Retail Week

AI-powered shopping in the US forecast to increase by 520% this holiday season New figures from Adobe suggest that AI traffic to retail sites will peak in the 10 days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.

How much consumers use AI sites for online shopping is growing fast, with a more than 500% increase expected in the US alone in the holiday season.

www.retail-week.com/technology/a...

‘The Labour Party Conference offered moments of political clarity and economic ambiguity’ The Labour conference in Liverpool shows that some of retail's demands are breaking through to government, writes Helen Dickinson. But it also reveals that Labour's priorities lie in fighting off the ...

'The choices Labour makes in the upcoming Budget and beyond will be the real test.' 📢

In her latest article for @retailweek.bsky.social BRC CEO, Helen Dickinson, reflects on Labour Party Conference in Liverpool...✏️

#retail

www.retail-week.com/stores/the-l...

Tesco and Sainsbury’s go head-to-head over Amazon Fresh stores Supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury's are battling over a share of the spoils of the former Amazon Fresh convenience store estate, Retail Week understands.

RETAIL WEEK EXCLUSIVE:

Tesco and Sainsbury's are eyeing up deals to agree leases on some of the 14 former Amazon Fresh stores around the UK after the US tech giant decided to close its physical store estate at the end of September

🔗 More on this story: www.retail-week.com/grocery/tesc...

Interview: Castore boss Tom Beahon has all the time in the world Tom Beahon interview

“Over the last 10 years... there’s been a lot of disruption."

Castore co-founder Tom Beahon sat down with Retail Week to talk through his vision for the brand’s most recent acquisition of Belstaff – just don’t compare it to the competition.

www.retail-week.com/interviews/i...

Asos launches creator-led live shopping Asos has introduced live shopping on its mobile app, allowing customers to purchase products through live or on demand video content.

Asos has introduced live shopping on its mobile app, which forms part of the online fashion giant’s strategy to deliver “more inspirational shopping experiences and foster deeper connections with its customers”.

🔗 Read more here: www.retail-week.com/fashion/asos...

Selfridges unveils ‘UK’s biggest beauty hall outside London’ Selfridges has reopened its newly transformed and upsized beauty hall at its Birmingham store.

Selfridges has reopened its newly transformed and upsized beauty hall at its Birmingham store, spanning 30,000 sq ft and featuring over 160 brands, 30 of which are exclusive to the city, including Pat McGrath and Victoria Beckham Beauty.

🔗 Read the full article: www.retail-week.com/department-s...

​Boots reveals opening date of first-ever fragrance only store High street beauty and wellness retailer Boots has decided on an opening date for its first-ever fragrance only store, Retail Week can reveal.

High street beauty and wellness retailer Boots will open its first-ever fragrance-only store in London’s Broadgate Central this October, in time for customers to start their Christmas shopping

🔗 Find out when, and more here: www.retail-week.com/stores/boots...

Harvey Nichols opens new retail destination 125 Harvey Nichols has opened a new retail destination on the ground floor of its Knightsbridge flagship called 125.

Harvey Nichols has opened a new retail destination on the ground floor of its Knightsbridge flagship called 125

The retailer said the new space brings together “world-renowned designers and rising talent"

🔗 Read the full story: www.retail-week.com/department-s...

Pets at Home appoints new CFO Pets at Home has appointed a new chief financial officer as its current CFO moves to retire.

Pets at Home has appointed Sarah Pollard as its new chief financial officer, as its current CFO Mike Iddon moves to retire in an "orderly transition" after nine years at the retailer

🔗 Read more here: www.retail-week.com/people/pets-...

The Entertainer makes radical break with tradition by opening on Sundays Toy specialist The Entertainer is to make a big departure from its past by opening on Sundays, Retail Week can reveal.

Toy specialist The Entertainer is to make a big departure from its past by opening on Sundays from this week, Retail Week can reveal

🔗 More on this story here: www.retail-week.com/general-merc...

Q&A: Pyjama king Peter Alexander talks UK ambitions and evolving over four decades Peter Alexander has been a staple in Australian retail for decades, created by the man himself back in 1987.

