Latest Retail Insight, News, Information & Articles from all top sources for the Internet.

// Annual spend on ethical products in the UK soared past £100bn for the first time // Consumer lifestyle changes were prompted by the pandemic and the climate crisis The UK’s annual spend on ethical products and investments has surpassed £100 billion for the first time after it surged by almost a quarter (23.7%) in just one year, according to the Co-op’s Ethical Consumerism Report. The ‘green pound’ reached record levels of £122bn at the end of 2020, as consumer lifestyle changes linked to Covid and the climate crisis fuelled demand for second-hand clothes and furniture, plant-based food and other sustainable choices. This figure has more than doubled in the past decade, when the green pound was worth £51bn to the UK economy. The amount spent on ethical products and services rose to £61bn, nearly 30% more than in 2019. The Guardian puts that as £2,189 per household, a £489 increase on the previous year and more than doubling the 2010 figure (£1,028). Ethical concerns hav...

// Rising demand for retail property has given “renewed optimism” to UK high streets // Many landlords have become more flexible in order to attract new brands A rising demand for retail property to be used for leisure and hospitality businesses has given “renewed optimism” for some UK high streets and shopping districts, according to industry experts. The pressure from lockdown measures saw vacancy rates across shopping destinations hit record highs in the second quarter of 2021, with just over 14% of high street store locations remaining empty during the quarter. Shopping centres fared even worse, with vacancy levels sitting just under 20%. Vacancy rates began to level out in the third quarter however, following a surge in interest from firms outside of traditional retail. The collapse of major brands such as Debenhams and Topshop owner Arcadia at the end of 2020 saw the number of empty sites soar, placing increasing pressure on landlords. As a result, many property owners ...

// Consumer spend in 2021 has jumped by 5.9%, compared to 2019 figures // Online retail grew by 63.2%, with online grocery spend almost doubling across the year Consumer spending over the past year has jumped almost 6% against pre-pandemic levels, following a continued surge in online and convenience shopping. Figures released from Barclaycard today reveal that consumer card spending rose by 5.9% over 2021, compared with 2019 figures. Spending on essential items climbed by 11.1% over the period, largely driven by supermarket and grocery shopping, which saw an overall rise of 17.4%. Online grocery spend almost doubled, with a surge of 97.4% over the year, as many households continued to rely on home deliveries for food shopping. March saw the highest increase of the year, when online grocery spend jumped by 119.7% compared to pre-pandemic figures. The beginning of 2021 saw online shopping perform well in general, with non-essential retail closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. On...

Cotton Council International (CCI) hosted a COTTON USA SOLUTIONS seminar in Coimbatore, India, on Dec. 17, the first in-person event there since September 2019. More than 65 participants representing 25 mills—including 14 COTTON USA licensees—attended the event. The mills attending the seminar have a cumulative annual cotton consumption of 3.3 million bales, of which more […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3FGg4zv via IFTTT

DIVAA by ORRA has just launched its first showroom at the Palladium Mall in Lower Parel, Mumbai which will cater the demand of man-made and lab grown diamonds.  Dipu Mehta, MD & CEO, ORRA Fine Jewellery excited about this announcement and stated, “These are exciting times. We have been seeing a surge in demand in […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3mLcLjk via IFTTT

// Aldi is set to recruit over 100 additional British suppliers next year // The expansion plans will create 2,000 new jobs next year, following the addition of 7,000 permanent roles filled over the past two years Aldi has announced plans to recruit over 100 additional British suppliers in 2022, in a bid to accelerate its commitment to increase its spend with British suppliers by £3.5 billion a year by the end of 2025. This forms part of the supermarket’s push to further increase the number of products it sources from the UK across all product categories, including food, drink and Specialbuys. At present, Aldi’s entire range of fresh meat, eggs, milk and butter comes from British suppliers, with more than 40 per cent of fresh produce also sourced locally. READ MORE: Sainsbury’s launches Aldi price match campaign on Christmas food Aldi responds to M&S lawsuit over Christmas gin Aldi offers to “kiss and make up” with M&S this Christmas In September, the value supe...

