Retail Week

Five takeaways from Retail Week’s Crime and Colleague Safety Summit Retail Week hosted its first ever Retail Crime and Colleague Safety Summit this week, with speakers from the likes of Primark, Tesco, B&Q, Co-op, BP, Boots, and representatives from the Metropolit...

Retail Week hosted its first Retail Crime and Colleague Safety Summit this week, with speakers from the likes of Primark, Tesco, B&Q, Co-op, BP, Boots, and representatives from the Metropolitan Police.

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

How Vinted became the UK’s third-largest fashion retailer – and should the sector be worried? While the days of walking into a store and walking back out again with a branded shopping bag are still very much present, more and more consumers are also scrolling through platforms such as Vinted t...

Secondhand marketplaces have been steadily gaining popularity and retailers have been paying attention, with many launching resale platforms to compete.

However, new data shows Vinted is now ranked as the third-largest fashion brand in the country.

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

Q&A: TM Lewin MD Dan Ferris says the brand is back and gunning for growth Menswear retailer TM Lewin is back in growth mode for the first time since its collapse in 2022 as it looks to restore its bricks-and-mortar portfolio.

"There’s no point in opening stores unless customers want it."

We speak to TM Lewin boss Dan Ferris, with the retailer back in growth for the first time since its collapse in 2022 and looking to restore its bricks-and-mortar portfolio.

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

Dunelm’s new CEO is settling in at the Home of Homes Four months into her tenure, the chief executive of Dunelm Clo Moriarty has done more than just get her feet under the desk. She talks to Retail Week about why she's "extremely confident in the future...

“I hope this is coming across, but I’m pretty excited and genuinely confident in the future of the business.”

New Dunelm CEO Clo Moriarty explains why she’s “extremely confident in the future of the business”.

www.retail-week.com/home-and-diy...

Chart: Vinted now has more customers in the UK than all but two fashion brands Data from platform SpendMapper, shared exclusively with Retail Week, suggests that the secondhand trading platform had 17 million customers in 2025, with Next and Primark the only fashion brands with ...

Our chart of the week shows exclusive data that suggests secondhand trading platform Vinted is the third-biggest fashion retailer in the UK by number of customers.

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

Marketplaces: which retailers have added them to their businesses? As Argos announces a brand new marketplace strategy for 2026, here are some of the retailers who are already having a third-party party.

Argos is the latest UK retailer to announce plans for a marketplace.

Here, we look at the retailers integrating ecommerce marketplaces into their business models to expand their product ranges, leverage their existing supply chains and drive digital growth.

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

‘I’m optimistic about UK retail even though this will be a finely balanced year’ Last year was not the disaster many retailers feared and 2026 will not be without risk. Retailers should double down on the basics of value, quality and trust, believes PwC's Lisa Hooker.

"Was 2025 as bad as it felt? No. It was simply not the year we all expected. Is 2026 without risk? Absolutely not."

Retailers should double down on the basics of value, quality and trust, believes PwC’s Lisa Hooker.

www.retail-week.com/opinion/im-o...

‘Walmart’s $1trn valuation shows retailers can make most of pace of tech change’ It can be dangerous to get carried away with share prices, but Walmart's ascent is a testament to successful adaptation, believes George MacDonald

“While the scale of Walmart may not be replicated by British companies, they can still take inspiration from it.”

It can be dangerous to get carried away with share prices, but Walmart’s ascent is a testament to successful adaptation, says George MacDonald.

www.retail-week.com/opinion/walm...

Chart showing % of people who think shoplifting is common in different countries

🚨 You can’t say there isn’t a societal problem when 92% of Brits say shoplifting is common, making UK shops appear more vulnerable to crime that literally anywhere else in the world…
Fascinating stuff from @retailweek.bsky.social

Outlets remain the UK’s top shopping destination – why? Footfall to UK shopping destinations has been abysmal to say the least. We don't yet have an idea of how January panned out, but December footfall was down 2.9% year on year and 0.8% month on month, a...

With the popularity of outlet centres far from waning, Retail Week looks at how they have been performing recently and how they plan to keep up the momentum.

