by Hawsons | May 28, 2020 | covid-19, Peter Wilmer, Retail, SME
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 coronavirus”. In addition, retailers must follow the new... 
by Hawsons | Apr 17, 2020 | covid-19, Peter Wilmer, Retail
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... 
by Hawsons | Apr 3, 2020 | Corporate Finance, covid-19, Peter Wilmer, SME
Changes to current Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (“CBILS”) There have been many reports of businesses having issues in accessing much-needed funding through the CBILS facility. Issues have included demands from lenders for Personal Guarantees and being... 
by Hawsons | Mar 10, 2020 | Peter Wilmer, Retail
UK consumer confidence increases in final quarter of 2019 With retail sales decreasing in December and 2019 being the worst year for retail in 25 years it comes as a surprise that consumer confidence actually increased by 0.5% in the final quarter of 2019. As... 
by Hawsons | Mar 5, 2020 | Peter Wilmer, Retail
Retail sales on the rise After a disappointing end to 2019, British consumers began to spend again in January with sales volume increasing by 0.9% after December’s decrease of 0.5%. This increase in sales was much larger than that expected by economists and the... 
by Hawsons | Feb 18, 2020 | Peter Wilmer, Retail
2019 has been the worst year for retail in 25 years For the first time in 25 years retail sales dropped in 2019 according to the leading UK retail industry body, total sales decreased by 0.1% compared to 2018. Sales during the Christmas period were particularly weak...