All Policy & legal articles
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AnalysisEU import charge hits Shein sales as Zalando and Next report benefits
Retailers have called for a similar charge to be brought in for the UK, where parcels under ÂŁ135 remain exempt from customs duties until reforms take place.
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NewsSelfridges profits soar as it calls for tax-free shopping return
Selfridges has reported a surge in profit as it continues to urge the government to bring back tax-free shopping.
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NewsBeaverbrooks âresilientâ as national insurance contributions take effect
Jewellery retailer Beaverbrooks has posted âresilientâ results despite National Insurance Contributions causing an impact on profits.
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AnalysisSustainable September: How retailers and shoppers are responding to the climate crisis
As William Reedâs annual Sustainable September campaign comes to a close, here is the must-read data analysis, interviews, news and insight into how retailers and consumers are responding to the climate crisis.
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NewsWalmart rules out personalised pricing as AI reshapes retail
Walmartâs chief executive pledged not to use shoppersâ personal data to set prices, as scrutiny of AI-driven pricing grows in Washington.
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NewsGovernment announces ÂŁ210m plan to redevelop derelict high street buildings
Andy Burnhamâs government has unveiled a ÂŁ210m plan to redevelop abandoned high street buildings, turning empty shops and shopping centres into workspaces, cafes and community hubs.
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NewsRetailers warn warehouse tax could push up cost of weekly shop
Supermarkets have warned prime minister Andy Burnham that he risks worsening the cost-of-living crisis if he launches a tax raid on warehouses.
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OpinionâWhen Londonâs West End succeeds, the UK does tooâ
Ahead of the Labour Party conference, Dee Corsi, chief executive of the New West End Company, makes the case for rates reform, action on crime, and policies that will drive growth
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OpinionâSupported internships are good for young people â and for businessâ
Asda chief people officer James Goodman says the grocer has seen first-hand the impact that such opportunities can have
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OpinionâPeople need work experience - but they also need moneyâ
Charlotte Hardie admires the commitment and energy behind retail work experience initiatives, but the industry will need to walk a tightrope to avoid ending up in the line of fire
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OpinionâRetailers must rethink how they create opportunities for the next generationâ
The challenge for retailers is making entry-level opportunities more accessible and valuable so young people see retail as somewhere they can build a career, believes Alvarez & Marsalâs Erin Brookes
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AnalysisThe last four governments have tried to fix the high street. What can Burnham learn from their failures?
Andy Burnham announced a new taskforce in early September, promising to finally fix Britainâs high streets. Four governments have promised similar plans and commissioned their own reviews since 2011. Every one of them is still sitting on a shelf in Whitehall.
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NewsBadenoch vows to lower retail costs and restore tax-free shopping
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has told Retail Week she would lower costs for retailers to support job creation if she were to win the next election, but ruled out widespread business rates reform. Separately, she has pledged to bring back tax-free shopping for overseas visitors.
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NewsCosts and supply chain disruption drive rise in UK retail sourcing from high-risk labour countries
Energy costs, inflation and supply chain disruption are changing how British retailers source their goods. The shift has come with an increase in procurement from countries with high risks to human and labour rights, according to research by sustainability rating agency EcoVadis and verified with official trade data.
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AnalysisNextâs Lord Wolfson on economic prospects, AI adoption, healthy high streetsâŚand menswear opportunity
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson provided a temperature-check for retail as the industry looks forward to the golden quarter and ponders the impact of the forthcoming Budget
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NewsNew Balance sues Decathlon over shoe logo
The lawsuit, filed in the Massachusetts federal court, argues that Decathlon has used a logo similar to New Balanceâs trademark âNâ on some of the Kiprun range of running shoes
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NewsCompetition watchdog flags potential issues with proposed Co-op merger
The Co-op Groupâs proposed acquisition of the Southern Co-op has been flagged as potentially harmful to competition in the sector, according to the CMA.
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NewsBRC calls on government to raise NIC threshold to tackle NEETs crisis
The BRC has called on the government to raise the UK National Insurance Contribution (NIC) threshold to help retail tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis.
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AnalysisâWeâre willing to be misunderstoodâ: Amazonâs Prime drones are ready, but is the UK?
Amazon Prime Airâs six-month trial in Darlington is ready to expand, but is the UK ready for drone delivery?
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Retail VoiceNavigating retailâs challenges: Costs, crime and changing consumer trends
Rising employment costs, fragile consumer confidence and retail crime are weighing heavily on the sector, but there are still opportunities for growth and innovation. Business insurer NFU Mutual examines the key challenges and opportunities shaping retailâs future.