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Despite a year’s delay for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a few retailers have still been celebrating the world’s biggest sporting event by releasing advertising campaigns. Here’s a roundup those that have gone for gold with their marketing this year: Nike To celebrate the start of the Olympics, Nike launched a new campaign staring champion athletes including sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, wheelchair tennis icon Diede de Groot, basketball player A’ja Wilson and Sha’Carri Richardson. Titled Best Day Ever , the campaign depicts a world where anything in sport is possible. Aldi  As an official partner of Team GB, the discount supermarket chain released its own campaign featuring a rendition of Land of Hope and Glory while wishing good luck to the British athletes. Vans  Skateboarding was one of the five new sports to be introduced in the Olympic program in 2021 and to celebrate this, Vans launched a campaign featuring Tony Hawk...

// Victoria’s Secret UK business now in liquidation // Victoria’s Secret’s online business was not owned by Victoria’s Secret UK and will continue as usual Victoria’s Secret UK has moved out of administration and into liquidation. The UK arm of the US lingerie retailer went into administration in June last year after being affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. A spokesman for administrators Teneo said a judge has approved a move into liquidation for what’s left of the UK part of the business. He said the move would enable dividends to be paid to creditors. READ MORE: Victoria’s Secret sued for $32m by Westfield amid accusations it refused to pay rent Next closes deal with Victoria’s Secret, saving 500 jobs Judge Sally Barber considered the case at a hearing in the Insolvency and Companies Court earlier this week. Bosses said then that Victoria’s Secret’s online business was not owned by Victoria’s Secret UK and would continue as usual. Last year, Next signed a joint vent...

Plans for an artificial and temporary 25m hill in Marble Arch were first unveiled in February in response to Oxford Street and the wider West End district of London being battered by three lockdowns. Westminster City Council said the climbable artificial hill was part of a wider £150 million revamp of Oxford Street, and expected the attraction to be visited by up to 200,000 people. Unfortunately, since the new £2 million attraction opened last week, tourists complained they did not see the “views across central London and Hyde Park” from the landscape that was promised. Instead, visitors came across sights of rubble, building works and scaffolding from the platform covered in brown turf. Some even took to social media to complain – often with amusing outcomes. The Mound has been built next to the Marble Arch The Marble Arch hill was constructed on a large mound of soil to create a platform that provides views over Hyde Park and the West End. It opened earlier this week and wil...

Mothercare’s full-year losses widened as the Covid-19 pandemic affected trading in each of its markets across the world. The maternity retailer, which saw its UK arm fall into administration in 2019 – putting around 2800 jobs are risk – witnessed a statutory loss of £21.5 million in the year to March 27. Mothercare closed all 79 of its standalone UK stores following the administration, but stressed that its overseas operations would continue to trade as normal. But its recent trading update suggested that the retailer is struggling in markets across the globe. READ MORE: What’s going on with Mothercare? Mothercare losses widen to £21.5m The 79 UK store closures may have had a domino effect as Mothercare continues to struggle in other markets, especially the pandemic exasperating its challenges. International retail sales by franchise partners were down during the period, declining to £358.6 million from a previous £542.1 million. Mothercare said it expected 2022 to...

Earlier this week, Selfridges officially unveiled a new public art commission by artist Osman Yousefzada at its Birmingham store. The iconic building, famous for its bulbous blue shape and large silver disks, is now covered by the world’s largest canvas showcasing Yousefzada’s black and pink patterned design. This new art installation, co-commissioned with the Ikon gallery in Birmingham, titled Infinity Pattern 1 , has dramatically changed the Birmingham skyline as it stretches over 107,639sq ft. Infinity Pattern 1 addresses the issues of race, labour and migration and for Yousefzada, who is Birmingham-born and the son of Pakistani-Afghan migrants, the work contains some autobiographical elements. The core of its concept is a world without borders, whether physical or imaginary, represented by the pattern. Osman Yousefzada pictured next to his artwork. “The work is entrenched in autoethnographic elements of migration, community formation and how they happen, interact and...

