All Waterstones articles
Waterstones is the UK’s last remaining national high street bookseller, with more than 270 stores throughout the country and three in Ireland. The rollout of its own-brand Café W coffeeshop concessions has resulted in increased dwell time and book sales. The bookstore chain also acquired Foyles from its founding family in September 2018, but continues to operate its seven stores under the same name.
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News
Waterstones profits fall as IT issues cause order backlog
Waterstones’ full-year profits declined despite a boost in sales as issues with stock distribution technology caused a backlog of orders.
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Analysis
How inflation has forced retailers to adapt their loyalty schemes
As inflation has run rampant and customer confidence plummets, retailers have increasingly turned to loyalty schemes to drive sales. Retail Week takes a look at how six retailers have adapted their programmes to appeal to cash-strapped customers
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News
Waterstones profits soar as post-pandemic shoppers flock to stores
Waterstones recorded an increase in full-year profits as sales soared post-pandemic.
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News
Waterstones hit by stock shortages after warehouse tech problems
Waterstones is grappling to stock its shops and fulfil a backlog of online orders after problems with its new warehouse tech systems sparked product shortages.
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News
Iceland and Waterstones’ bosses named in Queen’s birthday honours
A number of retail leaders have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list this year.
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News
Retailers call for business rates cut to help battle cost-of-living crunch
A coalition of leading retailers and trade bodies has launched a ‘Cut the Shops Tax’ campaign, arguing for a business rates reduction to combat inflationary pressures and protect industry jobs.
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News
Waterstones acquires independent bookseller Blackwell’s
Waterstones has snapped up Blackwell’s, the UK’s largest independent bookseller, for an undisclosed sum.
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Analysis
Retail 2022: 59 CEOs reveal strategy for the year ahead
Leaders from Gymshark, Currys, Pets at Home, Levi’s and Beauty Pie are among 59 chief executives that have spoken to Retail Week in-depth about their 2022 strategy as part of a major new report
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Data
Ranking: From M&S to Iceland – UK consumers’ favourite brands
Marks & Spencer has been crowned the best retail brand according to shoppers in YouGov’s UK Retail Rankings 2021.
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Gallery
Store gallery: TikTok moves offline with experiential shopping centre pop-up
Video sharing platform TikTok has made a huge splash online. Now, with the opening of the UK’s first-ever TikTok pop-up, it could also make a big impact IRL.
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Analysis
How John Lewis, Waterstones and Lush are making store staff their greatest assets
A new report by Retail Week showcases the businesses empowering their store staff to deliver best-in-class customer service and an experience that can’t be beaten online. Find out how you can do the same
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Analysis
Three ways retailers are rethinking stores for future success
Retail Week’s inaugural Stores Week, celebrating bricks and mortar, kicks off today. From The Entertainer and Dixons Carphone to Theo Paphitis Retail Group and AS Watson, retailers and brands from across the sector will reveal how they’re shaping their store strategies. Here’s a taster of what to expect.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Waterstones (SWOT)
Waterstones is the UK’s only remaining major book specialist on the high street, with upwards of 300 stores throughout the country. As such, it can sustain a respectable share of the UK physical book market which continues to grow as consumers trade in screens for paper.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Waterstones (Overview)
Waterstones is the UK’s last remaining national high street bookseller, with upwards of 300 stores throughout the country, and a handful of international stores. It was acquired by activist investors Elliott Advisors in April 2018.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Waterstones (Financials)
The Waterstones group (filed under Book Retail Midco) includes Foyles and now also Blackwells as well as Waterstones and is yet to file for FY2022. Waterstones’ own sales rose to £452.5m for the 52 weeks ending 29 April 2023 (FY2022), now including the impact of the acquisition of Blackwells. The retailer benefitted from the “increased popularity of both reading and physical bookshops, supported notably by social media and positive press coverage”.
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Analysis
Five ways to turn your staff into customer champions
Retail Week’s Customer Champions report, produced in association with Critizr, outlines the crucial role of frontline staff in welcoming customers back to stores.
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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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Analysis
Favourite websites: Where retail bosses love to shop online
After a year that saw ecommerce accelerate like never before as consumers flocked online, Retail Week asks CEOs to name their favourite retail websites and tell us what they love about them.
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Analysis
The Big Question: How should business rates be reformed?
Ahead of the Budget on March 3, the thorny issue of business rates has again hit the headlines, with a joint letter, spearheaded by Tesco, calling for a digital tax to be levied on pureplays. Retail Week asks experts what can be done to make business rates fairer?