As part of its latest results, for the 16 weeks to 18 July 2024, the pet care retailer reported revenue at its veterinary business increased by 17.1%, and by 13.3% on a like-for-like basis. There was also higher average customer spending, and a 3% year-over-year increase in active Pets Club members as numbers hit eight million.

“The benefits of our investments in logistics, stores and digital are coming through, and our unique joint venture vets continued to deliver differentiated performance, growing visits and attracting new customers, driven by our passionate, independent practice owners,” explained Lyssa McGowan, chief executive, Pets at Home.

“As ever it is our people, and their unrivalled expertise, that continue to drive our business.”

The investment in logistics includes a 670,000 sq. ft purpose built facility at Stafford North Business Park, which opened last year. The site aims to support the pet care retailer’s omnichannel capabilities, but also underpin the next decade of growth.

As part of the DeliveryX Warehousing 2024 Report, George Lingwood, distribution & logistics director at Pets at Home explained that it now supplies its entire retail and ecommerce operations.

“We can supply all of our retail stores with agile delivery schedules, while also giving our customers the option of receiving their goods via a logistics solution which suits them. This includes everything from click and collect, next day to-door or delivery on a specific day that suits the customer,” stated Lingwood.

“We can even arrange deliveries to be picked up from a Pet at Home store so the customers can experience our great pet care centres and amazing instore colleagues.”

The exclusive interview also looks at automation, centralising operations and sustainability.

The Pets at Home interview is one of three in the DeliveryX Warehousing 2024 Report, with Currys’ discussing how its stores fit into the fulfilment model and Furniturebox covering how their warehouse is critical to a next-day delivery promise.

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The retailer explained that as the weather last summer was exceptionally favourable for clothing retailers, it had planned for full price sales to be down 0.3% in the second quarter this year. However, full price sales in the UK (online and retail combined) were slightly ahead of expectations, up 0.4%. Overseas ecommerce sales were much better than expected, up 21.9%.

Its latest trading statement, for the second quarter ending 01 August 2024, Next increased its profit guidance for its full year by £20mn to £980mn, a 6.7% uplift on the previous year.

Earlier this year, Next was ranked Elite in the RetailX UK Top500 2024. It stood out due to its mobile app performance, its use of navigation and for convenient collection and returns options.

The retailer said its strategy was to “retain the best of small-company common sense, speed and
decision making, whilst harnessing the best of big company infrastructure and resources”.

Through its Total Platform business it now operates a UK multichannel business of brands including Gap, Victoria’s Secret and Joules, taking a financial stake in many of them.

In fact, its latest trading statement credits its third-party brand strategy for the group’s success. Group sales, which includes sales in subsidiaries, were up 8.0% in the first half of the year. The additional growth in group sales came from the acquisition of FatFace and an increase in its shareholding in Reiss, both of which occurred in Q3 last year.

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The homewares retailer reported in trading results, for the 13-week period and full year ending 29 June 2024, that both instore and online channels performed well.

Nick Wilkinson, Dunelm’s chief executive officer, commented: “We delivered another strong performance in Q4, with continued volume-driven sales growth across both store and digital channels. Amidst ongoing consumer caution, our unrelenting focus on value and choice means the Dunelm proposition has continued to resonate with customers, and we saw both full-priced and discounted lines trade well during our summer sale period.

“Throughout the year, we grew sales and continued to exercise tight cost control in an environment of high inflation. Our strong gross margin performance means we now expect our FY24 profit before tax to be slightly ahead of expectations.

“Going into FY25, we have a significant opportunity ahead of us. We are finding quality sites for new stores, and are increasingly confident in our smaller format stores. We are also continuing to invest in both our digital offer and wider operations to support further market share gains. However, we will need to maintain strong operational grip given ongoing wage inflation. Notwithstanding the continuing uncertainty in our markets, we’re both excited and confident in our plans.”

Dunelm was recently ranked Leading in the RetailX UK Top500 2024 report. A company profile in the report looks at how the homeware giant prioritises customer experience. The profile looks at how value for money and the customer experience are strategic priorities for Dunelm.

Dunelm is just one of eight profiles in the RetailX UK Top500 2024 report, with Amazon, Ikea, Next, Asda, Boden, Richer Sounds & Very also discussed. The tenth edition of the UK Top500 also looks at the balance of retailing over the last decade.