// Frasers Group to unveil an “upbeat” trading update next week // There are hopes its sales will have rebounded strongly after the reopening of high street stores // In April, the Mike Ashley-led firm was cautious in its outlook despite the reopening of retailers across the UK Frasers Group is expected to unveil an “upbeat” trading update next week amid hopes its sales will have rebounded strongly after the reopening of high street stores. In April, the Mike Ashley-led retail giant was cautious in its outlook despite the reopening of retailers across the UK. The company, which owns Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Jack Wills, Game, Flannels and Evans Cycles among others, warned it could take a £200 million hit from the impact of pandemic restrictions following the third national lockdown. READ MORE: Mike Ashley takes backseat in Frasers Group turnaround Mike Ashley takes Debenhams battle to court Flannels opens Sheffield store with new beauty space However, shareholde...

// Number of temporary delivery drivers falls by more than a quarter as thousands, new research suggests. // It follows workers returning to their pre-pandemic jobs in retail or hospitality The number of temporary delivery drivers has fallen by more than a quarter as thousands of workers return to their pre-pandemic jobs in retail, new research suggests. Delivery work was a “lifeline” for many people during the lockdown amid a big increase in online shopping, according to jobs site Indeed Flex. Its study indicated that the number of temporary drivers available for work in June was 28.8 per cent down on its March level, with many opting for shifts in the hospitality and retail sectors instead. READ MORE: Tesco offers £1000 bonus to new HGV drivers amid shortage crisis Driver shortage will mean empty shelves at Christmas Almost 3000 lorry drivers plan strike over working conditions “The logistics sector stepped up admirably last year, keeping millions of locked-down Brito...

Surya Brasil, a globally trusted company known for its vegan and personal ayurvedic products is ready to enter the Indian market. The brand will initially bring all-natural henna hair colour Cream (hair colour), colour fixation restorative shampoo and colour fixation conditioner to the Indian market. With market presence in more than 40 countries, the products […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/2VmuQtb via IFTTT

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// Liberty hires Sophie Beresiner in newly-created role of global head of content // Beresiner joins office on August 2 and will report to chief marketing officer Madeleine Macey // She most recently led the editorial launch team of global tech media brand Buro.UK Liberty has appointed journalist Sophie Beresiner in the newly-created role of global head of content. Beresiner will oversee the department store retailer’s creative production, editorial and social media teams. She will join office on August 2 and report to Liberty chief marketing officer Madeleine Macey. READ MORE: Liberty London hit by lockdowns, but online sales boom This will include managing the retailer’s in-house team of content creators, who create all of its imagery and copy as well as The Liberty Book quarterly magazine. Beresiner has most recently led the editorial launch team of global tech media brand Buro.UK . Prior to that, she worked as beauty director of Elle UK magazine for seven years. S...

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// Fortress says CMA has not raised any issues regarding its £6.3 billion takeover bid for Morrisons // CMA told the bidder it “has no further questions” regarding the offer // CMA has “not opened an inquiry or indicated in writing that it is still investigating whether to open an inquiry” The private equity-backed consortium seeking to buy Morrisons has said the UK competition regulator has not raised any issues regarding its £6.3 billion takeover deal. The consortium, led by Majestic Wine parent company Fortress, has said the CMA told the bidder it “has no further questions” regarding the offer. In a statement to the stock market, it added that the CMA has “not opened an inquiry or indicated in writing that it is still investigating whether to open an inquiry”. READ MORE: Another Morrisons shareholder hits out at proposed £6.3bn takeover bid Singapore’s GIC joins £6.3bn Morrisons takeover deal Morrisons’ biggest shareholder refuses to support £6.3bn takeover deal It...

