Retail news and archive

US retail sales decline

US retail sales weakened at the start of the year. They fell by 0.2 percent month-on-month in January, as the Department of Commerce announced in Washington on Friday. The retail sector is of great importance to the US economy. Economists had, on average, anticipated a slightly stronger sales decline of 0.3 percent. In the previous month,...

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Business

Retail's revolving door: Why fashion can't hold on to its workers

Around 2.4 percent of UK workers change jobs in an average month, according to new analysis from Indeed. That figure might sound modest. But buried inside it is a fault line that runs straight through the fashion industry. In retail, 82 percent of workers who switch jobs leave the sector entirely. In hospitality and tourism, which overlaps...

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Business

UK Spring Forecast 2026: Economic outlook for retail businesses

The UK government has set out its new Spring Forecast 2026, with chancellor Rachel Reeves telling Parliament that her economic plan is “the right one” for a more uncertain world. For retail businesses, the key talking points were reports of inflation falling, borrowing allegedly being lower than expected, and household incomes that are...

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People|Interview

Loes Bakker, HR and coach at Tally-ho: “I have a different job every day, at the same company”

What does she enjoy most about her work? Loes Bakker, HR and coach at fashion retailer Tally-ho, does not need to think for long. “I derive real happiness from the in-depth coaching conversations with our managers,” she says. “They can even move me to tears, especially when things fall into place.” She also mentions her freedom. “I use Mondays...

Retail

Kookaï to open debut UK store on Carnaby Street, London

Australian-owned womenswear retailer, Kookaï, is set to open its debut, permanent UK retail store on Carnaby Street, in London. The flagship store, located at 37 Carnaby Street, spans 1,800 square feet and will mark the national debut of Kookaï’s refreshed brand direction. The upcoming store opening, set to open its doors to the public sometime...

Retail

Rising employment costs threaten retail jobs new BRC survey reveals

The retail sector is already under pressure, balancing a fragile economy and low consumer confidence. The implementation of the Employment Rights Act, which came into force in January, could only heighten this pressure, with a new report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) emphasising particular concern regarding labour costs. The...

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Culture|Interview

Ellen Haeser: 'Fashion needs to move from chasing trends to creating meaning'

After six and a half years in vocational education, Ellen Haeser is returning to the stage. During Masterly Milano 2026, the speaker and cultural strategist will present From Cradle to Grave – an ode to lifelong, inexhaustible sources of inspiration. This is an audiovisual work focusing on fashion and interiors. With over 45 years of experience...

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Fashion|Interview

Lucie Greene on SS27: “The mid-to-high segment is the sweet spot right now” as luxury recalibrates

Luxury in transition, and the mid-high segment ‘a sweet spot’ At the top end of the market, Lucie Greene sees early signs of a revival of the powerhouse luxury brand, albeit in a very different form from recent years. “Luxury has been in a bit of a maelstrom,” the British trend analyst and founder of Light Years says, describing a period defined...

Retail

AI shopping assistants gain traction, but early missteps risk losing customers

AI is fast becoming part of the online shopping journey, but fashion retailers face a narrow margin for error. According to a new survey of 2,000 consumers in the US and UK, 66 percent of shoppers have already tried, or are open to using, an AI assistant such as ChatGPT or a retailer’s own tool when shopping online. Yet the same research...

Retail

Fashion retailers in France lose 20 percent of stores since 2019

The number of stores from major fashion retailers has dropped by nearly 20 percent in France between 2019 and the end of 2025, according to the Alliance du Commerce (AdC). The organisation issued a warning on Tuesday about the “de-commercialisation” of town centres ahead of the municipal elections. The decline is particularly severe for town...

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Retail

Redefining retail: the strategic shift from linear mall toward circular shopping complex

Can shopping centres become centres for a circular society? And if yes, how can they evolve from linear consumption centres into vibrant, circular hubs that drive economic resilience and cultural relevance? The whitepaper “Don’t Call It Circular Society Mall”, presented today at Berlin Fashion Week, explores these questions. It was developed by...

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Business

LK Bennett stores at risk of closure following acquisition out of administration by Gordon Brothers

The long-term outlook for LK Bennett’s store portfolio remains uncertain, following the premium womenswear acquisition out of administration by US investment firm Gordon Brothers on Wednesday, January 28. The new owners, who own Laura Ashley and Poundland, acquired the LK Bennett brand and its intellectual property (IP) assets just a day after...