news


Christmas boosts sales but head winds for 2023 A


ſt er an exceptionally


challenging year, which saw infl ation climb and consumer confi dence plummet, the uptick


in spending over Christmas gave many retailers cause for cheer. Many consumers braved the cold snap and


the strikes to ensure friends and families got the gifts they wanted, with energy-saving products, selling well. Nonetheless, despite the stronger sales,


growth remained below infl ation, making December the ninth consecutive month of falling volumes. Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive at the


while trying to keep prices as low as possible for their customers.” Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said that whilst the numbers for sales growth in December look healthy, with sales values up by nearly 7% on last year, this is largely due to goods costing more and masks the fact that the volume of goods that people are buying is signifi cantly down on this time last year. “Consumers shunned big ticket technology


purchases in December, opting for energy effi cient household appliances,” Mr Martin said.


Super-marketing from Mitchell & Brown


M


itchell & Brown has launched its most ambitious consumer marketing


campaign to date, leveraging the mass footfall in Morrisons supermarkets to drive customers into local electrical retailers. With the fi rst trial beginning across the UK this month, the Bolton-based TV brand has placed thousands of 16-page TV brochures, complete with a prominent discount code worth up to £100 off a Mitchell & Brown TV, in


the checkout ‘pick-up’ zone of Morrisons stores. From Devon


to Yorkshire and covering many counties between, the promotion has gone live in 17 Morrisons situated in major towns and cities across the UK.


Government unveils details of Energy Bills Discount Scheme T


he Government has announced a new energy support scheme that cuts


fi nancial support for business energy costs by 85% from April 2023 until March 31, 2024. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said that the


Energy Bill Relief Scheme, running until the end of March 2023, will cost £18 billion. He added that the scheme was always going to be “time limited and intended as a bridge to allow businesses to adapt”. The new 12-month energy support scheme will be capped at £5.5bn (based on estimated


January 2023


British Retail Consortium, said: “Retail faces further headwinds in 2023. Cost pressures show little immediate signs of waning, and consumer spending will be further constrained by increasing living costs. “Retailers are juggling big cost increases


“Despite the bad weather, and with postal


strikes ongoing, shoppers opted to head for the high street to browse for Christmas presents, with online sales growth continuing to slide across a number of categories. “With Christmas behind us, retailers are facing a challenging few months as consumers manage rising interest rates and energy prices by reducing their non-essential spending, and industrial action across a number of sectors could also impact sales.”


With a discount code and guide to fi nding


your nearest Mitchell & Brown stockist in the brochure, the aim is to drive potential customers in to local High Street retailers. “We are very excited to launch the fi rst


wave of our aggressive national supermarket campaign for Mitchell & Brown, which will run in three waves throughout 2023,” said Dan Brown, operations director for the brand. “Every brochure is a potential sale for


our retailers in the area surrounding each Morrisons supermarket, and the discount


given on sales will be credited, ensuring retailers retain all our usual excellent margin.”


volumes) and “strikes a balance between supporting businesses over the next 12 month and limiting taxpayers’ exposure to volatile energy markets.” Mr Hunt announced its replacement, the


Energy Bills Discount Scheme, “giving businesses the certainty they need to plan ahead”. The Energy Bills Discount Scheme is open to businesses who are: ¡ On existing fi xed price contracts that were agreed on or after December 1, 2021; ¡ Signing new fi xed price contracts;


¡ On deemed/out of contract or standard variable tariff s; ¡ On fl exible purchase or similar contracts; and On variable ‘Day Ahead Index’ (DAI) tariff s (Northern Ireland scheme only).


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