Peter Alexander has been a staple in Australian retail for decades, created by the man himself back in 1987

Fast-forward to 2025, and the brand has over 135 stores in Australia and New Zealand, and budding international ambitions

🔗 Read the full interview here: www.retail-week.com/fashion/qand...

Marks & Spencer makes transformation hire at fashion division Marks & Spencer has appointed a former Asos director to be transformation director for fashion, home and beauty.

Marks & Spencer makes transformation hire at fashion division

Marks & Spencer has appointed a former Asos director to be transformation director for fashion, home and beauty.

Read more here: www.retail-week.com/fashion/mark...

Q&A: Next CEO Lord Wolfson on navigating an ‘anaemic’ economic outlook Next shares fell this morning as the retail bellwether cautioned that the UK economy is set for "anaemic" growth in the coming months.

Next CEO Lord Wolfson tells Retail Week about his thoughts on the upcoming employment rights bill and business rates reform, as well as how the retail giant is navigating an uncertain trading environment.

www.retail-week.com/fashion/qand...

NRF Europe: Five companies showcasing new tech innovations for retail Most industries are investing in more technology as the world becomes more advanced, and retail is no exception.

After visiting NRF Europe in Paris, here we highlight five companies demonstrating the latest tech and innovations aimed at helping retailers, from AI agents to holograms.

www.retail-week.com/tech/nrf-eur...

Clarks president Joe Ulloa on how the heritage brand is stepping into the future As Clarks celebrates its 200th anniversary, the quintessential British brand is broadening its horizons with a revamped product offer, host of digital launches and international expansion as it prepar...

“We’re definitely starting to win with consumers, not just in the UK but across Europe and different parts of the world."

Interview: Clarks president Joe Ulloa on how the heritage brand is stepping into the future.

www.retail-week.com/people/clark...

Four technologies driving bricks-and-mortar growth, according to retail leaders Retailers are placing physical stores at the heart of their investment strategies, according to a worldwide survey of retail executives by Bain and VusionGroup shared exclusively with Retail Week.

Retailers are placing physical stores at the heart of their investment strategies, according to a worldwide survey of retail executives.

www.retail-week.com/stores/four-...

Aldi boss is future-focused with plans for expansion, customer growth and Christmas Supermarket Aldi reported its full-year results for 2024 today, revealing a slight sales uptick from £17.9bn to £18.1bn

"The government needs to very carefully consider any measures which might have an unintended impact on the operating costs of business."

Aldi UK boss Giles Hurley on the Budget, investing over £1bn in new stores and preparing for Christmas.

www.retail-week.com/grocery/aldi...

Explainer: Implications of Sainsbury’s surprise on-off Argos sale talks In the space of a weekend, it was revealed that Sainsbury's was considering selling its Argos general merchandise division to Chinese colossus JD.com, and then that talks were over. Retail Week examin...

In the space of a weekend, it was revealed that Sainsbury’s was considering selling its Argos general merchandise division to Chinese colossus JD, and then that talks were over. Retail Week examines what it all means.

www.retail-week.com/grocery/expl...

Trimming fat or cutting muscle? How retailers can preserve their brand story in an era of cost-cutting In the early 1990s, as sky-high interest rates, falling house prices, and an overvalued exchange rate sent the economy into a tailspin, McDonald's famously slashed its brand marketing budget in a bid ...

Despite many cautionary tales, brand marketing remains one of the first budgets on the chopping block when businesses want to save cash.

We look at how retailers can preserve their brand story in an era of cost-cutting.

www.retail-week.com/features/tri...

New Starbucks football stadium flagship is packed full of firsts The world's largest coffee and food-to-go chain, Starbucks, has opened its first-ever Reserve flagship in Spain at football giant Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

In pictures: New Starbucks flagship in iconic football stadium is packed full of firsts.

www.retail-week.com/grocery/new-...

Messina Hembry CEO Zac Hembry: ‘There’s a lot broken behind the scenes of the fashion industry’ One-half of the entrepreneurial Hembry brothers Zac talks to Retail Week about how he built a vintage resale university side hustle into a £10m business, and what more needs to be done to fix fashion'...