// Marks & Spencer launches the spring/summer 22 collection of its sportswear brand, Goodmove // Goodmove has grown to become M&S’ biggest in-house brand, with the retailer now selling 1.6 million items of the activewear brand annually Marks & Spencer is set to launch a new campaign focusing on its Goodmove brand as sales of its activewear products accelerated over the pandemic. New products will include a front-adjusting sports bra that will retail at £28. M&S will also stock women’s padded reflective running jackets and orange men’s anoraks. Both will retail at £55. Items from WatchShop and Speedo will be sold alongside the Goodmove brand, while M&S customers will now also be able to purchase items from yoga brand Dharma Bums in store and online. READ MORE:  Aldi offers to “kiss and make up” with M&S this Christmas M&S eyes first female CEO as it hires headhunter M&S partners with Wonderbra for lingerie lift M&S’s Goodmove range...

The Indian retail industry, at large, has developed as one of the most dynamic in the country, primarily driven by the entry of several new players and the massive boost to e-commerce in recent times. A report by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) states that retail technology companies supporting the retail sector with services such […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3mJBfcv via IFTTT

Muscle & Strength India has launched its store in Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir. The store was inaugrated by Prince Narula and is located at KP Road, Anantnag. The company had also recently opened its store in Jammu. Muscle & Strength India is now looking to expand aggressively in the North market and aims to open […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3Jqo8XB via IFTTT

//  Work will begin  next January on a building that will be home to Zara’s commercial and design staff // The five-storey building is designed to blend visually with the adjacent offices, which house the zara.com operations Zara owner Inditex is continuing to expand its facilities in Arteixo, near A Coruña in Northern Spain. Next month the fashion group will see the start of the construction works of a new building that will house Zara’s sales and design teams. The office building, which should be completed in two years will have a total surface area of 170,000 sqm and will require an investment of 238 million euros. READ MORE: Zara mulls new Ireland stores despite pandemic losses Zara owner Inditex posts record Q3 profits as shares dip Zara creates party dresses made from recycled carbon emissions According to Inditex, the building will stand out thanks to its simple design, large open spaces, energy efficiency and sustainability. The building will extend ov...

// Tesco is set to launch the first fully-electric HGVs to be used commercially in Britain // The grocery giant said the two electric HGVs will replace around 65,000 diesel-fuelled road miles with clean green energy Tesco has launched the UK’s first-ever commercially used, fully electrified, heavy-freight articulated trucks as it takes another step towards its net-zero commitments. The grocer has partnered with logistics firm FSEW to launch two 37-tonne, fully electrified HGV trucks, which will transport goods from Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff to Tesco’s distribution centre in Magor, Wales. The vehicles can travel about 100 miles on a single charge, making the relatively short distance of the round trip an ideal route to test how further vehicles could be rolled out in the fleet, Britain’s biggest supermarket said. READ MORE: Tesco turns to refrigerated rail freight service to tackle HGV crisis Tesco signs pay deal with Usdaw to avoid 9 strikes The first two, f...

// Losses after tax at Harvey Nichols widened by 149% to £38.6m in the year to 27 March 2021 // The London-based retailer said it expected to meet its banking covenant requirements Harvey Nichols has secured £66 million in funding after annual losses more than doubled as it grappled with Covid restrictions amid rising cases and a lack of international tourism. The luxury department store retailer was forced to shut its stores for nearly eight months in the year to March 27 and recorded total sales of £121 million during the period, down from £222 million pre-pandemic. Losses, meanwhile, widened from £15.5 million to £38.6 million following ongoing Covid restrictions and uncertainty across December. READ MORE: Harvey Nichols unveils ‘let there be light’ festive window display Harvey Nichols launches childrenswear resale concept Harvey Nichols launches luxury resale service with Reflaunt The London-based retailer said it expected to meet its banking covenant requirements,...

