Latest news with #DeannEvans
Fashion Network
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sunny June boosts UK retail sales, fashion edges up, says ONS
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.9% month on month in June 2025, following a fall of 2.8% in May 2025, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday. That May figure was actually revised downwards from the estimated 2.7% the ONS had released this time last month. So while the 0.9% rise for June is good news, we have to bear in mind that a revision a few weeks down the line could improve it -- or it could wipe it out altogether. Sales volumes in June rose by 1.7% year on year, but volumes were down by 1.6% compared with their pre-Covid level in February 2020. More broadly, sales volumes rose by 0.2% in Q2 (Apr to June) 2025 when compared with Q1. Digging into the detail, the ONS said food store sales rose following a fall in May 2025, with retailers reporting the warm weather had a positive effect. Food store sales volumes were up 0.7% month on month but non-food stores -- the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores -- rose marginally by only 0.2%. However, department stores and clothing retailers both rose (although clothing only marginally) "with mention of promotions and good weather". But these snippets of good news were partly offset by falls in household goods stores (such as furniture stores) and other non-food retailers (such as those selling secondhand goods, which includes auction houses). Comments from retailers attributed these drops to lower footfall. Non-store retailers' sales volumes, which mainly includes online retailers, rose by 1.7% in June 2025, putting them at their highest level since February 2022. Again, promotions and the good weather contributed to the increase. Frustratingly, the ONS no longer gives percentages for sales values in physical stores. But it does offer them for non-store retailers and it said the amount spent online rose by 2.3% month on month and by 4.5% year on year. Total spend -- that is, in-store and online sales combined -- rose by 1.1% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online rose from 27.4% in May 2025 to 27.8% in June. Analysts stay cautious As usual, analysts have been sharing their views on the numbers and Dr Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium, welcomes the figures but added that the situation has deteriorated as the BRC's own data shows consumer confidence has tumbled in July, and "sales performance over the rest of the summer is at risk". Also commenting from within the retail sector, Deann Evans, MD EMEA, at Shopify, said that retailers "will be pleased to see sales bounce back in June after falling in May. A record-breaking month for warm weather is likely to have contributed to this boost". The company's data showed hot weather-linked products seeing explosive growth. But "shared cultural moments also drove spending, with consumers looking ahead to major sporting events. Wimbledon certainly captured attention with our data revealing sales of tennis rackets and tennis balls grew by 62.5% and 12.1%, respectively, year on year". Evans was more upbeat than Hamer and added that "this highlights a compelling opportunity for retailers to harness the potential of cultural trends -- and offers encouragement that sales figures will continue to grow for the remainder of the summer months. "However, turning cultural buzz into meaningful commercial impact requires agility and speed from retailers to offer products and experiences that immerse consumers in the moment. Shoppers are seeking a sense of participation and retail is a natural avenue for this. By staying attuned to the cultural pulse, retailers can unlock new ways to drive growth and build loyalty throughout the year. This will be the key to continued success in the weeks and months ahead.' Meanwhile Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM UK and chair of ICAEW's Retail Group, added: "The hot weather helped to lift the mood among consumers, while early sales tempted shoppers to the high street. Consumers purchased new outfits ahead of major sporting events in July including Wimbledon and summer headline concerts led by Beyoncé and Oasis. 'While the June figures are welcome news and consumer confidence ticked up last month, nervousness among consumers persists, and the unexpected rise in inflation won't have helped. The higher price of essentials such as food and fuel will only add to the reluctance among consumers to spend as their discretionary income shrinks. 'Concerns remain in the sector, as retailers increasingly run out of headroom to mitigate rising costs. Many will be hoping the government steps in to provide meaningful reductions in business rates, as well as raising the threshold at which employers' National Insurance becomes payable. It's also hoped that the reintroduction of tax-free shopping is brought back on the table, so the sector doesn't miss out further on valuable retail spend.' Interestingly too, Sagar Shah, associate partner at McKinsey & Co, highlighted how tough it can be to predict where consumer attention will go next: 'Retailers are operating in a climate where sentiment and spending no longer move in step. Shoppers are increasingly unpredictable, and historic trends only tell part of the story. Real-time insights into customer behaviour will be crucial for anticipating trends before they hit the shelves.'
