Latest news with #RetailGazette
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
‘Little Ikea' homeware store opening more UK shops - with '50 locations planned'
The Danish retailer is aiming to have 100 stores on the UK high street, with the stores opening in Harrogate, Canary Wharf and Stirling over the next few weeks The Danish home furnishings chain Søstrene Grene - which has been coined "little Ikea" because of its low prices - is continuing its high street expansion across the UK. According a report from Retail Gazette, the family-owned retailer is set to open a further 50 UK sites over the next two years, with the first of these new stores opening this summer. The retailer is aiming to have 100 stores on the UK high street, with the stores opening in Harrogate, Canary Wharf and Stirling over the next few weeks. Søstrene Grene has built a reputation - as well as a cult following - for selling affordable homeware bits and bobs in the Danish "hygge" aesthetic, which means a "special state of contentment, warmth and belonging to the present". Fans have coined the retailer "little Ikea" because of its low prices. Bits sold by the retailer include furniture such as chairs, rugs, side tables and bookshelves, stationery, hobby items, children's toys, and kitchen and garden accessories. Sign up to Mirror Money's newsletter for the latest advice and news Søstrene Grene opened its first store in the UK in 2016 and opened its Oxford Circus flagship site in March this year. This opening marked the retailer's fifth London location. Founded by the husband and wife team Inger Grene and Knud Cresten Vaupell Olsen in Denmark in 1973, Søstrene Grene currently has over 330 stores across 17 European markets. The majority of its high street stores are located in major cities including Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Dublin, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen. The UK openings are part of a wider growth plan for Europe, which will see 60 new store openings this year. The brand is also expecting to grow its e-commerce presence from 15 to 17 markets by the end of the year. Speaking about the ambitious plan, Søstrene Grene's CEO and co-owner Mikkel Grene said: 'Customers in the UK have responded incredibly positively to the Søstrene Grene concept. 'We continue to see strong footfall, high levels of engagement, and real appetite for new locations – even in areas where other retailers are pulling back. It gives us confidence not only to expand, but to do so in a way that supports and complements local high streets.' He added: 'We're making long-term investments because we believe in the continued relevance of physical retail – especially when it delivers a meaningful customer experience and emotional connection. 'We see an opportunity to bring something different to the UK high street, at a time when fresh thinking is needed.'
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
M&S halts several meal deals following ongoing cyber attack issues
The high street firm's ongoing cyber attacks has led to "significant stock availability issues" at certain locations. M&S' services are still being impacted by its ongoing cyber attack. Over the past three weeks the retailer has been forced to halt all online orders, with supply chains also being affected. This means that shoppers have been noticing limited stock availability in stores recently. This includes several meal deals, as the high street firm has had to halt several of its popular offers due to "significant stock availability issues." Shoppers have been informed about the issues at affected locations, with notices posted in stores at smaller stores such as the Victoria Station branch in London. The notices, which can be found in Food Halls, read: "Due to availability issues we are temporarily unable to fulfil this meal deal. Please bear with us while we work through this." According to the Retail Gazette, the retailer's popular meal deals, which include combinations such as a sandwich or salad, crisps, and a drink, in smaller stores located in train stations, airports, and petrol stations have been significantly affected. The beloved Dine-In Deals, priced between £6 and £15, which offer a starter, main and dessert have also reportedly been halted. It comes after we previously reported everything we know so far about the cyber attacks affecting Marks and Spencer, providing information on when the incidents were said to have occurred and who may be responsible. It is said that disruptions started to hit stores over the Easter weekend, with some reporting that they began on Saturday, April 19. By Tuesday, April 29, the attack had also affected operations, with shoppers spotting bare shelves in Food Halls. M&S first made its customers aware of the cyber attack on Tuesday, April 22, before officially halting all contactless pay and Click & Collect orders from its website on Friday, April 25. The Cyber Attack is said to be linked to a group known as Scattered Spider - a group mainly made up of teenagers and young adults based in America and the United Kingdom. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The gang, which were said to have formed in 2022, first gained notoriety in the States after being being linked to the 2023 hacking scandal of two of the largest casino companies, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International. Sources believe Scattered Spider to be behind M&S' cyber attack due to the technique used, as they are believed to have used a hacking tool from Dragonforce - a ransomware company that sells hacking technology to other groups. M&S isn't the only UK retailer currently affected by hacking attempts, as we previously reported how the Co-op halted parts of its online systems after someone tried to gain "unauthorised access" on Tuesday, April 29. The wholesale retailer has since confirmed that the hackers have managed to access the details of millions of customers after its IT networks were infiltrated by a group calling itself DragonForce - a name associated with Scattered Spider who allegedly attacked M&S. The hacking group is primarily known for scrambling its victims' data and demanding a ransom is paid to get the key to unscramble it. Following the hacking incidents at both major UK retailers, the National Cyber Security Centre is said to be working with the affected companies and has said the incidents should "act as a wake up call" for businesses to take cyber security seriously.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Boots to make major changes to 150 of its stores
Boots will introduce dedicated 'menopause zones' to 150 stores this summer, Retail Gazette reports. The move will see signage added to guide shoppers through a range of products designed to treat or alleviate menopause symptoms. The menopause zones will also feature new products as well as increased customer services and expertise related to menopause. Products in the collection include hair products, sleep aids and food supplements. Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. READ MORE: Mum shares 'hack of the century' to blow up inflatable pool without a pump READ MORE: 'Biggest prize in the country' coming to city's waterfront It usually affects people between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. Perimenopause is when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods have not stopped. According the the NHS: 'Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.' Part of Boots' new 'zone' system will include signposting sections by symptom including 'vaginal dryness', hot flushes' and 'low energy'. Products already in Boots' menopause collection include Dr Wolff's 'V-san' moisturizing cream, Boots' evening primrose oil capsules and Pantene's 'hair biology' mask. There is also a hot and cold compress on sale which is aimed at alleviating discomfort from hot flushes. The new menopause zones will feature 35 new products including from the brands Balance Activ, Luna Daily and Canesmeno. The brand M-Club also has an existing range of products such as caffeine shampoo. Menopause has received increased attention in the media and health reporting in recent years with many women pointing out a lack of awareness surrounding its symptoms and wider impacts. According to the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development: "Three in five workers experiencing menopause believe it has had a negative impact on them at work. "But only a quarter of workers, who have missed time due to menopause symptoms, have felt able to tell their employer the real reason for their absence." Columnist Sarah Sandison wrote for the ECHO in 2023 that 'women are suffering in silence during the menopause and perimenopause'. She said: 'Everybody needs to be educated on perimenopause and much more needs to be done to recognise any issues and difficulties caused by changing hormones in women, during this time.'