IDAM House Of Brands, a pioneering collective of several D2C brands with Bella Vita Organic has announced that they are going to acquire MeeSoGood, a chocolate and coffee brand. Currently, IDAM House of Brands holds 60% stakes in MeeSoGood.  Saahil Nayar, Co-Founder, COO, IDAM House Of Brands commented on this announcement and said, “With this […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3eygcVZ via IFTTT

// Chairman of Frasers Group Mike Ashley has offered to buy retail chain Footasylum from rival JD Sports // Last month, the CMA ordered JD to sell Footasylum and its 65 stores – arguing the takeover could harm competition Sports Direct parent Frasers Group is reported to have made an offer for Footasylum, following the Competitions & Markets Authority’s (CMA) decision to force its rival JD Sports to sell the chain. The developments are the latest chapter in the power struggle between Britain’s two biggest trainer tycoons: Ashley who owns Frasers which includes Sports Direct, and Peter Cowgill, executive chairman of JD. JD Sports was ordered to sell Footasylum’s 65 stores by the CMA in November, after the watchdog ruled that JD’s purchase of the smaller chain of trainer shops would result in a worse deal for shoppers. READ MORE:  JD Sports expresses fury over CMA’s final ruling to sell Footasylum JD Sports close to losing ownership of Footasylum Followin...

// Footfall at shopping sites across the UK on Boxing Day was 41% below the 2019 level, // Shoppers were less inclined to visit shops in London than in 2019 thanks to the Omicron variant The numbers of in-person Boxing Day shoppers fell to almost half of pre-pandemic levels. Footfall at shopping sites across the UK on Boxing Day was 41 per cent below the 2019 level, data from industry analyst Springboard shows. Shops on Boxing Day are usually busy with customers hunting for post-Christmas bargains, however the footfall in high streets was 37.7 per cent lower than in 2019, while it dropped 48.4 per cent in shopping centres and 40.2 per cent in retail parks. READ MORE: Boxing Day sales forecast to plummet amid Omicron spread All the retailers that will be closed on Boxing Day this year Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said: “A major reason for the significantly lower footfall compared with 2019 will be due to consumers’ ongoing nervousness about t...

Coutloot, a social commerce platform announced that it has helped over 6 lakh small street shops and sellers expand their business online since this year and boosted their income seven times. The company said that the average seller earns Rs.16,000 on the platform every month as compared to Rs.2,300 at the start of pandemic 2020. […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3FwYoq5 via IFTTT

Mensa, announced that the company is acquiring High Star, a homegrown denim brand to serve fashion-forward and digital first customers, as a part of a series buyout this year. Ananth Narayanan, Founder, CEO, Mensa Brands confirmed the deal and said that the company is looking to multiply its gross turnover 10-fold in the next five […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3eCvM2E via IFTTT

BIBA, one of India’s most loved ethnicwear brand touches a new milestone by opening 300 stores. The brand has expanded rapidly with product diversification and also entered the fragrance market with its unique product -‘Spelle’. The brand has opened its 300th store in the pink city of India-Jaipur, located at Ahinsa Circle, Ashok Marg in […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3erTW04 via IFTTT

The fashion industry is worth more than US$2.5 trillion and employs over 75 million people globally. Though the sector is booming, it has negatively impacted the environment. About 85 per cent of textiles go to the dump each year, and washing few types of clothes sends a large amount of micro-plastic into water bodies, further […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3pu1t4u via IFTTT

In its latest report titled ‘Fashion and Luxury: Winning Recovery Strategies in a Post-COVID-19 World’, Euromonitor International provides a positive outlook of the sector in times to come, adding that it is set for a strong rebound driven by pent-up demand and domestic consumption. Players in the sector thus need to be well-equipped to make […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3szNPyR via IFTTT

Much has been said about how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way businesses think and operate. In the fashion retail world, where product lifecycle from creation to delivery was once a long-drawn process, business are now looking to be more agile and quick, invest more in technology to make systems more automated, and lead […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3z2flGp via IFTTT

Merry Christmas from everyone here at Retail Gazette! It’s been another uncertain run-up to Christmas this year, but we hope that – however you are spending the next few days and whoever you are spending it with – you are able to have a happy and healthy festive season. We’re downing tools for now, but will be back from our Christmas break on 29 December to keep you updated on all the latest UK retail news. We look forward to coming back and to getting the new year off to a strong start. We’ve got a good feeling about 2022… Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter The post Merry Christmas from us all at Retail Gazette appeared first on Retail Gazette . from Retail Gazette https://ift.tt/32j1ShI via IFTTT

