The Retail Bulletin
UK retail news and industry events coverage.
JD Sports Reports Mixed Christmas Trading Performance
JD Sports reported 1.4% organic sales growth in Q4, but its Christmas trading period saw a 1.8% decline in like‑for‑like sales. The dip was driven by a 5.3% fall in the UK and a 3.4% drop in Europe, while North America posted a 1.5% rise and Asia‑Pacific grew 2.8%. Clothing remained resilient, whereas footwear softened due to end‑of‑cycle pressures. The CEO highlighted targeted price investments that lifted sales around Christmas and outlined plans for new e‑commerce platforms and distribution‑centre automation to sustain FY26 cash‑flow targets.
Currys Upgrades Profit Outlook After Strong Christmas Trading
Currys announced an upgraded profit outlook after its peak trading period, reporting a 6% like‑for‑like revenue increase. In the ten weeks to 10 January, UK‑Ireland revenue rose 3% while omnichannel sales jumped 11% year‑on‑year, and the Nordics saw a 12% revenue...
Klarna’s Stablecoin Bet: The First Real Test of Crypto-as-Infrastructure
Klarna announced the launch of its own stablecoin, KlaraUSD, on the Tempo blockchain, a payment‑focused network backed by Stripe and Paradigm. The initiative targets internal treasury and cross‑border settlements, aiming to cut transaction times from days to seconds and reduce...
Schuh Appoints Chief Marketing Officer
Schuh has named Laura King as its new chief marketing officer, effective immediately. King brings two decades of brand and agency experience, including nine years at Wieden & Kennedy managing Nike and recent leadership roles at Accessorize and Urban Outfitters. She will...
Comment: Overlook Older Shoppers at Your Peril
Retail and hospitality firms are overlooking older shoppers, even as the over‑65 population is set to double to 1.6 billion by 2050 and control a majority of discretionary spend. Older consumers are increasingly active on platforms like TikTok, where they favor...
Knoops Boosted by Strong Christmas Sales Growth
Knoops reported a 12% increase in UK store‑for‑store sales over its six‑week Christmas trading window, keeping annual revenue on track to surpass £20 million. The retailer also announced a new production and warehousing facility and the appointment of former Game Group...
Music Magpie Partners with Timpson on In-Store Smartphone Trade-Ins
Music Magpie, AO World’s recommerce arm, has teamed up with Timpson to roll out in‑store smartphone trade‑ins across more than 1,300 UK locations after a four‑month pilot. Customers can hand over their device, watch a live assessment and receive cash...
Matalan Hails Strong Third Quarter Performance
Matalan reported a robust third‑quarter performance, with EBITDA climbing 38% to £27 million and year‑to‑date EBITDA up 53% to £61 million. Like‑for‑like sales rose 2% overall and digital sales surged 11% in the quarter, highlighted by its best Black Friday online day...
WH Smith to Appoint Leo Quinn as Executive Chairman
WH Smith announced that former Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn will assume the role of executive chairman on 7 April, succeeding Annette Court who will step down after the AGM on 2 February. Simon Emeny will act as interim non‑executive chairman...
Genesco Announces Strategic Transformation of IT Operations
Genesco, the owner of Schuh, announced a strategic overhaul of its IT operating model to boost speed, scalability and AI‑enabled innovation. The transformation is designed to align technology capabilities with the retailer’s new business model and support long‑term growth. Genesco...
Represent Appoints Former Adidas Executive as Brand President for North America
Represent, the Manchester‑based men’s fashion label, has hired Jim Anfuso as its brand president for North America. Anfuso, who previously led commerce at Complex NTWRK and launched the Adidas Yeezy line, also held senior roles at Fox Racing and American Eagle....
Comment: Direct-to-Consumer Retail in 2026
Direct‑to‑Consumer (D2C) retail in 2026 is shifting from pure transactional models to relational commerce, where AI handles scale and humans deliver high‑emotion experiences. Trust has become the primary purchase driver, with 81% of shoppers needing brand confidence and referrals delivering...
Liberty Appoints Managing Director of Retail
Liberty has promoted Lydia King to managing director of retail, effective immediately. King, who joined the iconic department store in December 2023 and became group buying and merchandising director in January 2025, brings extensive experience from senior buying roles at...
Frasers Group Unifies Loyalty and Rewards Offering Under Frasers Plus
Frasers Group is consolidating its loyalty programmes by folding the Sports Direct Membership into its Frasers Plus platform, an FCA‑regulated credit account that spans the group’s portfolio and 16 partner retailers. The unified rewards system launches in February 2026, promising...
IKEA Pilots Virtual Product Experience in Welcome to Bloxburg
IKEA is piloting a virtual product experience inside the Roblox game Welcome to Bloxburg, targeting players in Sweden and Australia. From 22 January to 5 February, shoppers can unlock iconic items like the Stockholm sofa and Elsystem rug through an in‑game pop‑up...
