Consumer and Retail in the News

The spread of COVID-19 is presenting a range of challenges for the retail sector. Our dedicated webpage sets out some of the areas of impact which can give rise to legal issues and how businesses can navigate these. Read more here.

This article in the FT demonstrates the varied fortunes of retailers during the lockdown. Much has been made of the polarisation of brick and mortar retail vs online stores and whether this will become greater as a result of COVID-19. If the deep queues at non-essential retail stores earlier this week as they re-opened is anything to go by, "legacy" retail still has an important part to play.

This week's top stories in the Consumer and Retail sector:

Please do not touch: The future of experiential retail in the era of coronavirus
(Retail Dive)

High street splurge unlikely anytime soon despite £60bn unspent
(Guardian)

£5.3bn boost for UK’s e-commerce sector due to COVID-19
(Charged Retail)

What does innovation look like in a coronavirus era? Coca-Cola reveals its strategy
(Beveragedaily)

Ban on plastic straws delayed due to pandemic
(Talking Retail)

Liberty launches new online flagship
(The Retail Bulletin)

Contactless payments key to easing anxiety as customers return to shops
(Charged Retail)

Reopened stores present a new way of shopping – is it viable?
(Retail Gazette)

Hope for UK retail as US trend sees strong rebound following COVID lifting
(The BBC)

Plum app data reveals that UK consumer savings have risen 5x
(UKTech News)

VAT could be slashed to boost consumer spending
(Retail Gazette)