Walpole news and archive

London: Luxury retailer confidence drops despite surge in affluent population

Luxury retailers have reported a drop in positivity towards business prospects in London despite a surge in affluent customers both living and visiting the city. According to Walpole’s ‘State of London Luxury Report 2024’, retailer positivity dropped from 71 percent in 2023 to 53 percent in the current year. The cause for such sentiments was...

BusinessFeatured

UK luxury sector worth 81 billion pounds to the economy

The British luxury sector is now worth 81 billion pounds annually to the UK economy, supporting more than 450,000 jobs across various sectors, making it one of the top industry drivers of the economy, according to a new report from Walpole. The ‘Luxury in the Making’ report from the industry body that represents more than 250 British luxury...

Fashion |Beauty Featured

Walpole names Brands of Tomorrow for 2024

Walpole, the industry body for the British luxury sector, has named 12 early-stage brands for its year-long ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ programme, including sustainable eyewear brand Monc and bridal destination Gigi & Olive. The ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ mentoring initiative, in association with law firm Mishcon de Reya, will help each of the brands...

Fashion |Beauty Featured

Ozwald Boateng, Boodles and Sunspel win at Walpole awards

The Walpole British Luxury Awards, which celebrates the contribution that luxury and high-end businesses make to the UK, honoured Boodles, Neal’s Yard Remedies, and fashion designer Ozwald at its 2023 event. The awards featured ten categories celebrating design, innovation, talent and craftsmanship at the heart of Britain’s luxury sector, from...

BusinessFeatured

Walpole pushes for the reinstatement of tax-free shopping for visitors in the UK

Walpole, the industry body that represents more than 250 British luxury companies, has published its inaugural ‘State of London Luxury’ report in partnership with Cadogan, which manages more than 90 acres of Chelsea and Knightsbridge and is calling for the reinstatement of a tax-free shopping scheme for international visitors. The report, which...

BusinessFeatured

Walpole to promote British brands in New York

Walpole, the industry body that represents more than 250 British luxury companies, is taking a delegation of 25 members including Neal's Yard Remedies and Harris Tweed Hebrides to New York this week. The Anglo-American luxury trade delegation will host a programme of events and meetings in New York to promote British luxury in the US, as well as...

BusinessFeatured

Walpole announces the 2023 Brands of Tomorrow

Walpole, the industry body for the British luxury sector, has named 12 early-stage brands that will participate in its year-long Brands of Tomorrow programme, including sustainable knitwear label Navygrey and ethical jewellery brand Roxanne First. The programme, which is now in its 16th year, will offer each of the brands workshops and mentoring...

Fashion Featured

Mulberry and Chanel among the winners at the Walpole British Luxury Awards

The Walpole British Luxury Awards, which celebrates the contribution that luxury and high-end businesses make to the UK, honoured Mulberry, Chanel, Edward Sexton, Fortnum & Mason and Harris Tweed Hebrides at its 2022 event. Mulberry was awarded the Sustainable Brand of the Year, recognising the progress that it has made towards its ‘Made to Last...

BusinessFeatured

UK retail and luxury sectors urge new PM for more business support

The UK’s luxury and retail sectors have called on the new prime minister Rishi Sunak to offer more support for businesses amid rising inflation. Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), congratulated Sunak on his new role, adding that he takes on the job in “one of the most challenging economic periods...

RetailFeatured

Luxury brands call for tax-free shopping in the UK

Luxury trade body Walpole, which includes Burberry, Harrods, and Claridge’s among its members, is calling for the reintroduction of the VAT RES scheme, which it states could result in direct retail sales of at least 1.2 billion pounds. 250 luxury brands are calling on the government to reintroduce tax-free shopping to ensure that the UK’s...

Fashion Featured

Walpole unveils ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ for 2022

Walpole, the industry body for the British luxury sector, has named 12 fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands that will take part in its year-long ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ mentorship programme. The initiative, which is now in its 15th year, unveiled the 12 “early-stage” brands taking part in its 2022 Brands of Tomorrow programme of workshops and...

People

Walpole names top 50 “most influential” people in British luxury

Walpole, the industry body for the British luxury sector, has announced ‘The 2022 Power List’ featuring the “most influential” people in British luxury, who it notes “despite enormous challenges throughout the past two years, have continued to steer the sector to success”. The list was unveiled at the Corinthia London on January 11 and features...