"Fashion needs to change because there’s a lot that’s broken behind the scenes."

Zac Hembry talks about turning a vintage resale university side hustle into a £10m business, and what needs to be done to fix fashion retail’s sustainability crisis.

www.retail-week.com/fashion/mess...

What to expect from TikTok Shop as it prepares for its biggest Black Friday yet As the retail industry gears up for the golden quarter, TikTok Shop UK has revealed what products it expects to fly off the digital shelves in the all-important peak season.

As the retail industry gears up for the golden quarter, TikTok Shop - where you'll be able to buy turkeys this Christmas - has revealed what products it expects to fly off the digital shelves in the all-important peak season.

www.retail-week.com/marketplaces...

Pret boss gambles on back to the future plan to take on the supermarkets After enduring a mixed few years post-Covid, today Pret plunged to a £553m loss after it booked a substantial write-down by its owner. Its boss has outlined plans to build the business back.

“We’ve done the research; it shows that the British consumer enjoys meal deals.”

Pret a Manger boss Pano Christou sets out his plan to build the business back after a loss last year.

www.retail-week.com/grocery/pret...

The food prices hitting UK shoppers’ wallets hardest Nine in 10 UK adults have noticed prices becoming more expensive this year, according to figures released as part of Barclays' latest consumer spend report

Chart of the week: The food prices hitting UK shoppers' wallets hardest

www.retail-week.com/customer/the...

‘Retail doesn’t need more stores - it needs better ones’ Too many retailers still treat online and offline as competing channels but together they create a richer customer relationship, argues Trinny London managing director Mark Smith

"A modern store isn’t just a cash register with walls. It’s a brand stage."

Too many retailers still treat online and offline as competing channels, but together they create a richer customer relationship, argues Trinny London managing director Mark Smith.

www.retail-week.com/stores/retai...

ONS retail sales error: what was the problem and what does it mean for retailers? The Office for National Statistics has admitted to errors in how retail sales were presented for the first half of the year. We dig into what happened and what it means

The Office for National Statistics has admitted to errors in how retail sales were presented for the first half of the year. We dig into what happened and what it means.

www.retail-week.com/data/ons-ret...

Q&A: Holland & Barrett beauty director on the retailer’s revamped beauty offering High street staple Holland & Barrett has made no secret of its ongoing transformation, which has seen a revamp of its store estate, online presence, a new personalised app, and its experience store in Cardiff.

The next stage in Holland & Barrett's transformation is the rejuvenation of its beauty category.

Leading the charge is category director of beauty, Vicky Kelly, who spoke to us about the importance of data, science and customer insight.

www.retail-week.com/health-and-b...

How does UK retail sales growth compare to the rest of Europe? When stacked against comparable countries in Europe based on sales volumes change since 2021, the UK lags most of them. Germany, France and Spain have all performed better since then

🛍️ Ahead of tomorrow's delayed July retail sales release, here's a fascinating comparison of retail sales across Europe by @retailweek.bsky.social…
tl;dr? UK retail volumes have fallen below pre-pandemic levels, and lag every major EU economy except Italy

John Lewis kicks off golden quarter with Never Knowingly Undersold marketing splash As well as a tie-up with Topshop, John Lewis chiefs this week revealed their bets for the golden quarter and launched a Never Knowingly Undersold brand campaign to mark the anniversary of the price pl...

Teaming up with Topshop, betting big on a beauty and a new Never Knowingly Undersold ad campaign - we find out how John Lewis is preparing for the golden quarter with MD Peter Ruis and chief commercial officer Vikki Kavanagh.

www.retail-week.com/department-s...

Chart: What do Brits think are the dirtiest part of supermarkets? Over half of UK shoppers (62%) worry about supermarket cleanliness, a Vypr survey of 1,900 people reveals, just weeks after 85 stores failed food hygiene inspections.

Chart of the week: which parts of the store give shoppers the ick?

Consumers reveal their hygiene concerns about shopping at the supermarket.

www.retail-week.com/grocery/char...