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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Nov- 2020 -3 NovemberBusiness
Half-term sees footfall rise 6.2%
Footfall rose by 6.2% during half-term in the UK, according to the latest data from retail experts Springboard. This is despite a 53.7% footfall decrease in Wales, following the country’s two-week ‘firebreak’ lockdown. Retail park, high street and shopping centre rose by 3.5%, 5.2% and 11% over the period, respectively.…
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Oct- 2020 -23 OctoberRetailers
Sutton pet shop to close after 40 years of trading
A Sutton-in-Ashfield pet shop has announced it will close its doors for the final time next week after almost 40 years of trading, according to local reports. According to local paper Chad, pet and fishing shop Petscene will close after its two owners made the decision to retire. Brother-in-laws Cliff…
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23 OctoberEconomy
UK retail sales grow for fifth consecutive month
Retail sales in the UK have risen for the fifth consecutive month, despite the introduction of the tiered lockdown system, according to the latest figures released by the ONS. Last month, overall growth in sales volume was up 5.5% compared with February’s pre-pandemic levels. In the three months to the…
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19 OctoberCoronavirus
Burns launches loyalty scheme to support high streets
Burns Pet Nutrition has issued a plea to members of the public to support local high streets in a bid to help small businesses survive the pandemic. The pet food company is now calling on pet owners to buy their pet food from local stores, and has now launched a…
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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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