Electrical retailer, Dixons Retail, has unveiled the first in a series of new concept stores for its travel brand, Dixons Travel, at Gatwick Airport in the South terminal. This concept store will be the blueprint moving forward for other store
Specialist independent running retailer, Sweatshop, has been awarded the Customer Service Team of the Year at the National Sales Awards dinner. The award recognises Sweatshop’s outstanding dedication to customer service, which the retailer said has been at the forefront of
Furniture retailer Heal’s is partnering with a leading affiliate network, Rakuten LinkShare UK, to increase its presence across the web over the festive period. Heal’s said it wants to align itself with publishers to drive sales and echo the brands’ values and
Hillier Garden Centres is launching a social media strategy across its 13 UK stores following a pilot, which raised its profile among local shoppers. The company has appointed SocialRetail.co.uk, a retail consultancy and training provider, to audit and implement the project.
Furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse has installed live chat software on its website to improve customer service in the fastest growing area of its business. According to the retailer, the website generates more revenue than any of its bricks and
Aurora Fashions, the group behind UK fashion brands Coast, Oasis and Warehouse, is launching a Dutch version of its multi-brand e-commerce website, www.andotherbrands.com. Ahead of the launch in the Netherlands, Aurora will exit 11 Oasis and Warehouse concessions in the
Matalan has signed a three-year agreement with Advanced Supply Chain (ASC) in a move designed to to maximise operational efficiency and stock availability. The fashion and home are retailer, which has over 200 stores nationwide, said it is looking to
Declining sales at Clinton Cards are symptomatic of changing dynamics in the greeting cards sector rather than a weak economy, according to retail research agency Conlumino. In the 26 weeks to January 2012 Clinton’s total sales declined by 4.7% and
Baby products retailer, Mamas & Papas, is planning to launch a mobile website as part of its new e-commerce strategy, which includes catering for mobile, tablet and Facebook shoppers. The company has appointed retail technology specialist One iota to develop
Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, GO Outdoors, is launching a mobile loyalty scheme in partnership with mobile marketing firm, Mobilize Systems. It will enable GO Outdoors’ discount card holders with an iPhone to receive and redeem exclusive deals via their
Leading UK kitchenware retailer, Lakeland, is implementing Maple Lake’s merchandise planning solution in a bid to ensure high levels of availability at its 57 stores and a fast-growing multi-channel business. “Expansion and the inherent complexity in managing multiple channels has made
Housewares retailer, Lakeland, is launching contactless payment in stores in partneship with Barclaycard and Visa Europe. From 30 June 2012, all 57 Lakeland stores will accept contactless card and mobile payments, allowing customers a faster and more convenient way to
Camping equipment retailer, GO Outdoors, has appointed Advanced Supply Chain to manage a fulfillment warehouse and UK distribution operation to its retail stores. The three-year contract will see Bradford-based Advanced invest in excess of £5m into its warehouse in Corby,
Superdrug, the UK’s second largest health and beauty retailer, has launched contactless payment at 50 of its UK stores and plans to expand the technology across the UK during 2012. The contactless technology has been provided by WorldPay’s card payment
Ikea is automating its cash handling at more than 40 stores in 10 countries following a pilot in France and Germany. The furniture retailer has invested in Wincor Nixdorf’s new CINEO solution, which enables cash to be automatically verified at
Next’s sales rose 3.1% between 1 August and 24 December 2011 with strong growth in its Directory business offsetting a decline in store-based sales. The retailer’s Directory business grew by 16.9% in the period and by 16% in the year-to-date.
Occasionwear specialist Coast has launched in five Bloomingdales stores in the US. The stores in Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Chicago and San Francisco all feature a shop in shop concept designed for Coast by award winning British designer Lee
Aurora Fashions, the group behind women’s fashion brands Coast, Oasis and Warehouse, is extending its 90 minute delivery service to five new cities across the UK. The service, part of Aurora’s strategy to offer its customers the widest range
Cash Converters, a leading UK chain of pawnbrokers, has announced the opening of its 200th UK store in Goole, Yorkshire; and is targeting a chain of 250 stores by mid 2012. Expansion follows a period of sustained growth and recruitment
Pets at Home has launched a premium own label range of wild bird food called ‘A little bird told me…’. The brand, which goes on shelf this week, was designed by design agency, Stocks Taylor Benson; and is the latest
Customers of Coast, Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen can now buy clothes in-store using an iPad-enabled point of sale (PoS) system, supplied by BT’s specialist retail division, BT Expedite. Claimed to be a first for UK retail, the new system
Sanrio has licensed its Hello Kitty character to a new fashion retail brand, which will launch during Milan Fashion Week. The Pynkiss ranges are designed in Milan by Italian designers and are appliquéd with crystals, beads and sequins. The company
Shopping centres owner, The Mall, has announced a partnership with celebrity stylist Gok Wan for its autumn/winter 2011 fashion promotion. As part of the partnership, Wan will play personal shopper to one winner – personally taking them on a £1,000
Homebase has launched an interactive digital media solution, which allows customers to upload photographs of their rooms to a touch screen and create their own decorative looks. The Create the Look solution has been provided by Qmatic, a leader in
Middle Eastern shoppers have flocked to the Westfield shopping centre in July 2011, according to the site’s operators. Retailers have reported an uplift in Middle Eastern customers mainly from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, including members