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

The shoplifting report: what consumers really think about retail crime Thanks to exclusive consumer data collected for Retail Week by YouGov, we can lift the lid on what British shoppers really think about shoplifting.

Thanks to exclusive consumer data collected for Retail Week by YouGov, we can lift the lid on what British shoppers really think about shoplifting.

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

With Adidas firmly back on its feet, can the rest of sportswear keep pace? Momentum is building in the sportswear sector, with Adidas enjoying double-digit growth in its most recent quarter and Puma receiving a vote of confidence in its turnaround after Chinese giant Anta Sports scooped up a €1.5bn stake.

“It’s a very tough market.”

With legacy sports brands beginning to see green shoots in their performance, is a market bounceback on the horizon?

www.retail-week.com/sports-and-l...

Q&A: M&S marketing director Sharry Cramond on how ‘social sits right at the heart of our storytelling’ Marks & Spencer's use of social media has transformed in recent years and more is planned, marketing director for fashion, home and beauty, masterbrand and loyalty Sharry Cramond explains

Marks & Spencer’s use of social media has transformed in recent years and more innovation is planned, says marketing director for fashion, home and beauty, masterbrand and loyalty Sharry Cramond.

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

Nearly two-thirds of major UK retailer websites had fewer visitors in 2025 Changes in consumer browsing behaviour are wreaking havoc on visitor numbers to retail ecommerce websites, with nearly two-thirds of major UK retailers facing falls in unique visitors last year.

In the latest preview of our Digital Capability Index with @thegrocer.bsky.social, we analyse how changes in consumer browsing behaviour are wreaking havoc on visitor numbers to retail ecommerce websites.

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

‘Demise of the retail Saturday job is more significant than it sounds’ Is the retail industry's longstanding reputation for fostering the careers of young people at risk of being lost, asks Charlotte Hardie

“A Saturday job is often the first taste of money earned for time spent working hard.”

The retail industry’s longstanding reputation for fostering the careers of young people risks being lost, which is worrying for retailers and society, writes Charlotte Hardie.

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

Ranking: the retailers with the happiest workforces in the UK New data has revealed the companies with the happiest workforces, according to participants in WorkL's Happy at Work Test employee survey.

Not only has UK retail got the worst engagement score of any industry, but people who work in retail are the most likely of any sector to say they plan to leave their job.

However, some retailers are bucking the trend...

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

Partnership update: JD Sports’ agentic AI collaboration, Morrisons branches into travel, and more Welcome to the Solutions Spotlight partnership update: Retail Week's round-up of the latest innovative technology and supply chain tie-ups in retail.

Check out the latest partnership update, Retail Week’s round-up of the latest innovative technology and supply chain tie-ups in retail, featuring JD Sports, Morrisons, Ikea and more.

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

How UK consumers shopped with AI over Christmas AI is not only being harnessed by retailers looking to simplify operations, cut costs and save time, but by consumers who want an easier and improved shopping experience.

There were a lot of predictions and research around how customers would use AI over the peak period.

Now that a new year is in full swing, Retail Week explores how the UK shopped with AI over Black Friday and Christmas, and if this is set to get bigger in 2026.

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

Interview: Tom Joule on what’s coming next for the British lifestyle brand Tom Joule is entering the new year with a pep in his step. His eponymous lifestyle brand - a favourite among the middle classes for its town wellies and preppy jumpers - is on track to turn its first ...

"The excitement has come back, we're beating all expectations."

Tom Joule is entering 2026 with pep in his step. His eponymous brand - a favourite among the middle classes for its town wellies and preppy jumpers - is on track to turn its first profit since 2022.

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

What’s next for Russell & Bromley under new ownership? Russell & Bromley was scooped up by high street giant Next this week, acquiring the specialist retailer's brand and assets in a pre-pack deal.

How did Russell & Bromley go from setting a new strategy to calling in administrators in less than a year?

And what will happen to the retailer under its new owner, Next?

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

Currys boss Baldock looks ahead with confidence after ‘strong peak trading’ "If anyone was expecting more gloom today, I'm afraid we can't provide that because we're feeling pretty pleased with some strong peak trading and an upgrade in our profit expectations," Currys chief ...

