UK retail sales fell at their fastest rate on record in March – when most stores closed their shutters to protect against the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, ecommerce took its largest ever share of retail spending – at 22.3% of all sales

Debenhams steps closer to second administration in a year

06 Apr 2020by Chloe Rigby

Debenhams has today filed its intent to appoint administrators, in a move that it says will protect it from being forced into liquidation while its 142 UK stores are closed in line with government Covid-19 advice

Analyst Covid-19 Customer Data Department Store Mobile Online Other Press Selling UK

Debenhams appoints new chairman to help lead ongoing transformation

25 Oct 2019by Chloe Rigby

Debenhams Group has appointed a new chairman to help guide the multichannel department store as it continues through its turnaround programme

Department Store Industry IRUK Top500 Mobile Online Peak Research Retailer UK

Summer sale season peaks online

16 Jul 2019by Chloe Rigby

This year’s summer sale season is reaching its peak today at ecommerce sites from Amazon and Currys PC World to department stores including John Lewis and Debenhams

Brands Customer Delivery Department Store Ecommerce Mobile Online Other Peak Retailer Selling Subscription UK

Retail industry staff numbers down by an estimated 70,000 at the end of 2018

25 Jan 2019by Chloe Rigby

The number of people working in the UK retail industry was down by the equivalent of 70,000 jobs in the final quarter of 2018, compared to the same time in the previous year, British Retail Consortium figures out this week suggest. More than a quarter of retailers plan to reduce their head count still further, the figures also suggest.

Ecommerce grows by more than a third in November, compared to October, with a record share of all retail sales taking place online

21 Dec 2018by Chloe Rigby

Ecommerce grew by more than a third in November, compared to October, with a record share of all retail sales taking place online. In particular, shoppers look to have saved their department store purchases up for November, spending 73% more online than they did in October.

Annual Department Store Ecommerce Industry Online Other UK

Online claims a greater share of food and fashion sales in September – while online spending growth slows: ONS and IMRG

18 Oct 2018by Chloe Rigby

Record proportions of food and clothing sales took place online in September, compared to the same month last year, the latest ONS report suggests. But IMRG detects slowing growth in online sales at the same time.

Brands Clothing Customer Department Store Events Jewellery Mobile Online People Press Retailer UK

John Lewis emphasises the role of its staff in its customers' experience in its new brand identity

04 Sep 2018by Chloe Rigby

John Lewis is the second department store this week to unveil a new brand identity as it sets out what makes it different in a highly competitive market where business is moving online fast.

Customer Department Store John Lewis

Department stores saw record online sales in July: ONS

17 Aug 2018by Sasha Fedorenko

Department stores saw a record amount of their business taking place online in July – at the expense of the high street, according to the latest official retail figures

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