Download the full report for a ranking of the leading 500 retailers, brands and marketplaces that sell in the UK today.

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It is understood that the consortium led by investment platform Aurea group, which is co-founded by UK-based entrepreneur and beauty tycoon Mike Jatania, would aim to retain the remaining Body Shop UK stores.

In February, its administrators announced the closure of almost half of The Body Shop’s 198 UK stores, with seven closing immediately, after the beauty retailer fell into administration.

In a new statement, joint administrators said: “Following a competitive bidding process, the joint administrators of The Body Shop International have now entered into an exclusivity agreement with a consortium led by Auréa group, with the management team to be led by former Molton Brown chief executive Charles Denton.

“While the deal is not yet complete, we believe the combined experience of the consortium, together with the existing management team, represents the best outcome for creditors and will ultimately ensure the long-term success of The Body Shop.

“A period of due diligence will now take place, with the intention to complete the transaction in the coming weeks.”

The Bristol-founded business has changed ownership several times over the past few years. It was bought by L’Oreal in 2006, before changing hands again in 2017 when the French cosmetics giant sold it to Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura&Co for €1bn.

Last November, Natura sold it to private investor Aurelius Group in a deal valued at £207mn after struggling financially.

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In the process, the company has also become one of German’s largest fashion brands, selling $3.8bn of goods in 2023, up from $2.2bn in 2019 and generating $2.4bn in profits.

Owned by Italian textile group Marzotto, which until 2005 also owned Valentino Fashion Group, another well-established luxury fashion brand, Hugo Boss operates more than 6,100 points of sale in 124 countries. Hugo Boss AG directly owns more than 364 shops, 537 mono-brand shops, and in excess of 1,000 franchisee-owned shops.

While the brand is a staple of luxury shoppers worldwide, it has become one of those luxury players to have embraced licensing agreements and collaborations with other brands outside the traditional luxury market.

For example, it works with Samsung, HTC and Huawei to produce Boss branded mobile phones, Nike to produce a range of Nike X Boss sports equipment, Movado to produce watches and Safilo to give it a toe-hold in eyewear.

The company has also been active in promoting sports and motor racing, sponsoring Italian Tennis ace Matteo Berrettini – using him as a global ambassador for the brand – and, most recently, sponsoring the Aston Martin Formula One team from 2022 to at least 2025. In previous seasons, Boss has also had its name on Mercedes and McLaren cars.

The company also has something of an environmental bent. In 2020, Hugo Boss was an early adopter of ethical materials, creating its first vegan men’s suit, using all non-animal materials, dyes and chemicals.

In December 2023, Hugo Boss announced its investment in Collateral Good, an organisation set up to create, support and promote new industrial systems and practices that promote positive environmental health. Boss is looking to use the organisation to, in its words, catalyse and accelerate sustainability in the fashion industry.

This company profile was authored by Paul Skeldon and originally appeared in the RetailX Global Luxury 2024 report.

We also look at some of the biggest and best brands in Luxury in more company profiles and company snapshots. We examine: Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Burberry, Cartier, Christian Louboutin, De Beers Group, Kering Beauté, L’Occitane, Loewe, Our Legacy, Pandora, Prada, Secoo, Swarovski, Titan, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vestiaire Collective, Yves Saint Laurent.

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In April, the retailer was subject to a software attack which not only disrupted trade but also impacted plans to restructure.

Carpetright currently has 272 stores with 1,850 UK jobs at risk. Parent firm Nestware Holdings stressed it was still trying to finalise additional funds.

“We remain focussed on securing external investment to ensure as few customers and colleagues are impacted as possible,” explained Kevin Barrett, CEO of Nestware Holdings.

“They are our main priority and we are taking all appropriate action to make sure they are informed and supported through this process.

“We have begun promising conversations with interested parties that are moving in the right direction, encouraging us that Carpetright has a viable future.”

There had been previous reports of pre-pack deal or company voluntary arrangement, with administrators in talks with The Floor Room. The London-based retailer is also owned by Carpetright’s parent company Nestware Holdings, and has a partnership with John Lewis.

Furthermore Tapi Carpets, which was founded by Carpetright founder Lord Harris’ son Martin Harris, has expressed interest in the retailer’s stores and supplier base.

