Retailers

May- 2021 -

26 May

Just for Pets pledges support for smaller pet businesses

Specialist pet retailer Just for Pets has pledged to support smaller and “innovative” pet businesses beyond the pandemic through a newly revealed support scheme. To help business start-ups under the Best of British pledge, the group has agreed to pay smaller product suppliers under the scheme up front for stock,…

19 May

Pet Media Group acquires Dutch marketplace

Pet Media Group, the operator of Europe’s largest online marketplace for pets, Pets4Homes, has acquired the Netherlands’ largest pet dog classifieds site, Puppyplaats.nl. The acquisition is reportedly in line with the group’s ongoing strategy to become the “dominant destination globally for pets and their caregivers”, and follows its recent acquisitions…

12 May

Taylor & Hart launches ‘Pooch Pendants’ range

Taylor and Hart has announced the launch of its new range of ‘Pooch Pendants’ for wedding ceremonies. The design of each specific pendant is set to match a dog’s collar with their owner’s engagement ring. A recent survey by the bespoke jeweller found that 30% of pet owners either have…

5 May

UK retail footfall hit by bad weather

New data from Springboard has revealed that footfall at UK retail destinations dropped by 2% last week from the previous seven-day period, despite the reopening of non-essential retail stores across the country. The footfall decrease was primarily due to a considerable drop of 6.1% in high street footfall, despite footfall…

Apr- 2021 -

20 April

Hammerson to slash rents by 30%

Hammerson has announced it is planning to slash rents for retail tenants by around 30% as non-essential shops prepare to reopen. Mark Bourgeois, the group’s managing director, said: “We reckon across the board and our business we’ll probably reduce rents from their peak by about 30% so we are really…

15 April

Postman Pooch launches PubGrub box for dogs

Postman Pooch has launched a PubGrub box for dogs that “allows your dogs to enjoy a bottle of pup-peroni, a bottle of dog-friendly wino and some sweet and savoury snacks while you sit and enjoy a fresh pint or glass of G&T in the sun”. The new launch coincides with…

Mar- 2021 -

29 March

Extended retail opening hours to continue post-lockdown

The extended daily opening hours for non-essential retail are set to continue in a bid to encourage people back to the highstreet, according to the government. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick said the move will “help ensure the safe re-opening of non-essential shops by giving people greater flexibility to avoid peak…

9 March

Scruffs launches new pet bedding collection

Scruffs, a Manchester-based pet bedding and accessory specialist has revealed its new Kensington and Knightsbridge Collection. The beds from the collection have been designed to provide support to pets, as well as compliment all home decors with a “slick” colour palette. The Kensington collection features a “stylish brushed effect eco-suede”…

8 March

Footfall drops to 73.5% in February

The UK witnessed the second-largest drop in retail footfall since May 2020 last month, with figures falling 73.5%. According to the BRC, the drop represented only a 3.4% percentage point improvement from January. The figures come from the latest ShopperTrak analysis, which has recently joined retail solutions company, Sensormatic Solutions.…

Feb- 2021 -

24 February

PFMA raises alarm bells over EU export challenges

Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) has raised alarm bells over the “severe” challenges faced by pet food businesses exporting to the EU. The association found that in a survey of PFMA memberships, it exposed a “myriad” of problems as well as highlighting that only one-third of businesses that had “attempted…