Geek Retreat moves into Dumfries and stays on track to open 60 stores by end of 2021

The geek culture retailer, Geek Retreat, is continuing on its ambitious plans for the UK with the successful launch of its new store in Dumfries, bringing its total numbers of shops around the country to 28.

Situated on Church Crescent and providing five local jobs, the new Geek Retreat store – a geek culture retailers, gaming cafe, and events space rolled into one – aims to offer a safe and friendly environment ‘where people can gather and enjoy shared interests.’

The retailer aims to provide for all fanbases within the geek culture community, from Marvel and Magic the Gathering to Yu-Gi-Oh, Warhammer, and Pokemon, as well as traditional board games. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a full menu with vegetarian, vegan, and kids’ options all developed in partnership with the food service firm, Booker.

The Geek Retreat has previously outlined the importance it places on providing an inclusive, welcoming, and social environment for its more vulnerable customers such as those with autism or with mental health issues. The retailer has a national partnership with the National Autistic Society, while the Dumfries store locally supports The D&G Queerier, LIFT D&G, and Dumfries Gamers.

Samuel Glendinning, franchise owner at Geek Retreat Dumfries, said: “We are excited to have opened our doors and be bringing something new and different to the Dumfries Town center and to the local community. A safe and inclusive place to play, relax, have fun and make friends, where they can share their love of all things geeky from anime and manga to trading card games such as Pokemon and Magic:The Gathering.”

Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, added: “The opening of the unique Geek Retreat store and café in Dumfries is great news. The store proposes to offer a safe, friendly environment where people can come and enjoy their shared gaming interests as well as traditional board games.

“It is also extremely welcome that Geek Retreat provides an inclusive, welcoming, and social environment for more vulnerable customers, like those with autistic spectrum or with mental health or anxiety issues. Geek Retreat has a national partnership with the National Autistic Society, and locally supports The D&G Queerier, LIFT D&G and Dumfries Gamers.

“I have no doubt that Geek Retreat will be an invaluable asset to Dumfries and I encourage all with gaming interests to pop in and see what it has to offer. I am looking forward to going along for myself in August.”

Geek Retreat is now on track to open 60 of its planned 100 new stores on high streets by the end of 2021, creating 360 jobs around the UK.  The franchise is on track to meet its previously announced target of a total of 100 new stores in 2022.

Its growth is echoed by the increasing popularity of boardgames, card trading and tabletop games which make up an industry worth £8 billion in the UK and is predicted to grow by 3.1 per cent annually over the next three years.

Peter Dobson, chief executive of Geek Retreat, said: “The success of the Dumfries store is another step in the growth of the Geek Retreat franchise. The Geek Retreat proposition and unique culture has proved particularly resilient during the pandemic and has shown us how important it is for people to have a safe please to visit and to share their interests with friends as part of a community.”

All stores commit to a COVID-19 secure environment, with strict social distancing and hygiene measures in place, to give customers extra piece of mind that they can visit in confidence.

Footfall tipped to rise almost 20 per cent as shoppers hit high streets this ‘Freedom Day’ week

Retail footfall is predicted to rise by 19.7 per cent this week, as shoppers take to high streets and towns now free of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions with face coverings and social distancing no longer mandatory in England.

In the latest from the retail analysts, Springboard, footfall is tipped to peak throughout the first weekend of ‘freedom’, with expected rises of 32.2 per cent on Friday, July 23 and 39.5 per cent on Saturday, July 24.

While the removal of restrictions in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will not be as comprehensive as in England, the fact that footfall in England accounts for around 85 per cent of all footfall in the UK will drive an uplift in overall shopper activity.

The degree of the increase in footfall is expected to differ across the three key retail destination types. The removal of remaining restrictions on the hospitality sector including restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs, will help the high street to a 25 per cent footfall increase, Springboard predicts.

This will be followed by an 18 per cent increase in footfall at Shopping Centres, while retail parks are tipped to see the lowest increases, at 10 per cent.

The anticipated uplift following Phase 3 of the government’s easing of restrictions is forecast to be significantly greater than the one per cent observed when indoor hospitality reopened in May this year.

