The need for speed is now a key driver of sales online. A major 78% of consumers now expect same-day and next-day priority deliveries, according to new research from CommerceHub.

Mothercare continues to be hit by tough trading conditions internationally — especially with “significant headwinds” in its key Middle East ops — as the mother-and-child retail specialist sees sales continue to fall. 

Just when it looked like UK consumer confidence was having an end-of-year wobble, numbers on Friday from data company GfK for November were a surprise, and a potential pre-Christmas boost for retailers.

​It may have an ambitious store opening programme, but for now Joe Browns still has only a few stores up and running so any new one is a big deal. And it has just revealed the opening date for its new Leeds branch.

​Plans have been submitted to Westminster Council for the makeover of the Fenwick building in New Bond Street (the retailer having sold the store and preparing to exit) and the retail space will be drastically reduced.

Major UK trade shows Spring Fair and Autumn Fair have two new team leaders. The events’ organiser/operator Hyve Group has appointed Jackson Szabo as Portfolio Director and Soraya Gadelrab Event Director to both.

It’s going to be big, but not that much bigger than last year. UK spending over the upcoming Black Friday Weekend and Cyber Money (BFCM) is predicted to rise a marginal 0.4% year-on-year to £8.74 billion.

Bluewater has been named the best among the 20 biggest UK shopping centres in a new study, based on the size of the shopping centre, parking fees, the number of stores and restaurants and the number of parking spaces.

​Along with all the Black Friday-Cyber Monday predictions (that are coming thick and fast), it’s easy to forget that the festive shopping season also continues beyond the BFCM period. Remember December?

Fenwick has abandoned plans to open a store in Guildford. The UK independent department store group has ended talks to take over the former House of Fraser store in the Surrey town. 

Adding some extra star quality to a glittering event always multiplies its impact many times over. So Pamela Anderson is set to present ‘The Pandora Leader of Change Award’ at The BFC's annual Fashion Awards next month. 

The UK government has set out a number of financial changes in its Autumn Statement with the Chancellor, announcing something of a giveaway ahead of what’s expected to be a general election next year

Hailed as a “significant milestone”, value lifestyle/fashion retail giant Primark is celebrating the opening of its 60th store in Spain.

Lone Design Club (LDC), the physical platform for emerging fashion talent, is maintaining its run of opening pop-up stores in impressive retail locations.

​Laura Ashley fashion is back. After several years of investing in Home, girlswear and collabs, owner Gordon Brothers and partner Next are preparing for a full-on relaunch of the label's womenswear in April next year.

Experiences continue to be an important consumer draw even for the busiest of retail locations. So Shaftesbury Capital-owned Carnaby Street in London is to open a RankinLive pop-up on Wednesday (22 November).