Beauty

​Retailers continue to struggle and the number in critical financial distress was up 25% in the latest quarter compared to the three months before it, according to insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor.

​While there have been warnings on a weak retail performance this Christmas, not all reports are downbeat.

Good, but not good enough to bring cheer to UK retailers this festive season, given some more new figures on trading performance.

Yves Hanania of Lighthouse, a luxury industry expert specialised in growth strategy, has analysed the latest sector trends for FashionNetwork.com, and the new challenges and paradigms in a crisis-ridden market.

​The UK fashion sector has to a certain extent begun bouncing ack after a challenging 2023 and this should continue in 2025, according to new figures from data specialist CACI.

French cosmetics giant L'Oreal said on Monday it had agreed to buy Gowoonsesang Cosmetics, which includes South Korean skincare brand Dr.G., from Swiss retailer Migros.

Tradition fails to ring any bells when it comes to what younger consumers want to hear in stores during the Christmas period.

It’s a nervous time for many retailers wondering whether a big-spending last-minute Christmas rush materialises to improve their top and bottom lines.

It’s a tricky business trying to gauge consumer emotions/confidence at this time of year but the outlook for January and the wider first quarter looks bleak, driven by a bigger-than-usual spending squeeze, says the BRC.

More positive news on two fronts for Christmas retail. Super Saturday (21 December) saw a welcome year-on-year rise in UK footfall as early Boxing Day discounting helped drive last-minute Christmas shoppers into store.

​British retailers reported a weak run-up to the Christmas holidays with sales falling again and businesses worrying about higher costs in 2025, the Confederation of British Industry said on Friday.

​The news around Boohoo Group continues to come thick and fast with several developments on Monday.

French cosmetics giant L'Oreal is in final talks to acquire the South Korean skincare business Gowoonsesang Cosmetics owned by Mibelle Group, a unit of Swiss retailer Migros, said two sources with knowledge of the deal.

​We can add to the fast-growing number of property firms announcing record performances for their retail tenants. Network Rail has released its July-September retail performance figures for its 19 managed UK stations.

British retail tycoon Mike Ashley failed on Friday in his attempt to be appointed to the board of Boohoo after shareholders in the struggling online fast-fashion group voted against the move.

​Discounter The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) is reportedly “exploring options” after Deloitte earlier failed to find a buyer for it. Teneo is believed to be acting as adviser to its owner as those options are looked at.