More finance – Page 4
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Opinion‘New business secretary’s Body Shop background may be good news for retail’
As the next Budget looms, retailers need all the friends they can get in government, but last week’s reshuffle means they need to build new relationships, observes George MacDonald
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Chart of the WeekHealth and beauty deals dominate as global retail M&A slows
The surging wellness economy has helped make health and beauty the most in-demand consumer sector for M&A dealmakers, according to new figures from AlixPartners.
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FeatureThe age of agentic AI: The next big tech trend in retail
The retail industry has only just wrapped its head around chatbots and AI-powered search, but newer iterations of AI keep emerging
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Opinion'WHSmith’s American dream takes on nightmarish hue'
A profit warning from WHSmith after the discovery of accounting problems at its US arm came as a huge shock, but comparisons with Tesco at its lowest point may be overdone, believes Retail Week’s George MacDonald
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FeatureFrom browsing bliss to tedious clicks: Has online shopping lost its spark?
According to research by Criteo, 76% of people think that ecommerce is functional, but not fun, almost 80% find shopping online lonely, compared to an experiential in-store experience, and nearly a third even view it as a chore.
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AnalysisPoundland poised to press button on £1 price rollout as it awaits restructuring green light
Assuming the value retailer wins support for its turnaround plans in the next few days, boss Barry Williams thinks it could make a comeback as swift as its decline. Here, he tells Retail Week about his plans to make Poundland a favourite with shoppers once again
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AnalysisUlta Beauty: What does the largest beauty retailer in the US want with the UK?
There’s an abundance of beauty retailers in the UK from high street staples Boots and Superdrug, experience-led retailers Sephora and Space NK, and emerging brands such as Pure Seoul, but is there room for more?
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InterviewQ&A: Sunspel chief executive on bucking the downwards trend in luxury
From dressing the Rolling Stones to James Bond and Brad Pitt, British luxury brand Sunspel has been the outfitter of choice for the rich, cool and famous for over 160 years. Chief executive Raul Verdicchi speaks to Retail Week about outperforming the market, opening new stores and dealing with Trump’s tariffs.
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AnalysisMad for it: How Oasis’ reunion has delivered a £1bn boost for the high street
Oasis’ long-awaited reunion tour has been a golden boost for the UK’s otherwise struggling high streets and city centres. Retail Week crunches the numbers to see how the band has boosted footfall and spend.
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Opinion‘As it wins approval for restructuring, River Island still faces fundamental questions’
Any restructuring of River Island will only be a small step towards recovery. The retailer needs to find its sense of purpose, believes George MacDonald
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AnalysisTariffs set to cost UK non-food retailers £618.5m
The tariffs are also driving 76% of UK retail exporters to diversify beyond the US, according to research by Retail Economics and ecommerce firm ESW
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InterviewTheo Paphitis: I’ve owned Ryman for 30 years, and this is what I’ve learned
Three decades ago, entrepreneur Theo Paphitis bought stationer Ryman out of administration. He built the business up and became one of the UK’s most recognisable businesspeople, but Covid almost killed Ryman.
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AnalysisIs JD.com eyeing up European electricals dominance after its latest acquisition?
Chinese ecommerce giant JD.com has submitted a voluntary takeover offer for German electronics retailer Ceconomy in a deal valued at €2.2bn (£1.92bn)
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Opinion‘Now’s the right time to assess the potential for retail M&A’
The current environment presents a unique opportunity for astute buyers of businesses, maintains PwC’s Lisa Hooker
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FeatureCustomer loyalty – what will the next three decades of evolution mean for retail?
In 1995, a little card fundamentally changed how retailers would understand their customers for decades to come.
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FeatureCotswolds Designer Outlet: The new retail destination aiming to be accessible to everyone
A brand new designer outlet has opened in the English countryside in what has been described as the “only major retail destination opening in the UK in 2025”. Retail Week was the first to visit the Cotswolds Designer Outlet shortly after its launch to discover what it has to offer shoppers.
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Opinion‘Unemployment fears could weigh on consumers’ minds even more than price rises’
A cautionary comment from fashion powerhouse Next that rising unemployment could be a threat in the months to come will resonate with other retailers, observes Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald
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AnalysisHas the UK reached peak Greggs?
After wilting in the unseasonable summer heat, and with investors questioning the brand’s direction, the food-to-go specialist’s boss Roisin Currie remains vehement that the UK hasn’t hit peak Greggs
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FeatureCybersiege: are retailers sitting ducks?
Days without sleep as cybersecurity teams scoured systems. Store colleagues forced to work in ways they hadn’t for 30 years, clocking up extra hours “to keep the show on the road.” Online orders halted for weeks. So, what’s going on? Why is retail such a target? And what can the sector do to fend off future attacks?
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AnalysisBack to basics: how premium homeware retailer Oka is rebuilding after a crisis
Oka chief executive Mark Saunders and chief customer officer Aalish Yorke-Long speak to Retail Week about digital replatforming, store expansion plans and when to stick to your knitting.