Tech

It’s no secret that Frasers is planning high street domination. Today, it marks a step forward with the launch of Elevate – a new retail media network powered by the group’s customer data that helps brand partners connect with consumers with personalised advertising. Elevate is the next logical step for Frasers to achieve its vision of building “the planet’s most admired and compelling brand ecosystem”.  The new network empowers brand partners to reach shoppers at key moments across the Group’s physical (including its estate of over 750 UK stores and over 60 Everlast Gyms) and digital touchpoints. Announcing the launch on social media, Michael Murray, Chief Executive Officer at Frasers, wrote: “This one is big for us.” Frasers will utilise unique insights from customer spending habits to allow its brand partners – from global powerhouses to smaller emerging brands – to effectively target audiences with relevant, personalised content at crucial points of contact. This opens up a world of over 30 million customers spanning both the sports and premium sectors to brand partners. It’s further enhanced by the recent launch of Sports Direct Membership – a benefit-based programme designed to reward loyal customers. Elevate marks the latest milestone in Frasers’ digital elevation as part of its broader Elevation Strategy, which kicked into gear in 2023, when it sought to work more with luxury partners and target more affluent consumers. Michael Murray Murray said: “Elevate marks a major step in achieving Frasers Group’s vision of building the planet’s most admired and compelling brand ecosystem, offering a significantly enhanced media proposition for brand partners – and this is just the beginning. “We’re launching Elevate full scale, across Sports Direct, Flannels and Frasers, and have big aspirations to expand this offering into further markets. This underscores our commitment to delivering unparalleled, personalised services to our global brand partners and our customers.” Frasers Group has partnered with Zitcha, a unified retail media platform, to build and roll out the group’s media assets.

The British Fashion Council (BFC) Foundation has today announced the recipients of its annual talent support schemes. In other words, we now know who the next generation of British fashion leaders are.  Support schemes include the BFC NEWGEN initiative, BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund and the BFC Fashion Trust. These initiatives underscore the BFC Foundation’s mission to nurture and sustain British fashion talent through financial support and strategic mentorship, cementing London’s status as a global fashion capital and innovation hub. In the financial year 2024/25, the BFC Foundation allocated £1.2 million in direct funding through these schemes, with an additional £270,000 distributed via commercial partnerships. The Foundation continues to deepen its impact through scholarships, mentoring and initiatives such as London Show Rooms. Laura Weir, the BFC’s recently appointed CEO, said: “It is critical that we continue to raise funds to put support systems in place to uplift designers and create opportunity. “Huge congratulations to all the designers and heartfelt thanks to our Co-Chairs, funders, and mentors who help make the UK’s talent support network one of the strongest globally.” BFC NEWGEN in Partnership with Pull&Bear Recipients include: AARON ESH, Charlie Constantinou, DERRICK, JOHANNA PARV, Karoline Vitto, Kazna Asker, LUEDER, Pauline Dujancourt, Steve O Smith, TOLU COKER, YAKU, and returning talents alongside eight new names: ALETTA, EWUSIE, LIZA KEANE, LOUTHER, Oscar Ouyang, OCTI, The Ouze and The Winter House. BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund The 2025 winner is Conner Ives, who will receive a £150,000 cash prize alongside bespoke mentoring and business support. BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund Those shortlisted to win the £100,000 prize and top-tier mentoring include BLEUE BURNHAM, Clothsurgeon, HARRI, LABRUM London and Saul Nash. BFC Fashion Trust Now in its 15th year, the BFC Fashion Trust awarded grants to five designers with compelling business growth strategies. Winners include: Clio Peppiatt, Edeline Lee, HARRI, Nicholas Daley and TOVE.

Consumer card spending in the UK grew 4.5% year-on-year in April, the greatest uplift since June 2023, boosted by sunny weather and the Easter weekend that this year fell in April as opposed to March in 2024. For the first time since 2019, all retail, hospitality and leisure subcategories saw growth, according to the latest Barclays Consumer Spend report, which combines hundreds of millions of customer transactions with consumer research to provide an in-depth view of UK spending. Overall confidence in household finances “remains resilient” at 70%, while 74% feel able to live within their means – both consistent with March’s figures (70% and 73%, respectively). This positive outlook is reflected in the performance of non-essential spending, which was up 5.1% year-on-year, significantly higher than March’s 2.2% increase and the highest growth since 2023. Spending on clothing saw a 3.6% growth, with a transaction growth of 6.2%, while pharmacy, health and beauty saw a 15.1% spend growth and a 5.5% transaction growth. Research conducted in late April showed that seven in 10 UK consumers (72%) were concerned about the impact tariffs could have on their household finances, although that was an improving picture compared to the start of the month (77%). Over a quarter (27%) reported trying to save more money each month to build up a buffer, in case prices rise in the future. Consumers are also prioritising ‘home-grown’ and locally-made products, with seven in 10 (68%) of UK shoppers saying they want to support UK businesses by buying more home-grown products. When it comes to clothing and accessories, 27% say they are planning to buy more or switch to British made products. Consumers are also cutting back on self-care to save money. One in five (22%) of female respondents are now opting to do at-home treatments, instead of visiting a salon, while 14% are requesting longer lasting or lower maintenance hair and beauty treatments. Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “April’s sunny weather inspired consumers to embrace the best of Britain, with all retail, hospitality, and leisure subcategories in growth for the first time in over five years. “While the long-term impact of any tariffs on household finances remains to be seen, given Thursday’s announcement of a UK/US trade deal, shoppers are demonstrating a commitment to supporting British business, while still carefully managing their money.” Julien Lafargue, Chief Market Strategist, Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management, added: “While the world continues to grapple with unprecedented levels of trade uncertainty, UK economic sentiment has been surprisingly positive recently, supported by a resilient consumer. The recent decision by the Bank of England to further lower interest rates should add to this momentum. “Similarly, the trade agreement reached between the US and the UK should provide some much needed visibility to businesses. That said, growth is likely to remain muted in absolute terms. These positive developments may only partially offset the consequences of a softer labour market, and a challenging economic backdrop in the rest of the world.”