The current good weather also has a role to play in the increases, as does Freedom Day’s coincidence with the start of the school holidays and the number of Brits choosing to summer holiday within the UK this year.

Diane Wehrle, Springboard insights director, said: “The long awaited Freedom Day on Monday will see footfall bounce back across the UK, to a more significant magnitude than when indoor hospitality reopened in May, with rises seen across all three retail destinations.

“With summer holiday commencing and many opting for a Summer Staycation in the UK, footfall will continue to rise throughout JUly and into August as many look to enjoy the good weather.”

‘Freedom Day’ hasn’t, however, been welcomed by all with many leaders in the retail space calling for public caution and consideration when shopping, including the use of facemasks in shops and taking their own measures on social distancing.

Footfall tipped to rise almost 20 per cent as shoppers hit high streets this ‘Freedom Day’ week

Retail footfall is predicted to rise by 19.7 per cent this week, as shoppers take to high streets and towns now free of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions with face coverings and social distancing no longer mandatory in England.

In the latest from the retail analysts, Springboard, footfall is tipped to peak throughout the first weekend of ‘freedom’, with expected rises of 32.2 per cent on Friday, July 23 and 39.5 per cent on Saturday, July 24.

While the removal of restrictions in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will not be as comprehensive as in England, the fact that footfall in England accounts for around 85 per cent of all footfall in the UK will drive an uplift in overall shopper activity.

The degree of the increase in footfall is expected to differ across the three key retail destination types. The removal of remaining restrictions on the hospitality sector including restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs, will help the high street to a 25 per cent footfall increase, Springboard predicts.

This will be followed by an 18 per cent increase in footfall at Shopping Centres, while retail parks are tipped to see the lowest increases, at 10 per cent.

The anticipated uplift following Phase 3 of the government’s easing of restrictions is forecast to be significantly greater than the one per cent observed when indoor hospitality reopened in May this year.

The current good weather also has a role to play in the increases, as does Freedom Day’s coincidence with the start of the school holidays and the number of Brits choosing to summer holiday within the UK this year.

Diane Wehrle, Springboard insights director, said: “The long awaited Freedom Day on Monday will see footfall bounce back across the UK, to a more significant magnitude than when indoor hospitality reopened in May, with rises seen across all three retail destinations.

“With summer holiday commencing and many opting for a Summer Staycation in the UK, footfall will continue to rise throughout JUly and into August as many look to enjoy the good weather.”

‘Freedom Day’ hasn’t, however, been welcomed by all with many leaders in the retail space calling for public caution and consideration when shopping, including the use of facemasks in shops and taking their own measures on social distancing.

UK retail enjoys best quarter on record as sales surge 13.1 per cent

Retail sales have seen a record increase over the past three months, amounting to the ‘best quarter on record’ with shoppers returning to stores in force since the easing of lockdown restrictions back in April.

According to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor, total sales in June increased 13.1 per cent against a decline of 1.3 per cent in June 2019, fuelled by stores re-opening and the continued allure of online shopping.

On a like for like basis, UK retail sales increased 17 per cent from June 2019, when they had decreased 1.6 per cent from the preceding year.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The second quarter of 2021 saw exceptional growth as the gradual unlocking of the UK economy encouraged a release of pent-up demand built up over previous lockdowns.

“In June, while growth in food sales begun to slow, non food sales were bolstered by growing consumer confidence and the continued unleashing of consumer demand. With many people taking staycations, or cheaper UK-based holidays, many have found they have a little extra to spend at the shops, with strong growth in-store in June.”

The good news for retail hasn’t, however, come without its warning, and Dickinson has suggested that UK retail is still ‘facing strong headwinds’ with many retailers ‘still making up for ground lost during the previous lockdowns.’

Footfall in city centres remains low, while international tourism is still well below pre-pandemic levels.

“Consumer comfort with the next stage of the roadmap will be key to the ongoing success of retail. Many customers are looking forward to a return to a more normal shopping experience, while others may be discouraged by the change in face covering rules.

