Year: 2020

Puppy boutique start-up opens its doors

Pup Chic Boutique has opened its doors for business, offering a selection of dog accessories as well as matching human apparel.  The Essex-based business first began in lockdown, when founder Samantha Henry was inspired to start the shop after struggling to find collars and harnesses that would fit her toy…

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700,000 jobs at risk as end of furlough scheme draws near

Over 700,000 employees are at risk of being made redundant in the second half of 2020, research from Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has revealed. IES estimates that some 650 thousand redundancies are expected in the second half of 2020, with 445 thousand redundancies in the three months between July…

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Insolvent companies cost taxpayers £250m 

Insolvent companies that were unable to pay their debts in the first six months of 2020 have cost British taxpayers almost £250m, according to Altus Group.  The software group found that the amount paid to former members of staff was up by £133.79m in the period against the prior year,…

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The future of pet retailing

Following a survey of our members, we have a clear picture of the impact of Covid-19 on the pet food industry to this point. Initially, sales in pet food peaked. People were stockpiling other essential items, and this was extended to pet food. This was followed by a small trough…

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Edgard & Cooper announces further expansion

Edgard and Cooper has announced a further expansion for the group after it secured a major listing with Fressnapf, a leading pet supplies retailer across Europe.  The natural pet food brand first launched in 2016 and continues to “grow rapidly” across Europe. Growth last year exceeded 145%, while the group…

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John Burns Foundation HQ opens its doors

The John Burns Foundation HQ has officially opened its doors, after the charity moved to a new flagship building following the completion of a construction phase.  To mark its opening, the new site was visited by Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price and Helen Mary Jones, minister for Mid and West…

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Businesses hit by local lockdowns to receive grants

Businesses in England that are required to shut due to local lockdowns will now be able to claim up to £1,500 per property every three weeks, the Government has announced. Chief secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, announced the new funding plan yesterday (10 September) as part of ongoing efforts…

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Pet treats boom as Brits bid to beat lockdown blues

Britain’s cats and dogs have emerged from lockdown licking their lips as pet treats sales boom, the first annual petcare market report, released by market leader Mars Petcare, reveals. Across the board, treats value sales surged year on year from the week of the UK’s first Covid-19 case in February…

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How pet brands can best utilise social media

During lockdown there was a surge in sales for pet related products with new puppies, kittens, and everything else in between joining happy households right across the UK. Sales and demand for pet food and accessories have been strong, but for many brands (especially more niche ones) that poses a…

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125,500 retail jobs lost since start of 2020

Some 125,515 retail jobs have been lost since the start of 2020, according to the latest data from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR). Of this figure, 43,381 jobs were lost through administrations, 10,556 through CVAs and 71,578 through rationalisation schemes. The UK’s embattled high street has also seen the…

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