Helen Dickinson news and archive

UK shop price deflation continues for 34th consecutive month

Although consumer spend is predicted to take a turn for the worst next year, 2016 is still a consumer market as shop prices continue to fall. According to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) - Nielsen Shop Price Index, overall shop prices dropped 2 percent in February versus the 1.8 percent dip in January, making it the 34th...

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Retail

Retail crime hits record breaking high of 603 million pounds in 2014

Retail crime is on the rise in the UK and reached its highest point in a decade, according to the latest data published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Retail Crime Survey. The average value of every in-store theft has increased by a whopping 36 percent over the past year, to 241 pounds per incident, which has led to the jump of direct...

Fashion

Strong fashion retail sales stand out during March

Although total British retail sales were down 1.7 percent last month on a like-for-like basis from March 2013, the fashion categories showed 'record growth', according to the latest data released today by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. The fashion divisions, which include clothing and footwear were the 'outstanding winners' in...

Design

Government new backing for British retailers

The government is backing Britain's retailers in their bid to expand into fast-growing and lucrative overseas markets. Business Secretary Vince Cable today launched the UK Retail Industry International Action Plan which was developed by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in association with the retail industry. The global retail sector has held up...

Design

BRC urges Chancellor to help retail sector

The British Retail Consortium has urged the Chancellor to use the Budget to help the struggling retail sector by introducing measures to cut costs and re-build fragile consumer confidence. The call follows an independent study commissioned by the BRC, which shows that retailers' operating costs have increased by a fifth since 2006 with...

Design

Government launches Future High Street Forum

The government has launched the Future High Streets Forum to address issues facing the UK's struggling town centres. Building on the work of the Portas Review, leaders from business, councils, retail and property will work together to find ways of revitalising town centres and tackle problems such as empty shops and a lack of parking. It will...

Design

High Street Retailers call for local MP support

Retailers across the UK are calling on local MPs to make helping high streets one of their top priorities in 2013. Backed by The British Retail Consortium, retailers are urging for a halt in high street suffering as research shows that two-thirds of MP’s believe high streets to have noticeably deteriorated in the past five years. New BRC...

Fashion

British Retail Consortium appoints new director general

The British Retail Consortium today announced Stephen Robertson will step down from his role of director-general after five years, and to appoint Helen Dickinson, the current head of retail at KPMG, from January 1st, 2013. The BRC is the lead trade association representing the whole range of retailers, from the large multiples and department...