Latest news with #RichardHunt
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
High street brands we miss the most from Debenhams to Woolworths
Experts have analysed search data to reveal the top-searched brands including Debenhams, Woolworths, Toys R Us, Dorothy Perkins, Cath Kidston and Mothercare The high street brands we miss the most including Debenhams and Woolworths have been revealed in a new list. Debenhams is the retailer that most consumers want back, according to new search data, with 499,000 average monthly online searches. Boohoo bought the brand and its website in 2021, but the deal didn't include its high street stores, which eventually closed down. The next most-missed brand is Dorothy Perkins, with 65,000 average monthly online searches. Dorothy Perkins was acquired by Boohoo Group in February 2021, following the collapse of Arcadia Group, which previously owned the brand. Toys R Us is the third most-missed brand with 61,000 searches. Toys R Us collapsed into administration in 2018, with all its 100 UK shops closed as a result - but the retailer has now started opening concessions in WHSmith stores. Other high street giants that feature in the list include Cath Kidston, Mothercare and Woolworths. You can find the top 10 most-missed brands according to research from the Liquidation Centre below. Richard Hunt, Director at Liquidation Centre said: 'The current economic climate poses increasing risks to businesses, especially those in the retail sector. 'It is much easier to lose consumers than to retain them, which is why regular market research and competitor analysis are so essential. Staying ahead of the curve as conditions evolve is critical to long-term survival. 'As we've seen , poor financial management and decisions have contributed to the downfall of several once-iconic household brands, proving how crucial it is to have effective financial strategies and management in place.' 'For businesses facing financial strain, the first step is to thoroughly assess all revenue streams and expenses. Exploring debt management options and cutting unnecessary costs where feasible is key. This might include negotiating with creditors, landlords, or suppliers to ease financial pressure and begin recovery.' 'If a business reaches the point where liquidation becomes a risk, swift action is vital. Seeking advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) can help clarify your options and potentially avoid insolvency altogether.' 13,479 retail stores closed in the UK in 2024, up 28% increase from 2023, according to The Centre for Retail Research. This is equivalent to about 37 stores closing each day. Top 10 high street brands Brits want back The figures below are based on average monthly search volume in the UK. Debenhams - 499,000 Dorothy Perkins - 65,000 Toys R Us - 61,000 Cath Kidston - 35,000 Thorntons - 32,000 Mothercare - 28,000 BHS - 22,000 Woolworths - 19,000 Miss Selfridge - 9,500 Blockbuster - 8,330
Metro
20-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
10 brands Brits want back on the high street - from Debenhams to Woolworths
Whatever you think of different shopping brands, one thing is certain: British high streets are shrinking as more and more close down. It's been a while since Woolworths and Debenhams shut for good, but Poundland is about to close hundreds of stores and Hobbycraft will also shut a number of branches in the latest blow for shoppers. Despite the gloomy outlook, some brands are turning the tides and reopening branches. Music store HMV reopened its iconic Oxford Street store in 2023, four years after it closed, and earlier this year Topshop suggested it could be making a return to the high street. And new figures have revealed the top 10 brands shoppers want to see make a comeback. Experts analysed search data and found Debenhams is an extremely popular choice, with the brand receiving nearly 500,000 searches every month. Customers also want to see Dorothy Perkins, Toys R Us and Mothercare reopen their physical shops. Boohoo bought Debenhams back in 2021, but not its high street shops, which meant they eventually closed. Since then Boohoo has changed its name to Debenhams, reviving the brand, and its chief executive says it will become 'Britain's online department store'. Richard Hunt, director of Liquidation Centre which helps businesses closing down, said: 'The combination of failing to adapt to shifting consumer habits towards online shopping alongside the financial impact of Brexit and the pandemic contributed towards Debenhams' financial strain. 'However, their issues began years prior to these events, with the company carrying unsustainable debts due to poor financial decisions. 'Their online-only comeback will be exciting for many fans, but it also serves as a stark reminder of their failure to compete effectively on the high street amid a changing market.' Dorothy Perkins was also acquired by Boohoo after its previous owner, Arcadia Group, fell into administration in 2020. The brand collapsed after failing to compete with online retailers, with high overheads leading to crippling financial issues. Toys R Us, which receives about 61,000 searches every month, went into administration in 2018 after racking up a £15million tax bill. Poor sales and struggling to keep up with technology meant the brand wasn't able to pay off its debts. Mr Hunt said the current economic climate poses an increasing risk, especially to retail businesses, with even well-loved household names falling by the wayside in recent years. He explained: 'It is much easier to lose consumers than to retain them, which is why regular market research and competitor analysis are so essential. More Trending 'Staying ahead of the curve as conditions evolve is critical to long-term survival. 'As we've seen, poor financial management and decisions have contributed to the downfall of several once-iconic household brands, proving how crucial it is to have effective financial strategies and management in place. 'If a business reaches the point where liquidation becomes a risk, swift action is vital. 'Seeking advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) can help clarify your options and potentially avoid insolvency altogether.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Boux Avenue's must-have lingerie set is under £25 – and supports cancer charity, The Eve Appeal MORE: Greggs fans outraged by 'tragic' change bakery is making to its stores MORE: These are the 9 best (and most comfortable!) ballet flats to wear this summer
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dedication of Richard Hunt's sculpture scheduled at Sandburg, Galesburg
A public art dedication will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Student Center on Sandburg's Galesburg campus for the donation of a piece by late renowned sculptor Richard Hunt, according to a news release. Hunt's creation, 'Winged Hybrid,' will be donated to the college by Naomi Law and Anthony Law III for the enrichment of the Sandburg community and student engagement. All are invited to attend the dedication. A native of the South Side of Chicago, Hunt, who passed away in 2023, grew to become one of the most prominent sculptors of the 20th Century. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he developed his artistic practice and devoted himself to working with metal, teaching himself to solder and later weld discarded metal he scavenged from local scrapyards. At the core of Hunt's artistic and philosophical approach was a fundamental concern with freedom: political and artistic freedom as well as personal and universal freedom. 'I am interested more than anything else in being a free person,' Hunt once said. 'To me, that means that I can make what I want to make, regardless of what anyone else thinks I should make.' Throughout his seven-decade career, Hunt staged over 170 solo exhibitions at major museums and galleries and secured more than 160 large-scale public sculpture commissions. Among his works, Hunt paid tribute to American icons such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Jesse Owens, Hobart Taylor Jr. and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. In 2022, former President Barack Obama commissioned Hunt to create a sculptural work, 'Book Bird,' for the Obama Presidential Center. Learn more about Hunt here. Though not required, you can RSVP for the event here or email foundation@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