Fashion Network
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sunny June boosts UK retail sales, fashion edges up, says ONS
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.9% month on month in June 2025, following a fall of 2.8% in May 2025, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday. That May figure was actually revised downwards from the estimated 2.7% the ONS had released this time last month. So while the 0.9% rise for June is good news, we have to bear in mind that a revision a few weeks down the line could improve it -- or it could wipe it out altogether. Sales volumes in June rose by 1.7% year on year, but volumes were down by 1.6% compared with their pre-Covid level in February 2020. More broadly, sales volumes rose by 0.2% in Q2 (Apr to June) 2025 when compared with Q1. Digging into the detail, the ONS said food store sales rose following a fall in May 2025, with retailers reporting the warm weather had a positive effect. Food store sales volumes were up 0.7% month on month but non-food stores -- the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores -- rose marginally by only 0.2%. However, department stores and clothing retailers both rose (although clothing only marginally) "with mention of promotions and good weather". But these snippets of good news were partly offset by falls in household goods stores (such as furniture stores) and other non-food retailers (such as those selling secondhand goods, which includes auction houses). Comments from retailers attributed these drops to lower footfall. Non-store retailers' sales volumes, which mainly includes online retailers, rose by 1.7% in June 2025, putting them at their highest level since February 2022. Again, promotions and the good weather contributed to the increase. Frustratingly, the ONS no longer gives percentages for sales values in physical stores. But it does offer them for non-store retailers and it said the amount spent online rose by 2.3% month on month and by 4.5% year on year. Total spend -- that is, in-store and online sales combined -- rose by 1.1% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online rose from 27.4% in May 2025 to 27.8% in June. Analysts stay cautious As usual, analysts have been sharing their views on the numbers and Dr Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium, welcomes the figures but added that the situation has deteriorated as the BRC's own data shows consumer confidence has tumbled in July, and "sales performance over the rest of the summer is at risk". Also commenting from within the retail sector, Deann Evans, MD EMEA, at Shopify, said that retailers "will be pleased to see sales bounce back in June after falling in May. A record-breaking month for warm weather is likely to have contributed to this boost". The company's data showed hot weather-linked products seeing explosive growth. But "shared cultural moments also drove spending, with consumers looking ahead to major sporting events. Wimbledon certainly captured attention with our data revealing sales of tennis rackets and tennis balls grew by 62.5% and 12.1%, respectively, year on year". Evans was more upbeat than Hamer and added that "this highlights a compelling opportunity for retailers to harness the potential of cultural trends -- and offers encouragement that sales figures will continue to grow for the remainder of the summer months. "However, turning cultural buzz into meaningful commercial impact requires agility and speed from retailers to offer products and experiences that immerse consumers in the moment. Shoppers are seeking a sense of participation and retail is a natural avenue for this. By staying attuned to the cultural pulse, retailers can unlock new ways to drive growth and build loyalty throughout the year. This will be the key to continued success in the weeks and months ahead.' Meanwhile Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM UK and chair of ICAEW's Retail Group, added: "The hot weather helped to lift the mood among consumers, while early sales tempted shoppers to the high street. Consumers purchased new outfits ahead of major sporting events in July including Wimbledon and summer headline concerts led by Beyoncé and Oasis. 'While the June figures are welcome news and consumer confidence ticked up last month, nervousness among consumers persists, and the unexpected rise in inflation won't have helped. The higher price of essentials such as food and fuel will only add to the reluctance among consumers to spend as their discretionary income shrinks. 'Concerns remain in the sector, as retailers increasingly run out of headroom to mitigate rising costs. Many will be hoping the government steps in to provide meaningful reductions in business rates, as well as raising the threshold at which employers' National Insurance becomes payable. It's also hoped that the reintroduction of tax-free shopping is brought back on the table, so the sector doesn't miss out further on valuable retail spend.' Interestingly too, Sagar Shah, associate partner at McKinsey & Co, highlighted how tough it can be to predict where consumer attention will go next: 'Retailers are operating in a climate where sentiment and spending no longer move in step. Shoppers are increasingly unpredictable, and historic trends only tell part of the story. Real-time insights into customer behaviour will be crucial for anticipating trends before they hit the shelves.'
