What did Friday’s CBI survey report show for January? Lower sales volumes as retail got off to a slow start despite the clearance sales. They're expected to decline again next month too, “but at a slightly slower pace”.

​Global events company Hyve Group has appointment Julie Harris as a non-executive director, effective 2 February. She will take on the role of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Chair.

Lark London is embarking on its first retail venture outside the UK’s capital (but not too far out). The independent lifestyle boutique brand is to open at the Victoria Place shopping centre in Woking, Surrey, in March.

Pure London will be launching The Independent Fashion Retailer Sustainability Toolkit on the Sustainability stand during its 12-14 February trade show at Olympia London.

Sweden's H&M reported on Friday a much larger than expected drop in September-November profit, hit by weak consumer confidence and soaring costs that it did not fully pass on to price tags.

​Pepco’s budget chain Poundland is continuing to invest heavily in its stores this year with the creation of hundreds of new jobs and opening/relocation plans that will also see expansion for the Pep&Co clothing line.

ASOS is doubling down on its efforts to kickstart its recovery and has reportedly appointed a senior restructuring executive to its finance department, as it continues to talk to its syndicate of lenders.

Another big step forward in the retail race for net zero. This time its L’Oréal and its partnership to climate action platform Net Zero Now targeting UK hair salons.

Returns season is upon us, and it’s going to be a particularly busy period, especially for the fashion and beauty sectors, a survey says. Gifts worth £232 million will be returned in the UK, a poll of 2,000 people shows,

John Lewis has launched a new Beauty & Wellness Moments report and has focused on a number of key beauty trends it sees as big for 2023.

​Following an increasingly tough 2022 for UK retail, footfall this year won’t return to pre-pandemic levels and the gap from 2019 and will settle at between -5% and -10%, according to retail experts Springboard.

Sustainability hats off to two retail destinations. Quayside MediaCity in Salford and Gloucester Quays have become the first shopping centres to achieve ‘Net Zero Carbon – Operational Energy’.

Boohoo has fallen from grace spectacularly since the pandemic. But here's why we shouldn't write it off just yet, even though it might take some time for it to regain its former glory

​WGSN and Cannes Lions owner Ascential delivered a strong trading update Wednesday, but also announced surprise news: its WGSN trends service is up for sale following a strategic review that it launched last spring.

Freemans Grattan Holdings has extended its media deal with iProspect UK after a decade working together in which they relaunched Freemans as a pureplay digital department store and saw growth outstripping the market.

There’s been an executive reshuffle at the THG Group. Damian Sanders has been appointed Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. That comes as previous CFO John Gallemore now becomes Chief Operating Officer.