BRC news and archive

Does the warmer weather really affect retail sales?

Yes, according to new research from Met Office and the British Retail Consortium, and it is warning that non-food retailers should brace themselves for the cost of an Indian Summer, which could mean they lose up to 80 million pounds per week in sales in September if the warmer weather continues. Based on Met Office analysis of weather data, the...

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Management

BRC: “Shoppers to lose out if UK does not adopt EU global trade deals”

The British Retail Consortium has released new evidence that highlights the importance to UK consumers of maintaining the benefits of trade deals that the EU has negotiated with other countries, especially when it comes to clothing. As a member of the EU, the UK currently benefits from zero or low rate tariffs on various imports from bilateral...

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Fashion prices on the cusp of rising as retailers kick off mid-season sales

London - UK shop prices are said to be on the edge of increasing according to the British Retail Consortium, as retailers struggle to balance the higher import costs. Shop prices declined by the smallest amount recorded over the last four years in September, falling a mere 0.1 percent in comparison to the 0.3 percent year on year drop in August,...

Schools

BRC launches student competition to tackle cyber crime

The British Retail Consortium has challenged students to write a paper on “cyber security risks facing the UK retail industry”, with a focus on how to tackle them, to be in with the chance to win up to 500 pounds. The competition is open to any students based at a UK higher education establishment and is looking for students to offer new ideas...

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2/3 of UK retailers use secondary revenues against margin squeeze

Two-thirds of UK retailers are using secondary revenue methods to tackle margin squeeze and boost their profitability according to new research from Webloyalty and the British Retail Consortium (BRC). As more and more retailers across the country are faced with shifting consumer shopping habits, increasing costs following the drop of the pound...

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Clothing and footwear prices increase despite decline in shop prices

London - Clothing and footwear prices increased month-on-month for the first time in close to two years despite of an overall drop in shop prices across the UK, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Shop prices dropped 1.4 percent last month compared to December 2015, the smallest decline since August 2015, in comparison to the 1.7...

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Rise in footfall breaks through clouds hanging over UK high streets and retail parks

A slight rise in footfall during the month of May has been hailed a temporary break through the clouds, as visitor numbers increased 0.3 percent year on year last month. High streets and retail parks alike enjoyed a boost in visitor footfall in May, driven by the three day bank holiday weekends, according to the latest data from the...

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UK retail industry could lose close to 1 million jobs by 2025

The UK retail industry is expected to say goodbye close to 1 million jobs by 2025, according to a new report from the British Retail Consortium. As the retail sector is predicted to shrink over the next decade, the BRC predicts that up to 900,000 jobs will be cut in addition to thousand of store closures. But not all is dire, as the industry...

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Clothing sales help boost January sales

Apparel and footwear sales helped boost UK retail sales in January as the cold snap during the first two week of the year drove consumers to the New Year sales. Overall, UK retail sales increased 2.6 percent on a like for like basis from the same period a year ago, according to the British Retail Consortium and KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. UK...

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International mobile searches for UK apparel up 41 percent

Mobile shopping is on the rise - not only within the UK but overseas as well, as the number of international shopping searching for UK fashion brands via their smartphone grew 41 percent year-on-year from October through to December 2015. Christmas jumpers, halloween costumes, wedding dresses, engagement rings and dresses in general where the...

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Apparel and footwear prices continue to decline in December

Apparel and footwear prices declined 6.4 percent year on year last month, the largest decrease in prices within all of the UK's non-food categories, as retailers began to offer seasonal discounting for the festive trading period. Children's, women's and men's wear all reported accelerations in their price deflation rates, while accessories fared...

Retail

International appetite for British brands online surges

Demand for British brands and retailers online from people around the globe surged over the festive season, according to figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Google. The BRC-Google Online Retail Monitor for the three months to December 31, 2014, showed that Brazil had the greatest growth with the number of people search for UK...