Topshop Launches European Website
Topshop has unveiled a dedicated European e‑commerce site, eu.topshop.com, serving 23 EU markets. The Shopify‑powered platform offers the brand’s full range of denim, dresses, footwear and accessories, expanding beyond its previous presence on ASOS.com. Managing Director Michelle Wilson highlighted plans...
British Heart Foundation Appoints Chief Commercial Officer
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has promoted Allison Swaine‑Hughes to chief commercial officer, consolidating oversight of its 680 retail stores, e‑commerce platforms, and new commercial ventures. Swaine‑Hughes brings over 30 years of senior retail experience, including roles at Gap and...
WhatsApp Loyalty Programmes: The Future of Modern Retail
WhatsApp loyalty programmes are rapidly replacing traditional point‑based schemes as retailers tap into the platform’s 90% UK adult penetration and near‑instant open rates. By embedding rewards directly in a channel customers already use, retailers eliminate the friction of separate apps...
Why Retail Brands Shouldn’t Overlook Corporate Sponsorships
Retailers are rediscovering corporate sponsorships as a strategic tool that complements digital advertising. By aligning with events, causes, or media partners, sponsors create authentic human connections that foster trust and credibility. When integrated with omnichannel campaigns, sponsorships amplify brand awareness,...
Dunelm Reveals Subdued Second Quarter Trading
Dunelm reported a modest 1.6% rise in second‑quarter sales to £498 million, taking first‑half growth to 3.6% at £926 million. The retailer now expects full‑year pre‑tax profit to sit at the lower end of analysts’ forecasts, with first‑half profit projected around £112‑£114 million....
Very Group Reports ‘Resilient’ Christmas
The Very Group posted a "resilient" holiday season, with Very brand sales rising 1.9% over the six weeks to 27 December. Strong demand drove double‑digit growth in home (7.9%) and toys and beauty (6.4%). Black Friday saw a record 209,000 items...
Pepco Group Posts 4.3% Q1 Revenue Growth
Pepco Group reported a 4.3 % increase in Q1 revenue, reaching €1.4 billion on a constant‑currency basis. The Pepco brand drove a 4.2 % revenue rise, while Dealz sales fell 7.7 % after operational disruptions linked to its re‑platforming. The retailer opened 51 net...
![[Interview] Building for Where Retail Is Going? Sreeraman MG, Co-Founder Fynd](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.theretailbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SMG-2.png)
[Interview] Building for Where Retail Is Going? Sreeraman MG, Co-Founder Fynd
Co‑founder Sreeraman MG outlines Fynd’s 2026 UK launch, positioning its AI‑native commerce layer as a plug‑in solution for mid‑market and enterprise retailers. The company will target fashion, beauty and grocery categories, tackling two core UK pain points: trustworthy cross‑channel attribution and...
N Brown Group Appoints Natalie Rogers as Chief Operating Officer
N Brown Group has created a chief operating officer position and appointed Natalie Rogers, who has served as chief people and sustainability officer since 2024, to fill it. Rogers previously led people functions at Moonpig and Unum UK. The new role is...
Conversation with… People in Retail Awards Judge Shane Ashby-Roche
Shane Ashby‑Roche, Head of Organisational Development and Culture at The White Company, returns as a judge for the 2026 People in Retail Awards. He reflects on a decade of L&D experience, including a two‑year IBM secondment, and how his role...
Mulberry Grows Festive Sales as New Strategy Gains Traction
Mulberry reported a 5.1% rise in third‑quarter total sales and an 11% increase in like‑for‑like sales, driven by a 19% jump in full‑price transactions. The luxury brand saw growth across all regions, with the US up 12.7% and Europe up...
ProCook Hails Strong Peak Season Trading
ProCook reported a 28% jump in total revenue to £32.8 million for the 12‑week period ending 4 January, driven by a 30% surge in e‑commerce and a 26.8% rise in retail sales. Like‑for‑like revenue grew 17.2% in Q3, marking the tenth consecutive...
The Perfume Shop Reports Strong Festive Performance
The Perfume Shop posted a robust festive season, with perfume bottle sales climbing 6% year‑on‑year. Between 30 November and 24 December customers purchased over 1.58 million bottles, averaging more than 63 000 per day. December sales rose 1.6%, led by Dior Sauvage, Carolina Herrera Good Girl and Chanel Coco Mademoiselle,...
Sofa Club Hires Paul Brennan as Managing Director
Sofa Club has appointed former Marc Jacobs executive Paul Brennan as its managing director. Brennan, who previously held senior roles at Yoox Net‑A‑Porter, Browns, John Lewis and most recently JW Anderson, will lead the brand’s UK expansion. The hire aligns...
Sosandar Boosted by Surge in Ecommerce Sales
Sosandar’s revenue rose 10% to £13.4 million in Q3, driven by a strong ecommerce surge. Online sales jumped 27% thanks to higher site traffic, better conversion rates, and larger order volumes. Brick‑and‑mortar stores also outperformed the prior year. CEOs say the...
