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Why are retailers facing staff shortages?

Retail staff decrease Retailers have now resumed trading as they seek to get business back on track following the forced closures of the pandemic. However, since their return, they now face a new challenge, staff shortages. Recent data shows that in the second quarter...

Contactless Spend Limit Increased to £100

Introduction On 15th October the contactless spending limit increased to £100. Although the limit has been increased, the retail industry has said that it could take months to implement this change before all shoppers can use the new payment threshold. The 15th...

UK’s independent stores record first rise in four years

Due to 5,251 chain stores closing during the first half of 2021. Many independent retail stores have decided to fill the gaps left resulting in the first rise in independent stores for the first time in four years. A new total of 804 independent retail stores opened...

How can Small Local Retailers have a Successful Christmas?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, recent figures have shown that retail footfall declined in November and was expected to fall by 62% over the six-week period leading up to 22 December.  This is clearly a very challenging period for the retail sector, especially for those small...

Has COVID-19 Changed our Spending Habits?

Introduction In this article, we are going to be discussing COVID-19 spending habits.   The use of cash is declining quicker The amount of cash being used was decreasing before the coronavirus lockdown and the coronavirus pandemic has only sped this up. Customers are...

Is the Retail Sector Slowly Starting to Recover?

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics certainly suggest that the retail sector is slowly recovering since the coronavirus crisis. In July 2020 the volume of retail sales increased by 3.6% and is 3% higher than pre-pandemic levels in February 2020....

Are we heading towards a cashless society?

Has COVID-19 affected the use of cash? In the last few years, the use of cash has been declining as electronic payments have been on the rise, with many believing that cash would eventually become antiquated. In 2008 63% of all transactions were made in cash, in 2018...

All non-essential shops expected to reopen from 15 June
All non-essential shops expected to reopen from 15 June

All non-essential shops expected to reopen from 15 June The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has announced that all non-essential retailers in England will be able to reopen from 15 June but added the caveat that this is “contingent on progress in the fight against...

March retail sales decline due to coronavirus lockdown
March retail sales decline due to coronavirus lockdown

March retail sales decline due to coronavirus lockdown Retail sales in March decreased by 4.3% compared to 2019, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Figures from Barclaycard advocated a large increase in supermarket sales as individuals began to...

Why are retailers facing staff shortages?

Retail staff decrease Retailers have now resumed trading as they seek to get business back on track following the forced closures of the pandemic. However, since their return, they now face a new challenge, staff shortages. Recent data shows that in the second quarter...

Contactless Spend Limit Increased to £100

Introduction On 15th October the contactless spending limit increased to £100. Although the limit has been increased, the retail industry has said that it could take months to implement this change before all shoppers can use the new payment threshold. The 15th...

UK’s independent stores record first rise in four years

Due to 5,251 chain stores closing during the first half of 2021. Many independent retail stores have decided to fill the gaps left resulting in the first rise in independent stores for the first time in four years. A new total of 804 independent retail stores opened...