Soult's Retail View

Former Woolworths store

Since my previous post three days ago, there have been several more announcements regarding former Woolworths sites that have found new occupants:

• Sandbach: WHSmith - full story
• Sheringham: Sainsbury’s - full story
• Taunton: TK Maxx - … Continue Reading
  

Closing down sale at Woolworths

There have been a few more announcements of new occupants for old Woolworths stores over the last couple of weeks:

• Alnwick: M&Co - full story
• Crouch End: Waitrose – full story
• Cupar: Pound-Mart (Glasgow-based discount retailer – you can see a photograph of their flagship store … Continue Reading
  

New (top) and old (bottom) Wilkinson logos

Over the last few months, you may have spotted the new Wilkinson logo – above – that has been quietly appearing on the retailer’s bags and own-brand product packaging.

I’m yet to read anything suggesting that the new logo is any more than a trial, linked to the testing of a new store format; certainly, the full rebrand seems to have been rolled out to … Continue Reading

Union Street frontage of former Esslemont & Macintosh store, Aberdeen

When I wrote about Vergo Retail’s recent acquisitions a few days ago, it brought to mind the photographs that I took back in February this year of the former Esslemont & Macintosh (E&M) department store in Aberdeen’s Union Street.

When Owen Owen fell … Continue Reading

John Lewis Bristol. Photograph by Mattbuck4950

Perhaps it’s a reflection of my status as a retail nerd that one of the first things I usually do on Friday mornings is check out the John Lewis Partnership’s ‘Weekly Figures’.

These weekly stats are strangely compelling in that – probably uniquely for a major UK retailer – John Lewis publishes a store-by-store breakdown for its eponymous department … Continue Reading

Co-op Department Store, Great Yarmouth, prior to Vergo Retail's takeover. Photograph by Stephen McKay

In the last couple of weeks, one interesting news story that has been easy to miss is the takeover of the East of England Co-op’s department store business by Vergo … Continue Reading

Until I do write my first proper blog post, let’s at least cheer things up on the home page with some gratuitous Tesco shots. As you might expect, foreign Tescos tend to be much more visually interesting than those in the UK.

Tesco in Eger, Hungary

How about starting off with this very large (and seemingly very successful) Tesco on the outskirts of Eger in Hungary? The planners … Continue Reading

Well, installing WordPress was easy enough – thanks Matthew!

I’ve just got to think of some interesting retail-related things to say now. Typically, I had lots of ideas this morning prior to setting up the blog, but now that it’s live my mind has gone blank – perhaps that’s to be expected after being at work all day. Still, I’m sure it won’t be long before I come up with something – even if its only to remark on the John Lewis Partnership weekly update on Friday morning!