​Department stores chain John Lewis reportedly has a new trading director who will join the retailer in mid-September. The company has appointed Accessorize’s MD Kathleen Mitchell to the role.

​Any brand or retailer still thinking that ethical issues don't matter should look at a new report. The study says that as many as 35% of online shoppers in the UK will only associate with "responsible" brands. 

​Footfall across the UK rose 3.3% last week (compared to the previous seven days) with a “staggering” 16.5% uplift on Freedom Day last Monday, although from Tuesday onwards the rise was only 1.7%.

​Visitors have been returning to the West End of London in large numbers in the past week since so-called Freedom Day last Monday when just about all lockdown restrictions were eased in England.

Selfridges is for sale with a formal auction process about to start. It hasn’t been announced by its owners, the Westons, but a news report said Credit Suisse will be canvassing prospective buyers “imminently”.

Italian brand Dolce & Gabbana will present its latest couture collection in Venice from August 28 to 30. On the occasion, the brand will also unveil its first homeware line and unprecedented digital collection of NFTs.

The UK-based, globally-focused Leather Working Group (LWG), which provides certification for the leather manufacturing industry, has agreed to partner with Textile Exchange to grant reciprocal membership.

UK consumer confidence finally edged ahead of its March 2020 pre-lockdown score in July, with shoppers in a spending frame of mind. It was still negative (at -7), but it's held firm or improved for six months in a row.

​Finnish retail giant Stockmann's Q2 and half-year results showed a dramatic improvement all round. Revenue rose over 20% in the last three months, while the gross margin and adjusted operating profits jumped too.

​Concerns have emerged that Morrisons may face heavy costs after it's been taken over by private equity. The lead bidder will conduct a review of the property portfolio, raising the spectre of sale/leaseback deals.

​Britons have been spending more money on clothing in the past few months, as well as visiting charity shops more often.

New owner. Big plans. Acquisition-hungry The Ardent Companies has completed the takeover of Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull, West Midlands, from Lendlease Retail Partnership, for an undisclosed sum.

In a major boost to UK physical retail that has been devastated by widespread closures during the pandemic, we could expect 17,000 local high street stores to open in the next 12 months, according to new research.

Big operational changes at MySale have borne fruit. The online fashion and lifestyle retailer's shift to an Australia/New Zealand focus while scaling the business to a new marketplace seller platform has worked well.

​The changes that are happening in retail became very clear on Wednesday as major landlord Hammerson said that the former New Look store at the giant Brent Cross mall will be replaced by a medical facility. 

​Fast-growing fashion retail giant Next said on Wednesday that it had easily beaten its own expectations for full-price sales, with the last 11 weeks seeing an 18.6% surge compared to the same period in 2019.