UK retail vacancy rates improved in the final quarter of 2022 to 13.8%. But before you get too excited, it was only better by 0.1% on Q3 and 0.6 percentage points better than the same period last year.

Mastercard Inc and Visa Inc will rely on China reopening to give travel spending a boost, Wall Street analysts said, as the pace of growth in other parts of the world eases from a post-pandemic boom.

What did Friday’s CBI survey report show for January? Lower sales volumes as retail got off to a slow start despite the clearance sales. They're expected to decline again next month too, “but at a slightly slower pace”.

The September 2023 edition of Parisian trade show Maison & Objet, dedicated to the home decoration, design and art-of-living sectors, will feature a new section focusing on wellness.

Lark London is embarking on its first retail venture outside the UK’s capital (but not too far out). The independent lifestyle boutique brand is to open at the Victoria Place shopping centre in Woking, Surrey, in March.

​Global events company Hyve Group has appointment Julie Harris as a non-executive director, effective 2 February. She will take on the role of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Chair.

Sweden's H&M reported on Friday a much larger than expected drop in September-November profit, hit by weak consumer confidence and soaring costs that it did not fully pass on to price tags.

Visa Inc's first-quarter profit beat Wall Street targets on Thursday as its payments volume held steady with Americans still spending on international travel despite an economic slowdown.

Los Angeles-based designer Clare Vivier will open her fourteenth Clare V.'s boutique in Washington D.C. at the end of spring. FashionNetwork.com sat down with her to talk about strategies and projects with her brand. 

Sustainability hats off to two retail destinations. Quayside MediaCity in Salford and Gloucester Quays have become the first shopping centres to achieve ‘Net Zero Carbon – Operational Energy’.

​Following an increasingly tough 2022 for UK retail, footfall this year won’t return to pre-pandemic levels and the gap from 2019 and will settle at between -5% and -10%, according to retail experts Springboard.

Liverpool One is building on its commitment to creating a difference for its visitors via independent brands and innovative concepts. So the mall has introduced a MerseyMade pop-up of local artisans’ and artists’ work. 

​WGSN and Cannes Lions owner Ascential delivered a strong trading update Wednesday, but also announced surprise news: its WGSN trends service is up for sale following a strategic review that it launched last spring.

Freemans Grattan Holdings has extended its media deal with iProspect UK after a decade working together in which they relaunched Freemans as a pureplay digital department store and saw growth outstripping the market.

Covent Garden has introduced a big splash of colour to brighten up London’s dreary winter days. The major retail area and tourist attraction has introduced a ‘Covent Garden in Colour’ campaign via artist Lois Lillian.

There’s been an executive reshuffle at the THG Group. Damian Sanders has been appointed Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. That comes as previous CFO John Gallemore now becomes Chief Operating Officer.