All High street & town centre articles – Page 15
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News
Pret to cut almost 3,000 jobs as pandemic sets business back by a decade
Sandwich and coffee shop giant Pret A Manger is to axe 2,800 roles after sales fell back to the level of 10 years ago, as the Covid-19 pandemic decimated trading.
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Analysis
From e-bikes to pound shops: Meet the businesses filling gaps on the high street
While the pandemic continues to force many retailers to the wall, there are some old and new businesses still snapping up space. Retail Week meets those with ambitious store opening plans.
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Opinion
The Secret Retailer: ‘Financial cliff edge looms without rent standstill deal’
We have to secure an extension to the moratorium on landlords taking action against retailers that do not pay rent.
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News
Debenhams gears up for business rates battle to decide its future
Department store chain Debenhams is gearing up for a battle over a proposed business rates hike on one of its stores that it says could decide the future of the whole group.
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News
London and Southeast bounce back as rate of footfall growth jumps fourfold
Retail footfall across the UK jumped 4.1% last week, driven by surges in Greater London and the Southeast.
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News
UK retail sales rise above pre-lockdown levels as shoppers return to stores
UK retail sales for the month of July were the highest they have been since before the pandemic struck but the outlook remains grim for many categories.
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News
M&S chair Norman urges return to offices – ‘You can’t run a retailer from the sofa’
Marks & Spencer chair Archie Norman has called on businesses to bring staff back to offices as retailers suffer from depressed footfall in big city centres.
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Opinion
Peter Williams: ‘Covid caution means it will take years for city centres to recover’
In my lifetime we have never experienced anything like the Covid pandemic. In the last few months, we have seen seismic changes in the way that both consumers shop and we, as retailers, work.
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News
Bike stores take prime city locations amid cycling boom
City centres have seen an influx of bike shops in prime locations as consumers have taken to cycling during lockdown.
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News
Dr Martens eyes doubling of store estate after quick coronavirus recovery
The chief executive of Dr Martens has said he can envisage the retailer doubling its global store estate in the next five years, after a quick financial recovery from the coronavirus crisis.
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News
Business rates holiday extension vital to prevent mass exodus from West End
An extension beyond next April of the existing business rates holiday or a reduction of rates by at least half is the only thing that will stop hundreds of retailers deciding to quit the West End in September, according to the New West End Company (NWEC).
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Analysis
Week eight of trading post-lockdown – what you need to know
Retail footfall across the UK jumped 3.8% last week, as the ‘eat out to help out’ scheme gave a much-needed boost to destinations, albeit largely after 6pm.
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News
Property sector calls for £1.75bn ‘bounceback’ grant to stave off closures
Five industry trade bodies have called on the government to cover 50% of unpaid rents across the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in a bid to stave off further closures and job losses.
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News
WHSmith demands rent cuts as pandemic hits revenues
WHSmith has become the latest retailer to demand rent cuts from landlords in a bid to contain spiralling costs and offset sliding sales due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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News
Retail recovery in jeopardy as consumer confidence remains low
A new poll reveals that consumer confidence and spending intentions remain low due to the coronavirus crisis, which could put pay to any hopes of a quick recovery by retail.
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News
Jigsaw to launch CVA as coronavirus hits sales
Fashion brand Jigsaw is reportedly planning to launch a CVA next week, becoming the latest high street casualty of the coronavirus crisis.
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Opinion
Catriona Marshall: ‘We bounced back with talent, knowledge and loyalty in place’
Former Hobbycraft chief executive Catriona Marshall, who now owns specialist retailer Running Bear, on how the coronavirus pandemic meant creating an online business overnight and the adoption of a new business model
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Analysis
Four ways retail landlords are ditching the rents status quo
Like so much else in the retail sector, the pandemic has accelerated existing trends in the retail property market. Retail Week looks at the actions taken by landlords Hammerson and the Crown Estate, and what they mean for the future of the industry
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Analysis
Will ‘eat out to help out’ bring shoppers back to stores?
The government’s ‘eat out to help out’ scheme launched on Monday and there are hopes that retailers could feel a halo effect after diners flocked to shopping locations for a cheap bite.
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News
St Albans stores trial contactless window shopping
St Albans in Hertfordshire has brought contactless technology into its shop windows to help boost the economy while keeping shoppers safe.