This is not the first occasion that Carpetright has looked at a potential acquisition. In October 2019, the retailer hoped a proposed refinancing  – and possible acquisition – by its chief lender would help it to invest in stores and digital offering.

It has also more recently looked to cut more than 25% of its head office staff, putting around 70 jobs at risk. In a £22mn cost saving plan, roles in IT, warehousing and distribution would go.

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The retailer’s full year financial results also reported market share growing for the third consecutive year rising to 10.6%, versus the 8.9% market share held in 2020. Superdrug credited these positive figures on strong retail store performance, increased sales volume and continued Own Brand growth.

Superdrug stressed its ongoing investment into its stores in prime retail destinations contributed to robust sales during the financial period. It opened 14 new stores opening in key locations such as The Trafford Centre in Manchester, Brent Cross Shopping Centre and Braehead – Superdrug’s largest store in Scotland.

The larger stores have been designed to include spacious aisles where Superdrug customers can enjoy browsing the latest trending cosmetics and skincare products, Beauty Studios offering beauty services, premium fragrance counters and health services.

In addition to the new store locations, Superdrug has modernised and refitted 45 existing stores over the course of the year. Updates included new shop fronts, upgraded store Wi-Fi, new floor layouts, upgraded fascia and internal signage, improved flooring and ceiling tiles made from bio-soluble mineral wool, clay and starch and energy efficient LED lighting.

Volume sales for total revenue increased by 4.2 % year-on-year owing to Superdrug’s strategy to list up to the minute ‘Made by’ Superdrug products, providing the company with a significant point of difference and a means to showcase its innovation in the health and beauty market.

Additionally, ‘Exclusive to’ launches from brands including Biore SPF, Nyx X Barbie and fragrance by Billie Eilish made up a high proportion of sales, as customers snapped up the latest trending beauty products.

Superdrug’s CEO, Peter Macnab, commented: “Our vision is to be the UK’s leading accessible health & beauty retailer with high quality, affordable products at the heart of everything we do. Our financial results demonstrate the trust that customers are continually putting in us and I would like to thank our colleagues for their ongoing hard work and commitment and for living and breathing our vision every day. 

“Over the last year, we’ve continued to invest into our store estate to provide customers with best-in class shopping experiences. The strong store sales growth gives us the confidence that our strategy is working, and new stores are being welcomed by customers and the local community.

“As inflation continued to put pressure on households, at Superdrug we’ve invested heavily to keep our prices competitive and help families keep costs down. In May 2023, we reduced prices by 20%, equivalent to VAT across the Solait sun protection range to help make products more affordable for families and rolled out additional members only pricing across own brand ranges. The Superdrug Mobile tariff was also frozen for another year following an investment in a new platform and 5G services to provide our customers with more value for money.”

An exclusive company profile in the ChannelX European Marketplace Report looks how Superdrug aims to be the champion of both SMEs and startup brands.

The profile covers Superdrug becoming the UK’s first high street health and beauty retailer to have a marketplace – and beating Boots to the draw by a matter of weeks – the drive to create Superdrug Marketplace was the same as for any retailer: to rapidly expand online inventory and grow customer base as shoppers pivot to online. However, it has also been used as a means to helping promote and sell small, niche and start-up health and beauty brands.

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An exclusive company profile, authored by Paul Skeldon, highlights how Nike has been a dominant part of retail for decades and 2023 saw a further surge in sales, with revenues hitting $51.3bn in 2023, up from an already impressive $37.4bn in 2020.

This has been driven by a range of factors. Firstly, the company has a legacy of innovation, both technical and in terms of partnerships with athletes, sports personalities and, more recently, luxury brands and popstars.

Nike’s foundation in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight focused on providing high-quality footwear for athletes. Their commitment to innovation, evident in the waffle sole designed using Bowerman’s wife’s waffle iron, has been a constant. From introducing Air Jordans in collaboration with Michael Jordan to pioneering performance fabrics such as Dri-FIT, Nike has stayed at the forefront of athletic technology.

Few slogans hit as hard as “Just Do It” and that, alongside celebrity endorsements by iconic athletes, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods, has cemented Nike’s brand image as aspirational and motivational.

The brand has also used partnerships with luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Swarovski and Tiffany & Co, sprucing up its trainers with limited-edition luxury edits that push Nike firmly into the fashion and luxury apparel sectors.