“The government will need to reassure the public on safety, while pushing forward with its hugely successful vaccination programme.

“The public will also need to be understanding of one another during the easing of restrictions; there has been a big rise in violence and abuse against retail workers during the pandemic and colleagues cannot be put in the firing line because of this change in policy.”

Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, added: “Retail sales growth continued in June, albeit at a slower rate as the re-opening of hospitality and leisure sectors led to a dilution in consumer spending. The fight for share of wallet is underway, as consumers unleash pent up demand for social activities as restrictions in the UK continue to unwind.

“While the high street saw continued growth in June, with sales up 10 per cent, online sales fell back by seven per cent compared to June 2020.  However, penetration rates for online sales remain much higher than their pre-pandemic levels, suggesting the shift to online is here to stay.

“Retailers are facing challenges on a number of fronts, particularly convincing consumers that it’s safe to shop in store as restrictions around mask wearing and social distancing come to an end. With travel now looking to be back on the agenda for summer and Government COVID-19 support packages slowly coming to an end, retailers will be hoping that the feel good factor from Euro 2020 and lifting of COVID-19 restrictions will give the high street the summer boost it needs.”

Gap to close all 81 UK and Ireland stores and move online-only to ‘meet shoppers where they are’

Fashion retailer, Gap is exiting the UK high street, with plans to close all 81 stores in the UK and Ireland, the American company has confirmed this week.

The decision has been struck following a review of the fashion brand’s operations across Europe and will see the company shift to online only in the markets affected. As a result, all 81 stores across the UK and Ireland will be shut ‘in a phased manner’ from the end of August through to the end of September this year.

The move is part of the firm’s strategy to ‘meet customers where they are shopping’, detailing its plans to become a ‘digital first business’ as it now begins the search for a partner to help it drive its business online.

“In the United Kingdom and Europe, we are going to maintain our Gap online business,” said the company in a statement issue this week.

“However, due to market dynamics in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, we shared with our team today that we are proposing to close all company-operated Gap Specialty and Gap Outlet stores in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland in a phased manner from the end of August through the end of September 2021.

“We are thoughtfully moving through the consultation process with our European team, and we will provide support and transition assistance for our colleagues as we look to wind down stores.”

The news is seen as another blow to the UK high street which has suffered a number of losses over the last 18 months, including brands Debenhams which closed its last remaining stores on May 15th this year and was bought by Boohoo for £55m in January to operate as an online-only, and Arcadia, the group behind Topshop, Burton, and Dorothy Perkins which closed 31 stores this year after falling into administration in November 2020.

Several of its brands were bought by online retailer ASOS, including Topshop and Topman.

Disney confirms it’s in ‘consultation with group of UK Stores’ over closures

Disney has confirmed that it is holding consultations with an initial group of stores in the UK about their closure in its first official acknowledgement of speculation that all but its flagship London store was to shut up shop in the UK.

Rumours have been circulating that Disney has been planning to close all but one of its 34 stores in the UK, leaving its London Oxford Street store open to the public as its flagship bricks and mortar destination.

As tracked by the Snopes.com online resource, shutdowns of the Disney’s country-wide fleet of shops appear to be happening on a store-by-store basis. One of the latest to face closure is the company’s Highcross, Leicester unit.

The Disney pop-up in Highcross has, according to the Leicester Mercury, seen significant amount of success since it was welcomed back to the retail space in 2017. However, officials at Disney have since confirmed that it is now one of a number of stores part of a consultation period, with the possibility of closure.

A statement from a Disney Store spokesperson, said: “We are currently in consultation with an initial group of Stores in the UK, including our Leicester Store.”

Benzinga has been following the developments of the Disney Store in the US, reporting that in March this year, the retail operation of the global corporation detailed its efforts to pivot from brick and mortar stores to e-commerce, beginning with the closure of at least 60 of its North American stores.

“While consumer behaviour has shifted toward online shopping, the global pandemic has changed what consumers expect from a retailer,” said Stephanie Young, president of consumer products, games, and publishing.

