Insolvency risk hovers over high street as retailers suffer difficult run up to Christmas

-

Oxford Street in busier times, the British high street is thought to be struggling in the run up to Christmas this year

High street retailers could face insolvency in the new year as the run up to Christmas has not been as good as expected.

A discounting war and the much warmer than average temperatures, as well as the constant threat of internet shopping, has prompted panic on the high street, as sales appear to have been sluggish.

In the last few years Woolworths, HMV, Zavvi, and Jessops have all called in the administrators after a poor Christmas showing. Retailers gain nearly 40 percent of their annual profits between October and December.

Atradius, one of the world’s largest trade credit insurers, has warned that retailers face a ‘perfect storm’ that could lead to a bleak start to 2016 and a “fresh wave of insolvencies”.

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

The comments from Atradius are significant because if a credit insurer refuses to back a retailer then suppliers will be unable to insure their orders with the business and could decide not to provide it with products.

Many high street retailers will be hoping a strong post Christmas sales period will set them back on the right path.

Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.

Latest news

Transgender staff excluded from single-sex toilets under new equality guidance

Transgender people must be excluded from single-sex toilets and changing rooms that correspond with their lived gender under updated...

Simon Coker: Closing the emotional gap – why AI in the workplace is as much a human challenge as a technological one

AI adoption is transforming how work gets done across every sector. But its deeper impact is less visible: it is reshaping how people feel about their work.

Employment tribunal delays stretch towards 2030 as lawyers warn system is nearing collapse

Employment tribunal hearings are being delayed for years as lawyers warn mounting backlogs are undermining workplace justice.

Keeping culture and purpose at the centre of a growing fintech

A fintech people leader explains how culture, wellbeing and purpose are being protected during rapid business growth.
- Advertisement -

Migrant worker with no right to work in UK wins discrimination case against employer

An employment tribunal has ruled that a migrant worker without the legal right to work in Britain can still pursue successful discrimination claims.

Government to replace some GP sick notes with return-to-work plans

Workers in four English regions will be directed towards personalised health and employment support as ministers test alternatives to GP-issued fit notes.

Must read

Armin Hopp: Keeping corporate learning up to date with the Millennial generation

Delivering learning and development to young people in the workplace can be challenge – especially if those in charge pre-date the internet generation. Millennials will make up half the workforce by 20201 and they will expect social and mobile learning platforms as a matter of course. As organisations become increasingly international, learning and development professionals have a key role to play in providing the language and communication skills to underpin that.

Karen Fletcher: Employers beware: difficult pay conversations ahead

“Britain needs a pay rise”. This is the slogan...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you