This has opened up the brand to a whole new audience and shifted some of its reputation away from technical sports and high-street streetwear towards the high end of the market.

Nike’s growth in 2023 has been driven by external factors too. The athleisure trend, where athletic wear is worn for everyday activities, perfectly aligns with Nike’s core offerings in that it combines sports, technical materials and garments with fashion and streetwear.

As part of this, Nike has prioritised direct to consumer (D2C) selling, which drives growth while maintaining a tighter grip on brand image and distribution by tightening the link between its successful marketing strategy and direct sales.

This has seen the company invest heavily in its digital presence, creating a seamless online, cross-channel and mobile shopping experience. It has also made inroads into creating a more sustainable business and more sustainable products. This has seen the company reusing plastics, yarns and textiles, while creating new, more sustainable materials.

Its Nike Grind programme also sees surplus shoes broken down and reused to create rubber, foam, faux-leather, textiles and thermoplastics. These recycled materials can be used for playgrounds, store flooring, shop displays, playing field surfaces, courts, tracks and more, creating a sustainable sports future for the next generation.

This profile, authored by Paul Skeldon, is one of 16 company profiles in the recently published RetailX Global Sports Goods 2024 report.

The 44-page report gives a comprehensive overview of this dynamic sector through RetailX research, detailed graphics and exclusive case-studies. Inside the report we answer the most important questions about how shoppers are buying differently, as well as to reveal the main factors driving this change.

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The retailer, which is in early phases of exploring Generative AI and has identified over 60 potential use cases, did report a 2% drop in UK like-for-like sales. Scandinavian revenues were also down 3%, but group profits climbed 10%, following a pre-tax loss of £462mn last year.

Alex Baldock, group chief executive, Currys, commented: “We can see our progress in ever-more engaged colleagues, more satisfied customers and better financial performance. Continued growth in sales of solutions and services were particular highlights: they’re good for customers, margins and recurring revenues, and they lean on Currys’ competitive strengths. We’re planning prudently but confidently for the year ahead, on course to grow both profits and cashflow while carefully stepping back up to more normal investment levels.

“Encouraged as we are by our progress, we know we can go further. For one thing, we expect AI-powered technology to be the most exciting new product cycle since the tablet in 2010. With our partnerships, scale and expert colleagues to demystify AI, we’re best-placed to benefit.

“As ever, I’m thankful to our thousands of capable and committed colleagues, whose skill and will is an inspiration to me. With them we can go so much further, and they will benefit alongside customers, shareholders and society.”

Currys stressed it will continue to focus on an omnichannel shopping model. It will also provide services such as credit and installation. Furthermore, it will work to become Europe’s largest technology repair centre.

Discover more about Currys’ repair offering in an exclusive interview in the DeliveryX Returns 2024 report.

Launching on Friday 28 June 2024, the report sees Steve Pendleton, services operation director at Currys, explain how its repair offering fits into the technology retailer’s wider sustainability efforts.

This 24-page report also looks at what customers want from the returns experience; how the top retailers handle returns; and why data is key. Pre-register now, and receive the report in your inbox on release.

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In its full year results for the year ending 29 Feburary 2024, the UK-based beauty etailer grew its pre-tax profit to £11.4mn, up from a pre-tax loss of almost £34mn in the previous year.

Lauren Brindley, chief executive of Revolution Beauty, said: “FY24 was a year of great strategic and financial progress following two challenging years. I am extremely proud of what Team Revolution has achieved. Our new Reigniting the Revolution strategy is already delivering improvements across the business, strengthening our core and providing a much firmer platform from which to grow.”

The retailer’s strategy is to “revolutionise beauty for everyone and every ‘you’, and become a Top 5 mass beauty player by 2030”.

As part of its strategic transformation, Revolution Beauty will focus on its four top geographies; continue to reduce stock with holding down from £100mn to £48.5mn; and rationalisation the tail of un-profitable brands (seven to three) and SKUs by 25%.

Furthermore, in the UK it has new distribution landing in Boots with its TikTok UK shop launched in May. Its US TikTok offering will be introduced in Q3 FY25.

Learn more about TikTok’s impact on the beauty sector in the brand new RetailX Global Beauty 2024 report.

Download the report in full for comprehensive data analysis and expert insights, we uncover the factors driving growth and innovation within the beauty sector, providing valuable intelligence for beauty brands, retailers, and industry stakeholders.

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