"If anyone was expecting more gloom today, I’m afraid we can’t provide that because we’re feeling pretty pleased with some strong peak trading and an upgrade in our profit expectations."

CEO Alex Baldock explains why Currys is “looking ahead with confidence”.

www.retail-week.com/electricals/...

Boots head of archives on the retailer’s near 200-year history and new partnerships Boots has been busy of late. It opened its first fragrance-only store in October 2025, has been helping more of the UK public thanks to the government's "pharmacy first" initiative, and is now a stand...

“It’s not just about representing ye old days of Boots, I want to make sure I’m capturing what Boots is doing today.”

Boots head of archives Sophie Clapp tells us how the retailer's long history is inspiring its latest innovations.

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

Chart of the Week: Why Brits are avoiding online grocery shopping Brits are a nation of in-store grocery shoppers, but what's putting people off online deliveries?

Brits are a nation of in-store grocery shoppers, but what’s putting people off online deliveries?

New research commissioned by Retail Week and @thegrocer.bsky.social explores the reasons.

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

Leo Quinn: The non-retail turnaround veteran charged with getting WHSmith back off the ground The embattled travel retailer announced the appointment of turnaround veteran Leo Quinn today. Retail Week analyses what the former Balfour Beatty boss will bring to the business, and what it means fo...

WHSmith has announced the appointment of turnaround veteran Leo Quinn as its new executive chair.

Retail Week analyses what the former Balfour Beatty boss will bring to the business, and what it means for the retailer’s plans.

www.retail-week.com/general-merc...

'What retail needs from the government in 2026' From employment through to advertising and producer responsibility, this will be a year of regulatory change for retailers, observes BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson

A look ahead to 2026 from BRC CEO, Helen Dickinson, in
@retailweek.bsky.social. 📰

'Clarity and partnership must be the theme of 2026' with plenty of new regulations on the horizon. 💬

www.retail-week.com/opinion/what...

Data: Grocery shoppers say meh to AI, yeah to loyalty discounts New research commissioned by Retail Week and The Grocer shows that shoppers are sceptical about AI's role in online grocery shopping, while over half say points and discounts for loyalty card members are what they value the most when shopping in-store

New research commissioned by Retail Week and @thegrocer.bsky.social shows that shoppers are sceptical about AI’s role in online grocery shopping, while over half say points and discounts for loyalty card members are what they value the most.

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

Test drive: Google’s virtual fashion try-on tool Google launched its virtual fashion try-on tool in the UK and India in December, a few months after its US launch, leveraging AI so users can see what apparel items may look like on their bodies

Google announced that its virtual try-on tool would be available in the UK in December.

Retail Week tried it to see how well it could generate clothing for a full-body image.

There were some surprises along the way, but read here to find out our verdict:

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

'What retail needs from the government in 2026' From employment through to advertising and producer responsibility, this will be a year of regulatory change for retailers, observes BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson

"What do we want from the government? I would love to say to get out of the way, but that doesn’t seem likely."

This will be a year of regulatory change for retailers but hopefully progress, too, writes @britishretail.bsky.social chief executive Helen Dickinson.

www.retail-week.com/opinion/what...

Ghosts of Christmas past: What a ‘drab’ festive period means for retail heading into 2026 The key trends and takeaways from Christmas that will shape the retail landscape heading into 2026.

A disappointing Christmas marked the end of a tough 2025 for retail - and it’s already clear that many of the headwinds that retail faced in December are still blowing.

Retail Week analyses the main themes emerging from Christmas and how they will shape 2026.

www.retail-week.com/analysis/gho...

‘Are we looking at the first GLP-1 festive season in the UK?’ While supermarkets sold millions of confectionery tubs and mince pies at Christmas, growth trajectories may be permanently changing as new behaviour takes hold observes Shore Capital's Clive Black

“Weight-loss additives look set to go through another gear soon, as diet-suppressant injections are replaced by tablets.”

While supermarkets sold millions of mince pies at Christmas, new behaviour is taking hold, writes Clive Black.

www.retail-week.com/opinion/are-...