Fashion Network
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sunny June boosts UK retail sales, fashion edges up, says ONS
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.9% month on month in June 2025, following a fall of 2.8% in May 2025, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday. That May figure was actually revised downwards from the estimated 2.7% the ONS had released this time last month. So while the 0.9% rise for June is good news, we have to bear in mind that a revision a few weeks down the line could improve it -- or it could wipe it out altogether. Sales volumes in June rose by 1.7% year on year, but volumes were down by 1.6% compared with their pre-Covid level in February 2020. More broadly, sales volumes rose by 0.2% in Q2 (Apr to June) 2025 when compared with Q1. Digging into the detail, the ONS said food store sales rose following a fall in May 2025, with retailers reporting the warm weather had a positive effect. Food store sales volumes were up 0.7% month on month but non-food stores -- the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores -- rose marginally by only 0.2%. However, department stores and clothing retailers both rose (although clothing only marginally) "with mention of promotions and good weather". But these snippets of good news were partly offset by falls in household goods stores (such as furniture stores) and other non-food retailers (such as those selling secondhand goods, which includes auction houses). Comments from retailers attributed these drops to lower footfall. Non-store retailers' sales volumes, which mainly includes online retailers, rose by 1.7% in June 2025, putting them at their highest level since February 2022. Again, promotions and the good weather contributed to the increase. Frustratingly, the ONS no longer gives percentages for sales values in physical stores. But it does offer them for non-store retailers and it said the amount spent online rose by 2.3% month on month and by 4.5% year on year. Total spend -- that is, in-store and online sales combined -- rose by 1.1% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online rose from 27.4% in May 2025 to 27.8% in June. Analysts stay cautious As usual, analysts have been sharing their views on the numbers and Dr Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium, welcomes the figures but added that the situation has deteriorated as the BRC's own data shows consumer confidence has tumbled in July, and "sales performance over the rest of the summer is at risk". Also commenting from within the retail sector, Deann Evans, MD EMEA, at Shopify, said that retailers "will be pleased to see sales bounce back in June after falling in May. A record-breaking month for warm weather is likely to have contributed to this boost". The company's data showed hot weather-linked products seeing explosive growth. But "shared cultural moments also drove spending, with consumers looking ahead to major sporting events. Wimbledon certainly captured attention with our data revealing sales of tennis rackets and tennis balls grew by 62.5% and 12.1%, respectively, year on year". Evans was more upbeat than Hamer and added that "this highlights a compelling opportunity for retailers to harness the potential of cultural trends -- and offers encouragement that sales figures will continue to grow for the remainder of the summer months. "However, turning cultural buzz into meaningful commercial impact requires agility and speed from retailers to offer products and experiences that immerse consumers in the moment. Shoppers are seeking a sense of participation and retail is a natural avenue for this. By staying attuned to the cultural pulse, retailers can unlock new ways to drive growth and build loyalty throughout the year. This will be the key to continued success in the weeks and months ahead.' Meanwhile Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM UK and chair of ICAEW's Retail Group, added: "The hot weather helped to lift the mood among consumers, while early sales tempted shoppers to the high street. Consumers purchased new outfits ahead of major sporting events in July including Wimbledon and summer headline concerts led by Beyoncé and Oasis. 'While the June figures are welcome news and consumer confidence ticked up last month, nervousness among consumers persists, and the unexpected rise in inflation won't have helped. The higher price of essentials such as food and fuel will only add to the reluctance among consumers to spend as their discretionary income shrinks. 'Concerns remain in the sector, as retailers increasingly run out of headroom to mitigate rising costs. Many will be hoping the government steps in to provide meaningful reductions in business rates, as well as raising the threshold at which employers' National Insurance becomes payable. It's also hoped that the reintroduction of tax-free shopping is brought back on the table, so the sector doesn't miss out further on valuable retail spend.' Interestingly too, Sagar Shah, associate partner at McKinsey & Co, highlighted how tough it can be to predict where consumer attention will go next: 'Retailers are operating in a climate where sentiment and spending no longer move in step. Shoppers are increasingly unpredictable, and historic trends only tell part of the story. Real-time insights into customer behaviour will be crucial for anticipating trends before they hit the shelves.'
