Fashion

Retail giant Next has warned sales could fall by as much as 40% over the year and that it plans to open out-of-town outlets first.

SML RFID, software solutions provider, says according to its survey, the top priority for apparel and footwear retailers when looking to reopen their doors once the pandemic subsides is establishing a clear base-line inventory position.

Following its latest health assessment, the KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank (RTT) has determined that UK retail health worsened substantially in the first quarter of 2020, with the impact of COVID-19 being the key driver.

In March 2020, the monthly retail sales volume fell sharply by 5.1%; the largest fall since the series began as many stores ceased trading from 23 March following official government guidance during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Today’s warehouses and distribution centres face a lot of challenges: increasing labour costs, less available space and frequent small orders with short delivery times.