Jan Duckworth

Jewel Ads Joins National Association of Jewellers, Offers Exclusive Support to NAJ Supplier Members The innovative digital marketing platform for the jewellery trade, is proud to announce its official membership with the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ). This reinforces Jewel Ads' commitment to supporting and strengthening the UK jewellery industry. https://lnkd.in/djRYMf-w

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Menswear specialist Moss is sharpening its casual offer and transforming stores. CEO Brian Brick tells Drapers his strategy for success. "I can only speak for our business, but I think we have real momentum and energy. We’re very well funded. We’re investing and the business is going somewhere." Read the latest Drapers Interview here >> bit.ly/43FO7qc Photography by Benjamin McMahon. #menswear #Moss #fashionnews #retailnews

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Sir Mo Farah Joins Screwfix in New “No Stopping You” Brand Campaign 🛠️🏃‍♂️ Screwfix has launched a major new brand platform, No Stopping You, created with M+C Saatchi Group UK, featuring Sir Mo Farah as The New Recruit. The campaign celebrates Screwfix’s convenience-led offer, from Screwfix Sprint (delivery in as little as 20 minutes) to Click & Collect in under a minute, showing how the brand removes barriers to help tradespeople get the job done quickly, affordably, and right first time. The multichannel launch runs from 10 October to 16 November 2025, spanning TV, VOD, CTV, OOH, YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Reddit, radio, digital audio, and Screwfix platforms, supported by a refreshed visual identity. M+C Saatchi Group UK dentsu Media McCann Birmingham eight&four Sir Mo Farah Read more: https://lnkd.in/gV9ai9jj #Screwfix #NoStoppingYou #Tradespeople #MCsaatchi #BrandCampaign #UKAdvertising

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Will Wright and Chris Pole from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to Claire’s Accessories UK Ltd, Claire's European Services Limited and Claire's European Distribution Limited on 13 August 2025. Claire’s is one of the UK’s most recognisable retail brands, known for its range of fashionable jewellery and accessories, as well as its piercing services. With its UK headquarters in Birmingham, the Company currently operates a total of 306 stores across the UK and Ireland, employing over 2,150 people. The joint administrators intend to continue to trade the Companies in administration while they assess options for the business, including exploring the possibility of a sale as a going concern. As such, all UK and Ireland stores are to remain open.   Will Wright, UK CEO, said: “Claire’s has long been a popular brand across the UK, known not only for its trend-led accessories but also as the go-to destination for ear piercing.   “Over the coming weeks, we will endeavour to continue to operate all stores as a going concern for as long as we can, while we assess options for the Company. This includes exploring the possibility of a sale which would secure a future for this well-loved brand.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eBxU2YHt

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🗞 What’s been happening this week? ·      Retail sales edged up in March, supported by easing inflation, improved weather and seasonal events (Retail Economics Retail Sales Index). Electricals and Health & Beauty outperformed, while food sales slowing. ·      Retail leasing in the UK reached nearly 7m sq ft in Q1 2025, the highest level since the pandemic and up 25% YoY (CoStar Group). The rise comes despite tax hikes prompting closures and investment pauses from retailers such as New Look and HMV, reflecting cautious consumer recovery. ·     Aldi UK and Lidl GB gained market share to 10.5% and 7.7% (12 weeks to 19 April, GfK - An NIQ Company). Ocado Retail and M&S led in growth, while Asda and Morrisons lost share. Promotional spend rose to 24.2%, supporting a 9.6% overall sales increase. ·    Co-op confirmed a cyber-attack attempt affecting call centre and back-office functions, though stores and funeral homes remained operational. Proactive steps were taken to secure systems. ·     The incident follows a similar disruption at Marks and Spencer, now under police investigation, linked to ransomware group Scattered Spider. Great to chat to Drapers, The Telegraph’s Hannah Boland, Chris Price and The Guardian’s Sarah Butler about the disruption and crisis management. ·      Lidl GB announced a £500m investment to open 40 new UK stores in 2025, with over 250 targeted locations including Chelsea, Mayfair, Soho and Kensington. ·     Primark reported a 1% rise in sales to £4.5bn for the 24 weeks to 1 March 2025, with UK and Ireland sales down 4%. Growth in Europe and the US was driven by new stores. Adjusted operating profit increased 8% to £540m. ·      SHEIN raised US prices by up to 377% following new Trump administration tariffs on Chinese imports. ·      TOPSHOP TOPMAN will host a one-day pop-up in Shoreditch on 10 May, marking its first in-person event since being acquired by ASOS.com in 2021. The event will preview its Talamanca collection and limited Defected Records merchandise. ·      The annual growth rate for net mortgage lending rose to the highest since March 2023 (Bank of England).   This is just a selection of news this week. If you want to hear more, subscribe to our free weekly podcast below, covering all major retail news every Monday at 6am ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eZNDVfZ7 ____________________________________ ⤴ Follow me for weekly retail, consumer and economic insights. ____________________________________

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How much choice should you offer your customer? Are we better offering as much variation as possible or specialising in certain areas and doing each of them more thoroughly? As I travel around the world visiting #optical stores, I see a little of every approach. Some stores respond to their interpretation of what their audience is asking for. That makes sense but then what about the people who don't see what they want in your store and just go elsewhere? Some stores try to be all things to all men but what then is the reason a consumer will choose your store over another........ it may well come down to price and good luck beating the internet discounters. In my opinion, the most successful stores in the current economically challenging atmosphere are those that emit a very clear message about who they are and what they offer. It might be that they only carry #independenteyewear. It might be that they are heavily implicated in community matters. It might revolve around their medical skill set. Either way, a clear message is paramount to make the consumer decision to choose you (or not choose you) a simple one. If you are not a good fit then there is little point in the customer coming to you and wasting your time and theirs anyway. Select one brand that fits the market segment that you are trying to talk to and go deep into that brand. Learn their story so that you can share it with your patients. Understand why, in your opinion, that brand is a better choice than its competitors. Your customer will thank you for clear, concise reasons and it will make their purchase so much easier. At #Ahmedabad market in #India, I came across this beautiful sweet stall. The selection was mouth-watering and the stall holder had a tale for every breath-taking bowl. I was captivated by the confectionary and the fascinating flavours that the stories suggested. I left fully laden with sweets that I didn't know I wanted! #eyewear #sunglasses #designereyewear

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