“Over the past few years, we have been focusing on meeting consumers where they are already spending their time, such as the expansion of Disney Store shops-in-shops around the world.

“We now plan to create a more flexible, interconnected e-commerce experience that gives consumers easy access to unique, high quality products across all of our franchises.”

The strategy appears to be implemented in other European countries, including in Ireland where a single Disney Stores is expected to remain in Dublin, and in France where stores will remain operational at Disneyland Paris and on the Champs-Elysees.

Up to 70 of the UK’s shopping centres face closure and redevelopment due to shifting consumer habits

Around 70 shopping centres across the UK are facing the threat of closure owing to the longer lasting impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the lean into online shopping over the past year.

Reports suggest that over-expansion of retail space must also be factored in when assessing the current health of the UK’s shopping centre sector, with the future of some ten per cent of the UK’s 700 shopping centres now in the balance. It is believed that a number of the centre built in the 1970s and ’80s will be at least partly redeveloped into homes, offices, or for other uses.

According to a Local Data Company (LDC) analysis of centres in England, Scotland, and Wales, at least 30 shopping centres in the UK are now at a minimum half empty, including five that are now more than 80 per cent vacant. A further 34 have between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of their shops vacant, with at least 10 shops in them.

Shopping centres across the UK have been dealt a blow by the coronavirus pandemic that has not only seen forced lockdowns shut major retail destinations like themselves, but has also driven consumers to online shopping, as well as a new preference for staying local in the midst of social restrictions.

“There’s no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of the challenges we were seeing across the physical retail environment, with shopping centres having been particularly exposed to categories in decline, such as fashion and casual dining,” LDC commercial director Lucy Stainton said.

It’s according to the head of retail research at Knight Frank, Stephen Springham, that 10 per cent of the UK’s shopping centres are no longer viable. Springham also believes that a further 20 to 30 per cent will need a ‘significant overhaul’, with shops retained, but large portions of each given up for homes, offices, and other uses.

A number of the UK’s shopping centres already set for development include the likes of Nottingham’s Broadmarsh, where demolition starts this month, Stockton’s Castlegate, the Riverside Centre in Shrewsbury, the Chilterns Centre in High Wycombe, and Nicholsons in Maidenhead.

Mary Portas and Charlotte Tilbury appeal for Shop Out to Help Out scheme to support indie retailers next month

The High Street hero, Mary Portas has issued a plea to the government to support family-run stores with a Shop Out to Help Out scheme upon the lifting of restrictions on non essential retailers this April 12th.

Portas has joined major high street names in fashion and beauty, Henry Holland and Charlotte Tilbury, to throw a collective weight behind an initiative developed to boost business for local, independent retailers when businesses reopen again next month.

The concept borrows from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme that was launched last August, through which customers were encouraged to use cafes and restaurants with subsidised meals. The campaign for small shops now wants a similar programme, suggesting that the state cover 50 per cent of the cost of goods bought at indie, non essential retailers.

The campaign suggests that the scheme is capped at £10.

Like Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, it would run for a month in the summer, with discounts running form Monday to Wednesday, however, it would be limited to independent firms with fewer than ten staff, selling in physical stores.

First reported by the Daily Mail, government ministers are said to be ‘receptive’ to the proposal that suggests that the government would reimburse retailers with customers able to get one discount per transaction.

Portas said: “Covid-19 has chipped away at the brilliant diversity of our high streets. We need to act now to harness the support, need and love that people have for our high streets.

“These businesses, in the pandemic, have held our communities together. A scheme like this will bring a vital lease of life back to places that mean so much to us.”

Tilbury, the founder of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, said: “Independent retailers need our support to continue sharing their unique magic.”

Holland, founder of the House of Holland fashion brand, added: “Independent retailers bring our high streets to life with boundless creativity, unique points of view and a bottomless pit of ideas that you simply cannot get anywhere else.”

The idea is part of a wider campaign to support small firms – from shops to salons – dubbed Save The Street. It is orchestrated by pop-up shop specialist Appear Here.