Namdhari’s Group is all set to expand its footprint in Hyderabad. Over the next 24 months, the company plans to set up farming operations and a production facility in the city as well as set up around five Simpli Namdhari’s experience stores in Hyderabad, an official statement highlighted. Simpli Namdhari’s is the only 100% vegetarian […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3qpYw4r via IFTTT

// Burberry is set to launch a collaborative ‘friends and family’ creative series // The creative partners will be asked to “interpret the Burberry identity” which Tisci has helped to establish since he joined the team in 2018 Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci has announced that the British luxury retailer will enlist a select group of creatives to collaborate on a series of pre-collections. The first collaborator on this project is model Lea T, who is a close friend of Tisci who has starred in Burberry campaigns in addition to walking the brand’s spring 2021 show. Set to launch in January 2022, Lea T will contribute to the Fall 2022 pre-collection, “Lea is my family, my love, not only someone so connected to animals and nature, but also someone who is able to balance fierce femininity and an effortlessly gentle romantic softness,” Tisci said of the model. READ MORE: Burberry launches outerwear pop-up in Selfridges Burberry partners with Marcus Rashford t...

// M&S launched a legal claim against Aldi, arguing the design of the discounters gold flake gin // In April, M&S took legal action against supermarket Aldi to protect its Colin the Caterpillar cake Aldi has offered a mistletoe ‘Olive Branch’ of peace to supermarket Marks and Spencer amid the ongoing disputes regarding the companies’ caterpillar cakes and Christmas gins. In light of the festive season, Aldi unveiled a 10ft mistletoe structure outside its Skegness store, next to an M&S store, with an invitation to “kiss and make up” written on it. Read the full story here.  Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter The post Aldi offers to “kiss and make up” with M&S this Christmas appeared first on Retail Gazette . from Retail Gazette https://ift.tt/3FqmoLA via IFTTT

// Mango has for the first time published its list of second-tier factories // The publication of list is part of a Bilateral Agreement signed between Mango and the CCOO Industry trade union Mango has published a list of its Tier 2 factories and also released an updated version of its Tier 1 factory list, continuing to advance its commitment towards transparency. The retailer published an inaugural list of its Tier 1 suppliers in 2020, becoming the first major company in the Spanish fashion sector to do this. It has now updated this list and for the first time added Tier 2 factories, which are related to production processes and by 2022, it aims to also publish its Tier 3 supplier list, which relate to raw materials. READ MORE: Mango moves into new flagship Oxford Street location Mango to launch new sustainable brand, Alter Made Supply chains can be broken down into a system of “Tiers” based on closeness to your business or final product. Tier 1 partn...

Tillie Peel launched The Pop-Up Club in 2017, after becoming frustrated with the ‘impenetrable’ high street as she sought to promote her own small business. After the most successful 12 months to-date (which saw The Pop-Up Club generate more than £500,000 for small businesses) Peel spoke to Retail Gazette about the importance of independent retail and how further Covid restrictions could affect the sector. Tell us a little about The Pop-Up Club – why you launched it and how it helps independent and small retailers? “The Pop-Up Club was founded in 2017 as we were tired of seeing copy-and-paste high streets and empty shops that were impenetrable for small businesses like ours. “Joining forces with others meant the high street felt more accessible” “I wanted to have my own shop but found the high street didn’t have the support for small businesses and I simply couldn’t afford to rent a space on my own. Joining forces with others in the same position meant the high street felt mo...

