rates and online sales tax – reviews and rows but what hope of a resolution?
As retailers battle the increasing costs of doing business, they still bear one of their longest-suffered and biggest burdens – business rates.
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Analysis
How Currys plans to seize market share opportunity from cost-of-living crisis
Currys boss Alex Baldock has set out how the electricals retailer will ‘keep the customers coming back’, despite the increasingly challenging trading environment.
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Analysis
The great service shortfall: Tackling retail’s new pandemic
Customer service levels were hammered during the pandemic, but the era of ‘Covid-forgiveness’ among consumers is over.
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News
M&S defends Rowe bonus in face of significant investor revolt
Marks & Spencer has defended its stance on director remuneration – including that of departing chief executive Steve Rowe – after a substantial proportion of investors opposed the package.
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News
Very Group drafts in former Walmart director as chief executive
Online retailer Very Group has appointed an ex-Walmart executive to become chief executive as Henry Birch stands down after four and a half years in charge.
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News
Sainsbury’s reports sales drop as finance chief steps down
Sainsbury’s has posted a fall in first-quarter sales and named a new chief financial officer to replace Kevin O’Byrne.
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Opinion
‘Boots needs more TLC to create value, whoever owns it’
After failing to find a buyer for Boots, Walgreens insists “it is an exciting time” for the health and beauty stalwart, but without innovation and investment it risks falling behind, writes George MacDonald
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News
Hilco acquires fashion retailer Cath Kidston
Investor Hilco is understood to have acquired fashion retailer Cath Kidston, famous for its distinctive design.
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News
Frasers snaps up stake in fashion marketplace MySale
Frasers has bought a 28.7% stake in Australia-based fashion marketplace MySale, which it said would help it clear end-of-line stock.
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News
John Lewis makes key fashion hire to build own-brand
John Lewis has appointed its first director of design for fashion as it prepares to “accelerate plans to expand our own-brand ranges with design that will inspire and excite customers”.
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Opinion
‘Refusal to allow M&S to modernise Marble Arch will further diminish West End’s appeal’
Retail businesses, shops and the locations where they trade cannot be preserved in aspic. But that is what opponents of Marks & Spencer’s plans to redevelop its flagship Marble Arch store seem to want.
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News
JD Sports’ profits double versus pre-pandemic record
JD Sports has more than doubled full-year profits compared to the record sum achieved before the Covid pandemic hit.