Mary Portas and Charlotte Tilbury appeal for Shop Out to Help Out scheme to support indie retailers next month

The High Street hero, Mary Portas has issued a plea to the government to support family-run stores with a Shop Out to Help Out scheme upon the lifting of restrictions on non essential retailers this April 12th.

Portas has joined major high street names in fashion and beauty, Henry Holland and Charlotte Tilbury, to throw a collective weight behind an initiative developed to boost business for local, independent retailers when businesses reopen again next month.

The concept borrows from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme that was launched last August, through which customers were encouraged to use cafes and restaurants with subsidised meals. The campaign for small shops now wants a similar programme, suggesting that the state cover 50 per cent of the cost of goods bought at indie, non essential retailers.

The campaign suggests that the scheme is capped at £10.

Like Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, it would run for a month in the summer, with discounts running form Monday to Wednesday, however, it would be limited to independent firms with fewer than ten staff, selling in physical stores.

First reported by the Daily Mail, government ministers are said to be ‘receptive’ to the proposal that suggests that the government would reimburse retailers with customers able to get one discount per transaction.

Portas said: “Covid-19 has chipped away at the brilliant diversity of our high streets. We need to act now to harness the support, need and love that people have for our high streets.

“These businesses, in the pandemic, have held our communities together. A scheme like this will bring a vital lease of life back to places that mean so much to us.”

Tilbury, the founder of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, said: “Independent retailers need our support to continue sharing their unique magic.”

Holland, founder of the House of Holland fashion brand, added: “Independent retailers bring our high streets to life with boundless creativity, unique points of view and a bottomless pit of ideas that you simply cannot get anywhere else.”

The idea is part of a wider campaign to support small firms – from shops to salons – dubbed Save The Street. It is orchestrated by pop-up shop specialist Appear Here.

Chancellor ‘considering tax on online giants’ to help payback Government’s Covid spending

Amazon and other major online retailers could be facing a new online sales tax to help the UK pay its debts following extensive borrowing during the pandemic.

Treasury sources have confirmed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering initiating a tax that will target companies who have done well out of the coronavirus crisis in order to help pay back UK government debts.

The new tax is being considered as part of a business rates review after a consultation was held last year. It also emerges following calls from business leaders of 18 companies, including Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waterstones, and more, for a fundamental overhaul of how retailers are taxed in the UK.

Amazon saw sales in the UK increase by 51 per cent to nearly £20bn in 2020 as lockdown restrictions forced people to shop online. A report last week however, has suggested that the online behemoth paid just £71 million in business rates on its entire UK estate, including fulfilment centres, research and development centres, corporate offices in London, Amazon Lockers, Whole Foods Market stores, and delivery stations.

Furthermore, and according to real estate advisor Altus Group, who conducted the research, this represented a tax to turnover ratio of just 0.37 per cent.

Tesco’s chief executive Ken Murphy has now pushed for a one per cent levy on online sales, a move which could drastically alter the UK’s retail landscape, and a move that is now being considered by the Chancellor as attention turns to plans to help the UK’s high streets survive the pandemic.

Leaked emails showed Treasury officials had summoned tech firms and retailers to a meeting this month to discuss the online sales tax. The Sunday Times reported that Downing Street is also looking at introducing an ‘excessive profits tax’ on companies that have seen profits surge due to Covid-19.

“We want to see thriving high streets, which is why we’ve spent tens of billions of pounds supporting shops throughout the pandemic and are supporting town centres through the changes online shopping brings,” said a Treasury spokesman.

“Our business rates review call for evidence included questions on whether we should shift the balance between online and physical shops by introducing an online sales tax. We’re considering responses now.”

The Centre for Retail Research said that high street retailers paid around 2.3 per cent of annual retail sales in business rates before the pandemic.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said that ministers should not prevent businesses’ ability to recover from the pandemic.

“The key to reviving our high streets is fundamental reform of the business rates system and we oppose any new taxes that increase the cost burden on the industry which is already too high,” she said. “Economic recovery after Covid will be powered by consumer demand – the Chancellor should ensure he doesn’t introduce any new taxes that stifle this.”

Amazon has said that it will not comment on the online sales tax reports.