High Street
The high street remains a vital battleground for pet retailers, balancing in-person service with growing digital competition. Pet Gazette covers the role of independent pet shops, regional chains, and national retailers on UK high streets — reporting on shop openings and closures, rent pressures, footfall trends, and evolving customer expectations. We also examine localised marketing strategies, product merchandising, and how high street stores adapt to omni-channel retail. For wholesalers and suppliers, this tag offers visibility into the challenges and opportunities facing brick-and-mortar stockists across towns and cities.
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Sep- 2020 -22 SeptemberRetailers
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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21 SeptemberCoronavirus
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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17 SeptemberGovernment & Legislation
Government extends commercial eviction ban until end of year
The government has decided to extend its commercial property eviction ban until the end of 2020. Businesses have been shielded from eviction over the last six months through the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria, which was originally set to end on 1 October. Retail and hospitality trade associations, including…
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14 SeptemberCoronavirus
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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11 SeptemberFeatures
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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10 SeptemberCoronavirus
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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8 SeptemberRetailers
Pet boutique to open in Folkestone
A new pet boutique is set to open its doors in Folkestone, after its opening was initially delayed by the coronavirus crisis. Local resident Debbie Convery will now open Not for Humans, after being “inspired” by local residents who helped her find her missing dog. Convery told Kent Online: “Two…
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8 SeptemberEconomy
UK retail sales increase by 4.7% in August
UK retail sales in August have increased by 4.7% on a like-for-like basis from August 2019, according to figures released in BRC-KPMG’s Retail Sales Monitor report for the month. Overall sales increased by 3.9% in the period, in comparison to a decline of 0.4% in August 2019. This is above…
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2 SeptemberRetailers
EOHO boosts retail footfall in last week of August
Footfall across all UK retail destinations rose by 6% over the week ended 29 August, according to the latest figures from Springboard. The latest figures still marked an annual decline of 26.1%, though this was a “noticeable improvement” against the year-on-year decline of 30.7% the week before. In the final…
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Aug- 2020 -28 AugustRetailers
Burgos Pet World extends aquatic centre
Burgos Pet World has formally opened an extension to its shop in order to provide a new aquatic centre, according to local paper the Andover Advertiser. The family-run pet store was first opened in 1972 in Ragged Appleshaw, before relocating to Andover three years later. After moving back to Ragged…
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