Debenhams Group, formerly known as Boohoo Group, is in early talks to secure a refinancing package worth up to £175 million, as it continues its transformation under new leadership. The Manchester-based group has entered discussions to raise £50 million through the high-yield debt market – an avenue known for higher interest rates that could climb into the mid-teens, according to The Telegraph. Industry sources suggest this portion of the refinancing could be notably more expensive than traditional bank lending. The company is also in talks with asset-backed lenders, who typically offer funding secured against property, inventory, or intellectual property, often at a premium cost. The remaining £125 million is expected to come from refinancing a two-year loan originally secured in October 2023. That facility drew criticism from major shareholder and rival Mike Ashley at the time, who labelled it “the worst refinancing deal that a public company has done in living memory”. Now operating under the Debenhams name, after a corporate rebrand announced in March, the business is undergoing a strategic reset. New CEO Dan Finley is steering the company toward a marketplace model, using the revitalisation of the Debenhams brand as a template for broader group transformation. Finley has the backing of a new leadership team, though tensions persist with Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, which holds nearly a 30% stake in the business. The group reported a 16% year-on-year revenue decline to £1.22 billion in its most recent results, with its shares trading near historic lows. In December 2024, the group repaid £97 million in debt and is now evaluating long-term financing options ahead of the expiration of its revolving credit facility in October 2026. A spokesperson for Debenhams Group said: “Having become Debenhams Group, we are currently at the early stages of evaluating our financing arrangements. In December, we paid back £97 million of debt, and we are now considering the refinancing of our £125 million revolving credit facility, well ahead of its term ending in October 2026. “Debenhams is back and under a new management team, it is right for us to assess the ideal financing structure to underpin our ambitious growth plans.”

Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS is to open its first UK standalone store on London’s Regent Street taking over a unit previously occupied by Ted Baker. Jens Grede, who co-founded the brand with wife Emma Grede along with Kardashian, described the move as a “pivotal step” in the global expansion of the $4 billion shapewear and swimwear brand. The brand has signed a ten-year lease on the 12,000 sq ft store, which has been vacant since last summer,  with landlord The Crown Estate. It is anticipated that the new store will open in summer 2026. Robert Norton, SKIMS’ chief commercial officer, said: “Opening our first UK store on London’s iconic Regent Street is a landmark moment for Skims. Its global prestige and vibrant history make it the perfect setting to debut our immersive retail experience. This milestone reflects our strategic focus on expanding into key global markets.” Laura Thursfield, retail leasing director at The Crown Estate, added: “Welcoming SKIMS in its first foray into the UK bricks-and-mortar market is an exciting moment for The Crown Estate. Emphasising Regent Street’s position as London’s premier lifestyle destination, the arrival highlights the area’s sustained attractiveness for global brands. “This opening will enhance the diversity of the wider retail and leisure offering, boosting both footfall and commercial activity in the West End by driving different audiences towards the world-class destination that is Regent Street.” Skims was established in 2019 and quickly became a global sensation. It started with shapewear but has since expanded into swimwear, loungewear and sleepwear and is currently working on a hotly anticipated activewear collaboration with Nike, NikeSKIMS. It is stocked in the UK at Selfridges, Harrods and END. The brand was valued at $4 billion during a funding round in 2023. It recently acquired the beauty brand SKKN by Kim from Kim Kardashian and COTY, bringing Kardashian’s beauty and fashion ventures under the one brand. SKKN by Kim was launched two years before SKIMS in 2017.

Having started her career in fashion PR and marketing, Jennifer Jackson pursued a long-standing love of the beauty industry to work in marketing at Nars — where she remains 12 years later. Now, she shares her career advice.

The Crown Estate, which counts Regent Street and St James’s in London’s West End among its £16 billion portfolio, is hosting a ‘Made in Central London’ recruitment event on 16 May at The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square for up to 1,000 applicants. In association with British Land, Grosvenor, Shaftesbury Capital, Westminster City Council and the Department for Work and Pensions, the event will see over 30 businesses recruiting, including major retail brands such as Liberty, Burberry, Jo Malone London and Fortnum & Mason, as well as leisure and hospitality operators and facilities management businesses. ‘Made in Central London’ brings together businesses and potential employees in one space, offering short, speed interviews for live vacancies. Attendees could go home on the day with a new role, as the event accelerates the traditional job application process by removing the need for CV screening. Alasdair McClimont, Customer Manager at The Crown Estate, said: “Made in Central London is an exceptional opportunity for both job hunters and employers to connect in one space and accelerate the hiring process. Offering a face-to-face experience, previous events have been highly successful in landing roles and streamlining the job searching process. “As one of the largest property owners in the West End, supporting our brands, businesses and communities is crucial to our role. ‘Made in Central London’ exemplifies our long-term vision and commitment to building on the heritage of the West End by playing our part in delivering a commercially resilient destination.” Previous recruitment events hosted by The Crown Estate have facilitated 4,300 interviews, with 876 candidates progressing to second stage interviews across 142 different brands and businesses in the West End. All candidates will be welcomed to the event, including those with health conditions, disabilities and accessibility needs. The event is open to anyone looking for full time or part time employment. Reservations to the event can be made by visiting the Eventbrite page: ‘Made in Central London’ Recruitment Event Tickets (Friday 16 May 9.30am – 3pm).