NEWS


June/July 2026 housewareslive.net Independent retail stalwart John Lawson has passed away aged 89 J


ohn Lawson, a respected figure in the independent housewares and


hardware sector and former president of the British Hardware Federation, has passed away peacefully shortly after celebrating his 89th birthday. Born in Elburton, Lawson began his career in the family horticultural business before moving into retail in 1971, building Lawson’s stores across Plymouth, Totnes and Tavistock over the following three decades. A passionate advocate for independent retail, he served as president


of the British Hardware Federation and helped establish Home Hardware in North Devon to support independent retailers. His family said his business philosophy centred on honesty, integrity and building strong relationships with staff, customers, suppliers and fellow retailers. Beyond business, Lawson devoted much of his life to community and charitable causes. He was actively involved with Round Table, Plymouth Rotary and the Fox House charity, while also enjoying classic cars, woodturning and art. Paying tribute, his family said he “embraced life’s joys heartily and faced its challenges with resilience and dignity”, adding that he “made a meaningfully positive difference to the people around him” through his work and service to others. Lawson is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jennifer, their children Susan, Liz and Tom, and their families. A memorial service will be held at Yealmpton Community Methodist Church on Saturday 8 August at 3pm.


Met Police and retailers agree action plan to tackle retail crime in London S


enior leaders from the Metropolitan Police Service, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and some of the UK’s


largest retailers have agreed a new action plan aimed at tackling retail crime across London. The agreement follows a roundtable held at New Scotland Yard and sets out a series of commitments designed to improve collaboration between police and retailers, strengthen evidence sharing and increase the focus on tackling shoplifting, violence against shopworkers and organised retail crime. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Working together and sharing intelligence is essential to tackling the scourge of retail crime. Better intelligence sharing, improving reporting and robust enforcement are critical to turning the tide on retail crime once and for all.” Under the plan, the Metropolitan Police will prioritise attendance at


violent retail incidents and cases where offenders have been detained, improve communication with retailers on the progress of investigations


and target prolific offenders and organised crime groups. Retailers have committed to preserving and sharing high-quality evidence, including CCTV and body-worn camera footage, providing police with a single point of contact and ensuring employees are given time to support criminal investigations and prosecutions. The Metropolitan Police said it made almost


50% more arrests for retail crime during 2025/26, while the number of cases resulting in a charge or caution increased by 123% to 5,996. Matt Twist, Assistant Commissioner for


Frontline Policing, said the force remained committed to working closely with retailers, adding that effective evidence sharing was “crucial in building strong cases and stopping offenders”. Chris Brook-Carter, Chief Executive of the Retail Trust, welcomed the


initiative, saying retail workers needed confidence that every incident of theft, violence or abuse would be treated seriously and that those affected would receive appropriate support.


Heatwave sends UK retail footfall down 3.4% in June R


ecord temperatures kept shoppers


away from stores in June, with UK retail footfall falling 3.4% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic Solutions. The decline was steeper than May’s 2.6% fall, with high streets experiencing the sharpest drop in visitor numbers. High street footfall fell 6.2%, while shopping centres recorded a 2.5% decline. Retail parks proved the most resilient, with footfall down just 0.3%. Regionally, Scotland was the only nation to record growth, with


6 |


footfall increasing 1.7%, while England saw the largest decline at 3.0%. Northern Ireland and Wales recorded falls of 0.9% and 2.3% respectively.


Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said the record


heatwave had discouraged shoppers from visiting stores, particularly on high streets, while air-conditioned shopping centres and retail parks performed more strongly. She added that retailers continued to face significant pressure


from rising operating costs, arguing that reforms to business rates and lower energy costs would help businesses invest, create jobs and support local high streets. Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA at Sensormatic Solutions, said consumers remained cautious, making fewer and more considered shopping trips. He added that exceptionally high temperatures, particularly in southern England, and disruption caused by major sporting events were likely to have contributed to lower footfall during the month. The figures cover the five weeks from 31 May to 5 July 2026.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44