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// Prada first-half revenue soars 66% at constant exchange rates to £1.11 billion // In Europe, online sales increased 19% to £217.8m year on year On constant exchange rates, retail sales at Prada Group were up 60 per cent to £1.11 billion compared to the same period last year, and up 8 per cent to the same period in 2019. The luxury retailer experienced a strong acceleration in sales in the second quarter despite 17 per cent of the group’s stores being closed at the first half of the year amid Covid-19 restrictions. The group said online sales “continued to make a strong contribution with triple-digit growth”. READ MORE: Coronavirus interrupts Prada’s strong growth Prada posts 93% drop in profits as Covid-19 batters sales In Europe, online sales increased 19 per cent to £217.8m year on year although this was a  29 per cent drop compared with the first quarter of 2020. Prada said sales were impacted by the rafts of store closures across Europe but stated that on...

// Importers have warned Brits to buy Christmas toys now to avoid shortages // Shipping order delays have raised fears over gaps on shelves later this year Shopping orders are being delayed by some importers who hope that freight costs will subside, as costs have threatened to sustain inflation. The delays have raised fears over gaps on shelves later this year. Toy importers are now warning parents to get their Christmas shopping done early as soaring shipping costs risk price rises and empty shelves. READ MORE: Gov’t announces new plans to tackle lorry driver shortage Freight costs have increased in the last year and are threatening to sustain inflation far beyond the effects of reopening. On Wednesday, Barbie-maker Mattel warned it would have to raise prices in the coming months due to higher costs. Earlier this week, rival Hasbro warned it expected sea freight costs to be an average of four times higher this year than in 2020. Covid-19 restrictions are slowin...

// Mothercare witnesses full-year loss after Covid-19 impacted trading in all markets // In the year to March 27, the company’s statutory loss grew to £21.5m // Turnover was down by 47.9% to £85.8m during the period Mothercare has seen its full year losses widen after the Covid-19 pandemic affected trading in each of its markets across the globe. In the year to March 27, the maternity retailer’s statutory loss grew to £21.5 million from £8.5 million in the previous year. Meanwhile, turnover declined by 47.9 per cent to £85.8 million. READ MORE: Mothercare forecasts “small” profit despite 40% sales drop International retail sales by franchise partners were also down, declining to £358.6 million from a previous £542.1 million. “The past financial year has clearly been a challenging one,” Mothercare chairman Clive Whiley said. “However, despite the backdrop of the pandemic, we have made a tremendous amount of progress in fundamentally transforming the group. “We expec...

// Bloom & Wild acquires French rival Bergamotte for an undisclosed sum // This comes after it acquired Dutch online florist Bloomon in April // The deal means Bloom & Wild now expects total revenue to top £200m this year Bloom & Wild has acquired French rival Bergamotte for an undisclosed sum, which marks its second European acquisition this year. The retailer said the deal will support expansion in Europe, with the combined business aiming to ship 11 million bouquets this year, and help it branch into the blossoming market for plant deliveries. The news comes after Bloom & Wild acquired Dutch online florist Bloomon in April after surpassing £100 million in sales. READ MORE: Bloom & Wild acquires Dutch rival business as it surpasses £100m in sales The deal with Bergamotte means Bloom & Wild can now expect total revenue to top £200 million this year, founder and chief executive Aron Gelbard said. “It’s changed the whole nature of flower g...

// Shopping centres the hardest hit this quarter with a 19.4% vacancy rate, according to BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor // This is followed by high streets with a vacancy rate of 14.5% and retail parks at 11.5% // Overall vacancy rates are 14.5% in Britain, up from 14.1% in the first quarter of the year The number of empty shops in high streets, retail parks and shopping centres has increased in the past three months, according to new data. The BRC and Local Data Company (LDC) found that fashion retailers had been hardest hit with the continued surge in online business in the sector and the closure of high street institutions including Debenhams and Topshop. Shopping centres were the hardest hit with a 19.4 per cent vacancy rate – or nearly one in five units sitting empty – according to the latest BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor. READ MORE: How a rise in retail vacancies can affect the UK’s high streets One in seven retail shops now empty as vacancies rise Covid-19 pandemic drives reco...

