Insight Report | November 12, 2020 Premium Retail Robustness Index: November 2020 Update—Most Metrics Improve SlightlyCoresight Research’s Retail Robustness Index evaluates the 100 largest US retailers (by revenue) on their ability to weather dramatic shifts in demand as the Covid-19 lockdowns began. The November update revises the scores based on financial reports and store-reopening announcements. Alongside the report, our infographic summarizes key changes since the previous Retail Robustness Index update in October. Read More
Flash Report | October 26, 2020 Register for Free Access Introducing the New Coresight 100: The Companies Reinventing RetailWith 2020 having accelerated the pace of change in retail, we have re-evaluated the Coresight 100, our focus list of the top 100 of the largest and most influential companies in the global retail ecosystem. We introduce the new list of the top companies to watch, which spans eight sectors and now includes select innovators and private companies. Read More
Insight Report | September 15, 2020 Premium The Slow Decline of Private-Label Clothing in Europe: Global LearningsAn increasing shift from private-label apparel to branded clothing has emerged among numerous major clothing retailers in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. We discuss this trend and its implications for brands, retailers and intermediary vendors. Read More
Insight Report | July 27, 2020 Premium June 2020 UK Retail Sales: Reopening of Nonessential Stores Drives Strong Recovery in Discretionary SectorsUK retail sales saw significant improvement in June and almost reached pre-lockdown levels following the reopening of nonessential stores and the release of pent-up consumer demand. We review June data for UK retail in total and by sector. Read More
Deep Dive | May 5, 2020 Premium International Apparel Retail in India: Evolving High-Growth Market Attracts More PlayersIndia’s large and lucrative apparel retail market is attracting growing interest from international retailers, with a number of brands plotting their market entry and expansion. We examine the market landscape—including economic reform, entry routes and socioeconomic factors—and discuss its key players. Read More
Store Tracker | February 20, 2020 Premium Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 8: Pier 1 Imports Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from At Home and Pier 1 Imports in the US and Marks & Spencer and Shoe Zone in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | January 21, 2020 Premium December 2019 UK Holiday 2019 Retail Sales and Trading Review: December Recovery Too Modest To Rescue Total Holiday SalesWith soft total growth, UK retail saw a weak 2019 holiday season overall. Beneficiaries of shifts to e-commerce and discount channels were the exceptions. Read More
Deep Dive | November 13, 2019 Premium UK Department Stores: A Year of DeclineDepartment stores in the UK are facing tough conditions while being tied into long leases. Some UK retailers have entered into administration or used company voluntary arrangements to prevent collapse. This report focuses on the struggles of four of the UK’s biggest names: Debenhams, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis. Read More
Deep Dive | August 28, 2019 Premium Silver Consumers in Europe, 2019In many parts of Europe, the senior population (65 and over) already accounts for 20% of the total population and will expand to 25% by 2030. In this report, we examine the size and growth of the senior population in Europe and key population and spending data in the UK — a major economy in a region in which the population is aging fast. Read More
Company Earnings Update | May 23, 2019 Register for Free Access M&S (LSE: MKS) FY19 Results: Changing Faster with Ocado JV and Further Store ClosuresM&S reported FY19 total sales of £10.4 billion, down 3.0% year over year, and roughly in line with the consensus estimate by StreetAccount. Read More
Market Outlook | April 17, 2019 Premium Europe’s Legacy Retailers Squeezed by Muted Consumer Demand and Structural Shifts: Sector Overview — European RetailThis report covers European retailing, with a focus on the UK, Germany and France. Structural trends challenging middleground legacy retailers include an ongoing attrition of market share to online and discount channels. Read More
Flash Report | February 27, 2019 Register for Free Access Marks & Spencer Confirms Joint Venture with OcadoThe UK’s Marks & Spencer and Ocado Group have confirmed that they are discussing a potential joint venture. A combined M&S-Ocado offering would offer M&S a way to sell online while circumventing the unfavorable economics of its typically small basket sizes. Read More
Flash Report | January 29, 2019 Register for Free Access Legacy UK Retailers Tesco and Marks & Spencer Think Radically to Expand Margins and Revive Revenue GrowthIn a press release on January 29, Tesco confirmed plans to close fresh-food counters in around 90 stores, with 700 further stores retaining a “full or flexible” counter offer. It will also simplify stock management at store level, close store canteens and make job cuts at its head office. The company estimates that up to 9,000 roles could be impacted but it expects up to half of these people could be redeployed. Read More
Insight Report | January 21, 2019 Premium UK Holiday 2018 Retail Sales and Trading Wrap-Up: December Growth Slows as Uncertainty Accelerates Structural Shift Away from the MidmarketMomentum in the retail sector decelerated meaningfully in December, as measured by both value and volume (real terms). Value sales growth slowed from 4.2% in November to 2.1% in December. This was despite a number of retailers reporting a better month in December following an unusually tough November. Across November and December in aggregative (our definition of the holiday period), sales were up 3.0% year over year. Read More
Company Earnings Update | January 11, 2019 Register for Free Access Marks & Spencer (LSE: MKS) 3Q19 Update: A Weak Quarter for Food and Clothing AlikeOn the management call, CEO Steve Rowe noted that the third quarter was “challenging.” He said that “market conditions were tough, particularly in November when footfall and online visits both dropped significantly,” he said. Rowe said the sales growth was in line with the company’s expectations and was “steady” in the first half. The company reduced inventory volumes, resulting in 25% less stock going into the December sale. Rowe pointed to an increase in sales of entry-level clothing products, saying “customers are looking for value, and we’re providing that.” The company lowered prices on 227 food products and stripped out “complex and confusing” promotions. Read More
