​Next is one of the most successful UK fashion retailers, so when it downgrades profit guidance that it only upgraded last month, you know the sector as a whole is facing tough times. And that’s what it did Thursday.

​H&M Group’s nine-month report showed a 13% rise in net sales. But Q3 was very weak due to the Russia exit and “many other external challenges”, although September saw a recovery.

Prisma Media, France’s leading magazine publishing group, will launch the French edition of U.S women's fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar next March, as the group announced in a press release on Tuesday.

It may not be a merry Christmas for many in global retail as the holiday shopping season looms with a new study showing consumers are planning to spend less than last year due to inflation.

When Nigel Oddy joins up-for-sale Matalan on 3 October, the interim CEO will be expected to oversee an in-place growth strategy that’s already delivering results, with record revenues for fiscal 2023’s first half.

​British fashion retailer River Island had good news this week with the company seeing turnover up 23.2% last year at £740 million. 

​The UK retail euphoria around news that VAT-free shopping for tourists is returning and will include EU visitors has been tempered by suggestions it won’t happen until 2024. But retail is pushing for an earlier date.

​Frasers Group had an update on its offer to buy MySale on Monday with some shareholders accepting its offer, despite the board having rebuffed it.

Harry Rosen announced on Friday the introduction of a new home and décor edit, launching in collaboration with Canadian designer and star of HGTV's Backyard Builds, Brian McCourt. 

​In what has been called a ‘mini budget’, the UK government on Friday not only said that it would bring back VAT-free shopping for tourists to Britain but that it would be a better system than the one abolished in 2021.

It’s going to be the “world’s first luxury virtual reality shopping universe”, we’re told. And although the so-called Xydrobe universe doesn’t officially open until 2023, it has just started taking registrations.

Balmain has linked up with water brand Evian for the first time on what they’re calling “a ground-breaking partnership, united over a shared vision to dream together and to collaborate on future innovations”.

​With the key festive selling season looming, Dior has announced that it’s paying “tribute to the unbreakable ties it has woven with Harrods over nearly 70 years, and to Christian Dior’s love of Christmas celebrations”. 

​Upscale department store retailer Liberty has promoted buying director Sarah Coonan to the role of MD of retail, a post she takes up immediately.

​Scotch & Soda has linked up with Salesforce and LA-based AE Studio to launch its latest loyalty programme. Called Club Soda 3.0, it’s “enabled by NFTs”.

John Lewis has appointed at big-hitter to take on the role of its all-new product director for lifestyle, covering fashion and home. It said hiring Zoe Matthews represented a “step-change in our business”.