Walmart’s exclusive range of retail technology will now be available to all retailers, sources closer to the company have revealed.  The company has earlier announced a partnership with Adobe, which will further enable this technology access to retailers. On the list of offers are various online, in-store fulfillment and pickup technologies. Adobe’s commerce platform will […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3BSzZtJ via IFTTT

// Top 10 investor JO Hambro says the 254p per share offer being made for Morrisons was too low // It joins Morrisons’ biggest shareholder Silchester, which went on the record on Tuesday night to oppose the deal // JO Hambro’s & Silchester’s opposition to the Fortress takeover bid could it to increase the offer A second shareholder in Morrisons has reportedly come forward to express opposition to a £6.3 billion takeover bid by a consortium of investors. According to the The Telegraph , top 10 investor JO Hambro said the 254p per share offer being made by the consortium, led by US-based private equity firm Fortress, was too low. It joins Morrisons’ biggest shareholder Silchester, which went on the record on Tuesday night to oppose the deal and called for more time for other potential bidders to come forward. READ MORE: Singapore’s GIC joins £6.3bn Morrisons takeover deal Morrisons’ biggest shareholder refuses to support £6.3bn takeover deal Ex-Morrisons CEO Marc Bolla...

// Northern Ireland £100 high street voucher scheme to open to the public for registration in September // Contract for the delivery of the scheme has been awarded to Prepaid Financial Services // Northern Ireland Retail Consortium bosses welcomed the move A high street voucher scheme that will give everyone in Northern Ireland aged 18 and over a pre-paid card worth £100 is set to open to the public for registration in September. Economy Minister Gordon Lyons made the announcement as he unveiled that the contract for the delivery of the scheme has been awarded to Prepaid Financial Services (PFS). Lyons also revealed a “Spend Local” logo which will feature on each of the cards which are intended to encourage spending at retailers that have been badly affected by the Covid-19 lockdowns. READ MORE: NI’s high street shopping vouchers could only be for the double-vaccinated Northern Ireland retail voucher scheme could begin end of summer Scots could receive shopping vouchers ...

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Digital enablement and advancement in technology is currently leading the entire retail industry. Recent unfavourable situations have made it difficult for businesses to survive on traditional brick and mortar models. Where giants of the industry have always had an online presence, even small merchants and retailers are leveraging digital models such as D2C and omnichannel. […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/2TGiT0O via IFTTT

// Dr Martens Q1 sales up 31% on 2019, and 52% on 2020, driven by 11% rise in ecommerce sales // Footwear retailer says this is ahead of expectations but warns of stronger comparisons in Q2 Dr Martens has revealed that trading was slightly ahead of expectations in its first quarter, as the footwear sales recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The retailer, which listed on the stock market earlier this year, recorded quarterly revenues of  £147.3 million, a 52 per cent year-on-year rise, and a 31 per cent rise in the same quarter in 2019 before the pandemic. Dr Martens said that throughout the first quarter, all of its US stores were open, while UK stores opened from mid-April and mainland European stores opened steadily throughout May and June. READ MORE: Dr Martens IPO dents profits despite strong sales Dr Martens’ senior staff make millions after £3.7bn IPO Dr Martens unveils details of £3.7bn stock market float It added that its Japanese market was the most impacted...

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// Group sales at Halfords rise 13.1% to £1.29 billion // Thanks to the retailer’s mobile service, autocentre revenues grew 31.6% year on year During the Covid-19 pandemic, Halfords’ B2B, services, and online businesses grew, resulting in record earnings, despite store closures over the course of lockdown. For the full year to April 2, the bicycle and automotive retailer reported a 72.3 per cent increase in underlying profit before tax, driven by the “largest ever year for services.” According to the report, service-related group sales currently account for 29 per cent of total group sales, with 44 per cent coming from the internet and 18 per cent from B2B channels. Overall, group sales increased 13.1 per cent to £1.29 billion as the store took advantage of “record demand” for bikes and cycling gear. READ MORE: Halfords seeks 700 technicians & store workers in recruitment drive Halfords full year profits skyrocket 72% Halfords launches competition to crown the UK...

