NEWS Budget fears dampened Black Friday sales I


t seems consumers were cautious about spending as pre-Budget fears hit Black Friday sales last month, according to


figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. And the fashion industry suffered as a mild start to November deterred people from investing in Winterwear. Total UK retail revenues were up 1.4 per cent


year-on-year over the four weeks from 2 to 29 November, compared to a 3.3 per cent drop the same time last year. The figure marked the weakest growth in six months, despite increased inflation, the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor showed.


Non-food revenues climbed marginally by 0.1


per cent year-on-year, against 7.9 per cent last year, while online non-food sales increased by 0.5 per cent, compared to a 10.3 per cent drop during November 2024. Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, said pre-


Budget jitters among shoppers meant the month of Black Friday “did not deliver as strongly as retailers had hoped”. “Not unexpectedly, online dominated, with the


proportion of non-food bought online, reaching its highest level since 2022. The fashion industry lagged behind with a mild start to November dampening demand for winterwear.”


Ms Dickinson added: “It has been a difficult


year as retailers grappled with ever-rising cost pressures. Looking ahead, it is time public policy started prioritising measures to revive consumer confidence and keep costs of doing business down so retailers can focus on growth strategies to maximise their contribution to economic recovery.”


 There’s more from the BRC over the page in our in-depth look at this year’s Autumn Budget, and what it means for the retail sector…


Gardiner Bros recognised for its quality management systems with ISO 9001 Certification


G


ardiner Bros & Footsure Western Ltd has announced that it has gained ISO 9001 certification by The British


Assessment Bureau, the internationally recognised standard for quality management systems. This prestigious achievement underscores the group’s commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality products and services to its customers and partners worldwide. The Gloucestershire-based family business,


renowned for supplying footwear and apparel to the retail and industrial distributive sectors, has been formally assessed and certified. The rigorous audit process confirmed that the Gardiner Group’s systems, processes and procedures meet the highest international standards for quality management. The


successful implementation of ISO 9001 demonstrates the business’s proactive approach to enhancing quality, efficiency, and reliability across all its operations, ensuring that suppliers, partners and customers receive the best possible support and service.


George Gates, Health, Safety & Environmental Manager, said: “I’m very proud of the hard work and dedication from our team to embed quality into every aspect of our operations. This certification strengthens our internal processes and reinforces the confidence our customers and partners place in us. We’re now in a strong position to build on this culture of excellence and continuous improvement as we drive the business forward.” Paul Wheeler, Director, added: “This


fantastic achievement is a great milestone for the Gardiners group and a testament to the collective effort, professionalism, and dedication of our entire team. This achievement strengthens our position in the marketplace and will open doors to new contracts and partnerships.”


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