Year: 2020

Chancellor set to unveil furlough replacement after Budget cancellation

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has cancelled this year’s Budget but is set to unveil new measures aimed at protecting employment and the UK economy in parliament later today (24 September). It is thought the new measures will replace the current furlough scheme, which is set to expire at the end of…

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Pets at Home welcomes ‘sustained’ momentum

Pets at Home has welcomed “sustained momentum” across both its retail and veterinary operations in its latest trading update. The group had previously reported that sales momentum was returning across all areas of the business in its first quarter results published 31 July.  According to the group, this reflected a…

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Cambridgeshire pet store warns of closure

The owners of a Cambridgeshire pet shop have warned that the business is in danger of closing down.  According to the Cambs Times, owners Phil Green and Helen Browne are now urging the customers of Pets Pantry to shop locally and “look after the small businesses” following the crisis. A…

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The Kennel Club offers guaranteed championship shows for 10 years

The Kennel Club has issued an offer of a guaranteed Championship show for a period of at least 10 years, as an incentive for breed clubs to “amalgamate where appropriate” for the breed. It comes as the group wants to encourage further breed clubs to “consider joining forces”. Those that…

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Dog groomer sets up Brighton salon

Dog groomer Lydia Woodman has opened up her own Brighton salon, after discovering that  a small pet supply shop where she groomed dogs was set to close.  Woofmans is now set to open today (22 September), after Woodman sold her car to fund the business opening.  Woodman told the Brighton…

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Footfall rises despite ‘rule of six’

Footfall across all retail destinations in the UK has risen by 2.4% in the last week, despite the government’s new ‘rule of six’ social distancing measure, according to data from analytics company Springboard. High street retailers saw a footfall increase of 5.2%, while shopping centres and retail parks saw a…

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Government launches £95m recovery fund for high street

A new £95m government-funded scheme will support 68 “historic” high streets in England to recover from “declining footfall” and the impact of the pandemic. The initiative, High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), will work with local authorities to convert disused buildings into new shops, workplaces and community spaces. HSHAZ will…

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Pets4Homes launches deposit scheme

Online pet marketplace, Pets4Homes, has launched a new deposit scheme service that is set to offer “peace of mind to all parties involved” in the rehoming process of animals.  It is reportedly the first platform of its kind to launch a deposit scheme, which ensures that a deposit, placed by…

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Mayor of London urges government to extend business rates holiday

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and London Councils have joined together to urge the Government to extend the business rates holiday and help protect thousands of jobs in London and across the country. Businesses in the retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare sectors are currently benefiting from 100% relief from…

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UK retail sales rise for fourth consecutive month

August saw retail sales volumes increase by 0.8% when compared with July, marking the fourth consecutive month of growth. According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), this resulted in an increase of 4% when compared with February’s pre-pandemic level of sales. The value of retail…

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