When rows of stores just aren’t enough. Retail areas are increasingly having to incentivise consumers to visit with bolt-on experiences and attractions.

Giorgio Armani, the proud owner of several major yachts, is to design a new Admiral superyacht for a mystery client, working with the Italian Sea Group to build the motor craft, which will be 72 meters long.

A number of funding initiatives have been unveiled by government and business groups to help push retail back into a healthier position than it would otherwise be post-Covid.

After a “turbulent” trading year, it certainly wasn’t all bad news for Coats Group despite delivering mostly negative numbers in its 12-month trading statement to 31 December on Thursday.

​Selfridges had already flagged the fact that its sales rose and its net profits fell in the year to February 2020, but it has now officially filed its annual results and the full extent of that performance can be seen.

​Sales at Kering's leading brand, Gucci, suffered a bigger-than-expected drop in Q4 as Covid continued to dent luxury shopping and crimp tourist spending in particular.

A distinct lack of tourists in London to celebrate this year’s Chinese Lunar New Year hasn’t stopped Shaftesbury from forging ahead with a related promotion.

​Selfridges weathered the 2020 storm, despite enduring the toughest retail year in decades. That’s according to company chief Anne Pitcher who admitted that it was the “most difficult” period in its 113 years.

​Richemont’s third quarter — the all-important three months to the end of December — saw sales rising only 1%, although currency-neutral, they were up a healthier 5%, despite the “continuously volatile environment”.

​Burberry saw another round of retail sales falls in Q3, with Europe and the Americas still being hit hard. But it said China, Korea, leathergoods, outerwear and full-price sales all headed in the right direction.

Kering is sponsoring a key element of the renovation of the famed Michelozzo courtyard of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio, the city hall of the Renaissance capital. 

Harvey Nichols has promoted its COO to its top job with Manju Malhotra becoming CEO. She now runs the UK and international stores, plus the online business, at the toughest time for luxury retail in decades.

Liberty's sales rose and its losses narrowed in the year to February, it said this week. But since then, lockdowns have put it under heavy pressure and while its owners are supportive, times are tough for the flagship.

​The world’s (usually) busiest airport, Heathrow, could lose up to 2,000 jobs if the UK’s decision to change the rules around tax-free shopping for tourists goes ahead, the airport’s CEO claims.

The outlets sector remains one of the most resilient retail channels at present and Europe-based Via Outlets has completed more than 117 new leasing deals since the start of the pandemic.

​The end of tax-free shopping for tourists in its current form is a step closer. The High Court has dismissed a claim that the government didn't consider the “devastating impact” of the rule change on retail and travel.