// Mere to open first UK store on next month // The Russian discount chain plans to undercut Lidl and Aldi by up to 30% // Food will be displayed on pallets in the store Mere has officially revealed that the opening date for its first UK store is August 14. The Russian discounter said the disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic had slowed work on the fitout for its store in Preston. Mere plans to undercut German discounters Lidl and Aldi by up to 30 per cent, with a business model that sees suppliers delivering directly to stores and products displayed on the pallets they arrive on. READ MORE: Russian discounter Mere to open over 300 UK stores The retailer is known for offering no customer service in order to keep prices low, with a maximum eight staff per store. “On August 14, we will be glad to present our new retail model: a real hard discounter, with no shelves, no service, no convenience, just the lowest prices,” Mere UK business development manager Aleksandr Chkalov ...

// Lidl removes over one billion plastic pieces from stores in Great Britain // It has prevented the equivalent of 10 million water bottles from entering the ocean // Lidl pledged to remove a further two billion pieces of plastic by end of 2022 Lidl has removed over one billion pieces of plastic from stores across Great Britain as part of its strategy to reduce plastic waste. The discount retailer said it has prevented the equivalent of 10 million water bottles from entering the ocean through its use of ocean-bound plastics. It has pledged to remove a further two billion pieces of plastic by the end of next year. READ MORE: Lidl pledges to increase sales of healthier food This includes more than 24 million plastic trays and punnets being removed from its fruit and vegetable ranges, and up to 25 million plastic lids from dairy and yoghurt ranges. Lidl has already cut nearly 19 million plastic tags from its fruit and vegetable lines, and 3.5 million pieces of plastic packa...

// Pets at Home hails “strong sales momentum” in first quarter // Total group revenue rose 25.7% to £377.8m in the 16 weeks to July 15 // Retail revenue rose 29.1%, with growth across both food and accessories, instore and online Pets at Home has increased its profit expectations despite “the ongoing impact of the pandemic on operating costs”. The pets goods retailer hailed a “strong sales momentum” in the first quarter as it witnessed a total group revenue growth of 25.7 per cent to £377.8 million. In the 16 weeks to July 15, like-for-like revenue was up 30.2 per cent, or 29.4 per cent on a two-year basis, “reflecting continued strong growth across both retail and veterinary operations”. READ MORE: Pets at Home to become “most responsible” business with new strategy Retail revenue grew by 29.1 per cent, with growth across both food and accessories, instore and online, despite the reopening of non-essential retail and hospitality sectors during the quarter. The strong pe...

// M&S calls for another six-month extension to the start of checks on grocery goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland // It is the first time a supermarket has called for a further extension beyond October // M&S said the current arrangements were threatening its ambitions to move from ‘managing mode’ into ‘investment mode’ in Ireland Marks & Spencer has called for a further six-month extension to the start of checks on supermarket goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. This marks the first time a supermarket has explicitly called for a further extension beyond October. M&S said over 96 per cent of those attending backed its call to extend the current easements at a conference with over 350 of its UK and EU suppliers. READ MORE: M&S rolls out new click-and-collect strategy “With the clock already ticking, the sector needs certainty going into the key Christmas period,” M&S Food commercial director George Wright said. ...

Last year, GlobalData stated that the UK beauty retail sector would see a £1.7 billion decline in decline. In the report, consumer analyst Lia Neophytou said that even when customers do go outdoors, the wearing of face masks was diminishing the need for the cosmetics. Separate data from Kantar shows that beauty and personal care sales were growing at a rate of 6.8 per cent before Covid, but slowed to just 1.1 per cent by September 2020. Alice Chang, chief executive at the cosmetics company Perfect Corp, said the global beauty industry faced many challenges as a result of the pandemic. “As stores remained closed worldwide, beauty brands were under increased pressure to invest further in digital channels,” she told Retail Gazette.  “However, one of the biggest challenges beauty brands faced was ensuring an ecommerce offering that could replicate the successful shopping experience that consumers were used to in-store.” Simon Dring, head of retail insights at referral mark...