Fashion Network
20-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
UK retail weak in May says ONS data, fashion lags but reasons for June optimsim abound
Non-food stores sales volumes — the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores — fell by 1.4% over the month, mainly because of falls in clothing and household goods stores. Retailer comments mentioned reduced footfall and consumers having completed home projects earlier than usual this year because of good weather, leading to lower sales in May. Meanwhile online spending values fell by 1% month on month and 2.5% year on year. Total value spend across in-store and online fell by 2.4% over the month and as a result, the proportion of sales made online rose from 26.8% in April 2025 to 27.2% in May. So nothing to write home about there. But what did analysts and industry insiders think of it all? Deann Evans, MD EMEA, at online shopping giant Shopify, said retailers will be disappointed, especially after consecutive rises. She said the 3.4% inflation rate may have been partly to blame, or perhaps the lasting effects from April's increases in annual domestic bills and National Insurance contributions. But she also sees 'reason to be optimistic that the summer months and warmer weather will inspire increased consumer spending and a return to sales growth. According to our Shopify data for May, UK consumers were busy preparing for aquatic fun with sales of Pool Floats & Loungers (+101%), Child Swimming Aids (+74.7%) and Swim Goggles & Masks (+62.4%) all rising significantly compared to April. 'Perhaps even more impactful will be the cultural moments that summer brings. Just like we saw with Taylor Swift's Eras tour last year, the 'Beyoncé Effect' is in full swing as she brings her Cowboy Carter tour to the UK. Our data reveals a significant increase in the sales of western fashion items last month compared to May 2024, such as denim shorts (+52%), cowboy hats (+288%) and belts (+62%). With Glastonbury Festival and the Oasis tour close on the horizon, there is a significant opportunity here for retailers to capitalise — provided they have the right tools and systems in place. A strong digital presence and social media strategy are particularly key to winning the lottery ticket of celebrity influence and having the right people notice your products, and retailers must keep this front of mind this summer.' And Jim Rudall, regional director EMEA at email and marketing automation platform Intuit Mailchimp also said it was a disappointing month, 'especially with high expectations for a boost around the May bank holidays — which our New E-Commerce Calendar report ranks as the top two shopping moments for UK consumers in May (based on spending propensity).' But he too sees some bright spots on the horizon given the aforementioned cultural moments plus Royal Ascot and the FIFA Club World Cup. That New E-Commerce Calendar he mentioned revealed major entertainment events and music festivals prompted 15% of shoppers to make purchases in the last two years, 'offering brands the chance to ride a cultural wave and flex their personalities'. And of course Father's Day will impact June with Intuit Mailchimp research having identified it 'as the most significant shopping moment for June'. Meanwhile, Oliver Vernon-Harcourt, head of retail at Deloitte, said:'For the first time this year, retail sales fell more than expected, as two bank holidays and further good weather were not enough to entice spending. A late Easter combined with the sunniest April on record brought some seasonal sales forward, [and] continued inflationary pressures from food, furniture and household goods hampered sales volumes. 'Overall, consumers remain cautious in the face of persistent inflation, increased utility costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. While this transpired into fewer purchases in May, there is a broader picture of improving household finances. Consumers have been saving at one of the highest levels on record, and with robust real wage growth, this could generate some helpful tailwinds for the retail sector throughout the rest of 2025. With warm weather set to continue, retailers will hope to see a boost from the sale of summer food, clothing and outdoor offerings, resulting in a return to growth in the months ahead.' And Jacqueline Windsor, Head of Retail at PwC UK highlighted how the 'gloomier weather also impacted demand for new season's fashion, with clothing retailers reversing a quarter of improving sales performance, making it the worst-performing category in May. 'The fact that retail sales fell back in May was not a surprise given the unusually strong performance the previous month. However, it does underline the fragility of consumers' spending power and the retail sector in the current economic climate.'
