In 2023, China experienced its weekest growth in three decades outside of the COVID-19 period, just as a crisis in the real estate sector and economic uncertainties undermined the recovery for the nation.

​We know Frasers Group has ambitions to build a bigger retail empire than it already has. And that it has moved into mall ownership. But a new report says it could be eyeing up one of the UK’s key super-malls too.

​Google Cloud has inked a strategic partnership with Victoria’s Secret, launched new AI products for retail, plus released UK research showing most decision-makers feel the urgency to adopt generative AI tech. 

​Nike was the UK’s most prominent e-commerce brand in 2023 with ASOS also featuring in a list of the top five most searched online brands, according to the latest annual report on the e-commerce sector by Salience.

Pitti Uomo is hosting a genuine newsstand in its aisles, where around 100 independent magazines are available for purchase. The project was conceived by the specialized portal Frab’s Magazines.

​After having been criticised for there being too blittle specific retail expertise in its senior management, John Lewis Partnership made a big move in this area on Thursday. Peter Ruis will run the John Lewis chain.

​M&S’s Christmas and Q3 trading statement was probably the worst-kept secret in UK retail, as far as knowing that the company was going to report a stellar season is concerned.

Central Retail Corp., one of Thailand’s biggest retailers, said that it has not received any communication about investing in the iconic Selfridges department store, which is majority owned by its parent company.

France- and US-based communications agency DLX is to open a third office in the this month. DLX London will be headed by Sarah Johnson overseeing operations in the UK as regional co-founder and Managing Director.

​It's always encouraging when a trading update starts with the words “better than anticipated”. And so it was with Next on Thursday with it saying full-price sales during November and December beat its expectations.

​Thailand’s Central Group is likely to get a chance to strengthen its control of Selfridges further following news that some Signa group assets are up for sale.

​Cambridge Properties, the company formed for the Selfridges takeover and owned by Central Group and Signa, has filed its accounts and they show that Selfridges has asked it for cash in order to meet debt obligations.

European property company Signa on Thursday said that two key divisions are filing for insolvency, with one real-estate unit's holdings include the KaDeWe department store in Berlin.

The first reports are coming in covering the whole UK festive season’s retail spend with a Mastercard SpendingPulse (MSP) release saying UK shoppers returned to the high street and clothing and jewellery did well.

Early data from Mastercard SpendingPulse shows that US holiday retail sales rose at a much slower pace than in 2022, as selective shoppers sought value and promotions throughout the season. 

2024 is the Year of the Dragon, but it may not be so lucky for luxury brands. Even though Chinese consumers can now travel abroad individually or in groups, investors shouldn’t expect them to rush over to Europe.