Grace Bowden
Grace is head of content for Retail Week.
She covers a variety of sectors including value, sports & leisure, health & beauty and lingerie, as well as wider technology developments across retail.
She is interested in new appointments, store formats and how retailers are keeping pace with the myriad of technological developments across the industry, from their boardrooms to shop floors.
Contact info
- Tel:
- +44 (0)20 3033 4338
- Email:
- grace.bowden@retail-week.com
NewsTesco to repay £585m business rates relief in full
Tesco will repay the business rates relief it received at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, which boss Ken Murphy has said is “absolutely the right thing to do”.
- Analysis
As Arcadia and Debenhams collapse, what will the aftershock mean for retail?
As December, traditionally the height of retail’s peak trading period begins, two of the industry’s most venerable names have been brought low by the Covid earthquake that has shaken the industry.
- Analysis
Black Friday bargains snapped up early – but will shops see a last-minute rush?
Sales may have been down on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but don’t be fooled into thinking the discounting event was a damp squib. Grace Bowden reports.
- News
eBay poaches Asos exec for chief marketing officer role
eBay has snapped up Asos global brand officer Eve Williams to helm its UK marketing division with immediate effect.
- News
Amazon staff to receive $500m in Christmas pay bonuses
Amazon plans to shell out $500m (£374m) in bonuses for staff across its global operations next month.
- News
Boots poaches TSB chief marketing officer to bolster personalisation drive
Boots has snapped up TSB’s marketing boss Pete Markey to lead marketing across its UK and Ireland businesses.
- Analysis
Analysis: Why would JD Sports want to buy Debenhams?
JD Sports has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire Debenhams and exclusive talks to buy the struggling department store business are underway.
- Analysis
Analysis: Let’s be honest, has Covid killed the shop?
The economics of running stores have grown increasingly difficult over the past eight months. With quiet city centres, weak demand and a step-change in online, are stores still part of retailers’ future plans?
- News
Watch: Sports Direct unveils first-ever Christmas advert
Sports Direct has launched its first-ever Christmas advertising campaign, which head of elevation Michael Murray says is the first step in a “new look” for the retailer.
- News
Topshop owner Arcadia in talks to secure £30m loan
The Arcadia group led by Sir Philip Green is understood to be urgently seeking fresh funding after the second national lockdown in England put paid to its recovery plans.
- News
JD Sports mulls Debenhams rescue bid
JD Sports has emerged as a prospective bidder for the Debenhams and is understood to be running due diligence on the business.
- News
Stores might never reopen if lockdown extended, retail bosses warn
More than 60 high street bosses have signed a letter calling for the lockdown in England to not be extended beyond December 2.
- Video
Watch: Sainsbury’s Christmas ads focus on food and family in uncertain times
Sainsbury’s is launching a trio of Christmas adverts this year focusing on family and nostalgia as the UK heads into an uncertain festive season.
- Analysis
Data: Why do retailers rank so poorly for social mobility?
Just two retailers – the Co-op and Superdrug – rank in the top 75 best employers for social mobility. Why is the sector failing to pull its weight?
- News
Alibaba Singles’ Day sales surpass $70bn, spurred by luxury
Alibaba posted record sales of $74bn (£56bn) for its annual Singles’ Day Sales event, which this year was extended beyond the usual one day of deals.
- News
B&M half-year profits skyrocket as sales surge
B&M has recorded a jump in interim profits spurred by a leap in sales that boss Simon Arora says shows the retailer is “well-attuned to the evolving needs of customers”.
- News
WHSmith tumbles to full-year loss as sales slide
WHSmith has fallen into the red at the full-year mark as the retailer’s sales across travel and the high street were “heavily impacted” by the pandemic.
- News
Supreme acquired by Timberland owner VF in $2.1bn deal
Iconic streetwear brand Supreme has been sold to VF Corporation, which owns brands including Vans and North Face, in a deal valued at $2.1bn (£1.6bn).
- News
Retail sales rise in October boosted by pre-lockdown splurge
Retail sales recorded a year-on-year uplift in October, which British Retail Consortium (BRC) boss Helen Dickinson says demonstrated many retailers “finding their footing” prior to the second lockdown.
- News
In pictures: Fenwick unveils Newcastle Christmas window to 250,000 online
More than 250,000 viewers streamed the unveiling of Fenwick’s Christmas window at its Newcastle flagship.