Fashion Network
23-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sunshine and Easter deliver boost to UK retail sales in April says ONS
The ONS also said that volumes were up by 0.3% compared with their pre-Covid level in February 2020, reaching their highest level since July 2022. But it wasn't all good news because, while sales volumes rose across most sectors, they fell month on month in clothing and 'other' non-food stores (such as sports and games retailers, and secondhand goods stores). That said, these drops mainly followed strong growth in March 2025. Sales for department stores and household goods stores rose on the month, with retailer comments again mentioning the good weather. This all meant that overall non-food stores sales volumes (the total of department, clothing, household and 'other') fell by 0.7% over the month. Online sales also fell in April following two months of growth with the ONS reporting a 0.3% value fall month on month. But values rose by 6.1% year on year. And total spend (the sum of in-store and online sales) rose by 0.7% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online fell from 27.1% in March 2025 to 26.8% in April 2025. So what's the reaction from the industry and analysts? Deann Evans, MD EMEA, at Shopify, said: 'Our data revealed the sales of sporting goods were on the up. This may signal a boom to come for retailers selling outdoor/sport/holiday inventory and even the travel industry itself as UK consumers are clearly readying themselves for activities in all climates. 'Building on the momentum seen so far, there's no reason why retail sales shouldn't continue to rise in the months ahead. With May kicking off the run up to notable events in June such as Beyoncé's UK Tour and Glastonbury Festival, there is a solid opportunity for retailers to capitalise. As seen with the 'Taylor Swift Effect' last year, celebrities and cultural moments are powerful for driving consumer behaviour. It is therefore vital that merchants who offer merchandise and festival products are ready to capitalise on the opportunity with the right solutions; once demand starts reaching new heights, having the supply chain flexibility and digital infrastructure to fulfil orders is crucial to seize these game-changing moments'. Jim Rudall, regional director, EMEA at Intuit Mailchimp, echoed that: 'Interestingly, our research has revealed how consumer spending is evolving to become less driven by discount promotions but rather a rhythm of personal, cultural and community-driven moments. With May bringing two bank holidays, the FA Cup Final and Eurovision, retailers will be optimistic that figures will remain high. To best position themselves for success, retailers must focus on crafting the right value proposition to stand out in a crowded promotional landscape. In some cases, this means skipping hefty discounts: 39% of shoppers worldwide are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sales and promotions, and seven in 10 UK shoppers believe discounts around retail moments are often exaggerated.' Oliver Vernon-Harcourt, head of retail at Deloitte, remarked on the surprisingly large jump this time but also noted that 'consumer confidence remains somewhat fragile, rising wages and lower mortgage rates have improved household finances, but inflationary pressures persist. Previous economic challenges have also left shoppers more nervous, and emerging global economic uncertainties will be the litmus test to both the sector and consumers' resilience'. And Jacqueline Windsor, head of retail at PwC UK, remarked that while fashion was down month on month, it rose year on year across the last three months as a whole: 'Fashion retailers saw their first quarter of year-on-year growth since August 2023 as shoppers rushed to refresh their spring-summer wardrobes to take advantage of the good weather.'