// Amazon’s site in Coalville had the highest number of injuries // Central Bedfordshire had 135 injuries, the most of any local authority Over a thousand serious injuries at Amazon UK sites have been reported to health and safety bodies since 2016, according to trade union GMB. The trade union revealed that 294 injuries were reported in the 2020/21 financial year, a rise from the 231 being reported a in the same period a year earlier. Read the full story here.  Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter The post Amazon slammed by GMB for ‘shameful’ number of injuries appeared first on Retail Gazette . from Retail Gazette https://ift.tt/30U0eSN via IFTTT

// Iceland’s Richard Walker encourages Brits to get vaccinated as staff shortages rise amid Omicron // “Please let’s all get jabbed folks! Last thing we want or business needs is another lockdown.” – said Walker Iceland’s managing director Richard Walker has encouraged people to get vaccinated as the number of staff forced to take time off amid the spread of the Omicron variant has risen. Walker said that the absence rate at Iceland had surpassed levels reached during earlier lockdowns. He tweeted: “Interesting to note that previous lockdowns all coincided with our Covid absence rate breaching 600-650 colleagues. Today’s is 700. READ MORE: Iceland boss says staff won’t force shoppers to wear masks despite new rules Iceland to collect old plastic bags from The Food Warehouse customers Iceland could miss plastic-free target, admits boss “Please let’s all get jabbed folks! Last thing we want or business needs is another lockdown.” Walker’s comments echo concer...

The accessories, footwear and American clothing brand Esprit is going to strengthen its watch division in India by appointing Ananya Panday as their brand ambassador. The Esprit’s India partner AP Group is geared to reconstruct the brand in the Indian market.  AP Group looks to pursue an aggressive expansion plan for Esprit watches in India […] from Indiaretailing.com https://ift.tt/3H89q5C via IFTTT

The idea for NEOM Organics was initially formed when Nicola Elliott, then entertainment editor at Glamour Magazine, was searching for ways to help support her wellbeing within her fast-paced and stressful lifestyle. In 2005 Elliot and Oliver Mennell teamed up and combined their initials to create NEOM. Mennell told Retail Gazette that Elliot had been blending products for family and friends for some time, using natural ingredients to support their wellbeing in the areas they needed it most. This was when the pair realised that there was a genuine gap in the market for natural, functional products that supported customers’ wellbeing in this way. Initially, NEOM launched with a focus on improving people’s wellbeing through products including candles and home fragrances. Since then, the brand has successfully expanded into new categories including bath, body and skincare, taking a 360 degree approach to enhancing wellbeing. “In terms of previous experience, neither of us had founded...

// The study also reveals that fashion sites are among the poorest performing sector when it comes to accessibility // The report estimates that the amount lost due to inaccessible websites in the UK alone Staff at online grocer Farmdrop are considering to take legal action against the business, arguing that the company failed to consult its employees during the redundancy process properly. Read the full story here.  Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter The post Farmdrop employees consider lawsuit following collapse appeared first on Retail Gazette . from Retail Gazette https://ift.tt/33RMFEE via IFTTT

// An advert for fashion retailer Jigsaw has been banned for ‘objectifying’ women // The ASA deemed it was “likely to cause serious offence” An advert for fashion retailer Jigsaw  that featured a model climbing over a fence in her underwear has been banned for ‘objectifying’ women. The advert was deemed as being “likely to cause serious offence” by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) following two complaints about the ad, for being offensive and irresponsible. As part of a wider email marketing campaign titled “Into the Woods”, the advert for Jigsaw’s AW21 collection highlighted social activities in nature. The advert in question – which ran in September this year – included the subject line, “These boots were made for walking”. However, the ad presented an image from that campaign in isolation and was assessed as such. It included a picture of a woman climbing over a fence wearing a jumper, with just boots and underwear on her bottom half. The Advertising Standards ...

// The event invited nearly 43,000 comments and drove a record amount of traffic to Snug’s website // Snug has identified the livestream trend as a powerful marketing tool. Snug’s latest live social event, an Instagram livestream with comedian Katherine Ryan, saw a 450% growth in sales, compared to its previous live event in March. The 45-minute livestream saw 6,000 users join the event at its peak and attracted enough virtual visitors to fill Wembley Arena, after more than 30,000 people signed up. Read the full story here.  Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter The post Snug reports 450% jump in sales after Katherine Ryan live event appeared first on Retail Gazette . from Retail Gazette https://ift.tt/32ouoOr via IFTTT