The definitive Index cataloguing the triumphs, challenges and progress of the 500 most significant retailers in the UK. With a focus on “RetailCraft”, the way a retailer trades, manages, grows and connects with customers, the IRUK 500 assesses retailers across six dimensions of performance. Via this hub you can access the annual main report with the Top500 list, the six annual performance dimension reports, and updates to the Research Blog. Let us know your thoughts at research@internetretailing.net
JD Sports Fashion this week said a multichannel approach was a key part of its record performance in a year in which turnover grew by a third and pre-tax profits by almost a quarter. The sports, fashion and outdoor retailer reported revenues of £3.2bn in the year to February 3, (more…)
Mothercare this week reported growing online sales – which accounted for 49% of all transactions in the fourth quarter of its financial year – but falling in-store footfall and sales. The retailer for parents of young children, ranked Top50 in IRUK Top500 research, said group sales fell by 0.3% in (more…)
Shop Direct today unveiled plans to build a new automated distribution and returns centre in the East Midlands as it looks to enable faster deliveries – and to close three fulfilment sites in Greater Manchester. Redundancies are expected as a result of the move on the part of the home shopping (more…)
Shoppers will soon be able to order Sainsbury’s products via Argos in a move that brings the two retail brands further together. From April 25 they can buy the supermarket’s Tu clothing range from the general merchandiser, for next-day home delivery when ordered by 2pm, or for click and collect (more…)
DFS said it had seen online sales grow strongly as it focuses on a smooth omnichannel journey. The sofa retailer, a Top350 business in IRUK Top500 research, today reported revenue of £396.1m in the six months to January 27, 4.3% up on the same time last year. Online sales grew (more…)
Moss Bros today said it made good progress with online sales in 2017 but that December proved a “tough end to the year” as in-store visitor numbers fell back. The formalwear hire and retail business, a Top100 retailer in IRUK Top500 research, today reported group revenue of £131.8m in the (more…)
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson today said the fashion retailer had taken “a fresh look at almost everything we do” in one of the most challenging years it has experienced for 25 years. Fast changes to the way that shoppers buy had come at the same time as issues around (more…)
Carpetright today it was looking to enter a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) as it looks to rein back on store numbers. The flooring-to-beds retailer, a Top350 trader in IRUK Top500 research, said it was exploring the option of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) “the objective of which would be to (more…)
Screwfix sales reached £1.5bn in its latest financial year thanks to strong growth in mobile and click and collect sales. Total sales grew by 16.7% in the year to January 31, and by 10.1% on a like-for-like basis, as mobile sales soared by 86% and click and collect by 38%. (more…)
IRUK Top500 retailers are focusing on Westfield London this week. The shopping centre’s new £600m extension opens today at its White City centre, reportedly making it Europe’s largest mall. New openings in the mall include John Lewis, Adidas, H&M, West Elm, Currys PC World, Boots, Space NK, Mango and The (more…)
Ocado today said it had maintained sales growth in its latest financial quarter, amid the disruption of the Beast from the East. Despite the bad weather, Ocado, a Top50 retailer in IRUK Top500 research, said it operated at maximum capacity for most of the quarter, the 13 weeks to March (more…)
Dreams today reported a 15% boost to its ecommerce business as it said its sales and profits both rose during its latest financial year. The beds retailer, a Top250 retailer in IRUK Top500 research said overall sales reached £300m in the year to December 24, a rise of 7.2% on (more…)
Zara owner Inditex, which this week reported rising sales and profits, showed in its figures how it has worked to put online commerce centrestage in its business over the last year. The retail group, where IRUK Top150 retailer Zara sits alongside brands including Bershka and Oysho, reported net sales of (more…)
Morrisons today announced rising sales and profits for the third year in a row – three years into a turnaround programme that has seen investment into its multichannel strategy. The supermarket, a Leading retailer in IRUK Top500 research, reported sales of £17.3bn in the 53 weeks to February 4. That’s up (more…)
French Connection today said it was close to achieving profitability, despite the continuing challenges of the retail market, after a year in which it has slimmed down its high street presence and invested online. The retailer, a Top250 trader in IRUK Top500 research, closed 11 stores over the year, while (more…)
New Look this week set out plans to reduce its stores by up to 60 in number as it enters a company voluntary arrangement in the face of a “challenged trading performance and a difficult retail environment”. The fast fashion retailer expects to make up to 980 people redundant as (more…)
Hotel Chocolat was this week focused on expanding across channels as it unveiled rising sales and profits in the first half of its financial year. The omnichannel retailer, a Top50 trader in IRUK Top500 research, reported revenues of £71.7m in the six months to December 31. That’s 15% up on (more…)
Debenhams’ launch of its mobile site is the first outward sign of its transformation strategy. Emma Herrod spoke to Ross Clemmow, the retailer’s managing director – retail, digital, food and events, to discover more about its plans for “digital, different and destination”. In 2016, department store Debenhams merged board responsibilities (more…)
Dunelm says it is growing the scale and capacity of its online business, selling more products, including furniture as it targets fast growth. The homewares business, a Leading trader in IRUK Top500 research, aims to double its annual sales to £2bn in the medium term, including 30% to 40% from (more…)
Simply Be and Jacamo owner N Brown Group today said that Tesco, Halfords and Pets at Home veteran Matt Davies would be its next chairman. Davies will join the home shopping group as chairman on May 1, after he steps down from three years in charge of Tesco in the (more…)
