Stephen Robertson news and archive

Design

Rapid growth in ecrime

A new study has found that e-crime is the biggest emerging threat to the retail sector in the UK as a rapid growth in online shopping leads to a proliferation in new types of crime. The British Retail Consortium's first e-crime study published this week estimates that e-crime cost retailers a total of £205.4 million in 2011-12. This includes £...

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Design

Struggling consumer confidence to continue

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says that the UK's return to recession is a blow to the retail sector when a boost to consumer confidence is desperately needed. The BRC has previously warned that temporary bright spots, such as last month's retail sales figures, cannot disguise the fundamental difficulties faced by households and businesses....

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Design

Shoppers visiting retail stores increases

The number of shoppers visiting retail stores rose 1.8 per cent in the three months to the start of February, according to figures published today, but regional differences in footfall remains pronounced. Statistics for November, December & January, calculated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), automated customer counting company...

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Design

Vacant shop figures to rise in 2012

A new report has claimed that the number of empty shops on UK high streets is set to rise in 2012. The Local Data Company is forecasting an increase this year due to weak consumer confidence and the growth in online shopping. Commenting on the figures, Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium said: "The scale of...

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Design

EU discrimination for foreign retailers

According to new findings by the British Retail Consortium, discriminatory legislation is preventing UK retailers launching stores in EU countries. Not only does costly regulation make it difficult for small retailers, but beyond that the EU have failed to remove national barriers to cross border investment. The BRC claims that, while the UK is...

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Fashion

Retail jobs for school leavers over University​

The British Retail Consortium has said that working in the retail sector and gaining workplace qualifications is an ever more viable possibility for school leavers, looking to avoid the perils of heavy university debt. The leading retail body is to host a debate on the issue at the Labour Party Conference this morning, aiming to discuss whether...

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Fashion

Riots on London's high streets out of control

London’s retailers are in a state of fear as the riots which started in sub areas of London, a couple of days ago, have grown out of control. Debenhams have just announced they will be closing their Wimbledon and Eltham outlets after looters attacked their Clapham Junction store yesterday. A clothing business in Peckham High Street named Giselle...

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Fashion

More empty shops cause concern

High costs and low consumer spending caused an increase of retail insolvencies by up to 9% in the second quarter, according to new reports. It comes as a further damaging blow to the UK high street, where the new research by Pricewater House and the Local Data Company found that currently an average 20 shops are closing per day. With high street...

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Fashion

BRC urges further Independen​t support

With today being Independent Day and this month seeing the launch of the new Independents Retailer campaign, the British Retail Consortium has said Independent retailers and the high streets need a programme of support and investment from Government and local authorities to build on the efforts of campaigners. With consumers today being...

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Fashion

Consumers favour debit over credit card usage

Figures from the latest Cost of Payment Collection Survey by the British Retail Consortium reveal that customers are favouring debit cards over credit cards when making payments.The proportion of transactions using credit cards fell by 12.9% up to 2010 as shoppers made a bid to better manage their finances. Director General of the BRC Stephen...

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Fashion

Retail crime still on the up

Recent research shows that crime is still costing retailers millions of pounds even though huge investment has been made in preventative measures. Despite retailers investing more than £210 million in crime prevention in 2010, according to the British Retail Consortium’s most recent Retail Crime Survey, shoplifting cost retailers more than £137...

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Fashion

Retailers back new assembly in Northern Ireland and Wales

Following last week’s general election across Wales and Northern Ireland, The British Retail Consortium says they are ready to work with the new assembly governments to help their respective economies grow. BRC Director General Stephen Robertson said that retail is one of the few sectors in the UK that has been able to grow during the economic...

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