While Easter remains a major shopping event on the retail calendar, this year’s four-day holiday (29 March-1 April) was a particularly strong one, given cost of living restraints. 

The Italian label is multiplying its projects in the region, where it already has around forty points of sale, notably by strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia, with new boutiques and a café in Riyadh.

​The annual Innovation in Wool Awards is back and the 2024 edition comes with an impressive prize pot of £30,000. 

Many labels don’t know which way to turn, forced to choose between the Venice Biennale, scheduled on April 17-19, and Milan Design Week, set to welcome 300,000 visitors on April 15-21.

Since French Connection was taken over a little over two years ago, the company has focused on its recovery, taking each development slowly and steadily. And this week it has announced a new deal with Next for Home.

​Amazon has announced a €700 million+ investment in robotics and AI-powered technologies across Europe, using its Innovation Lab to develop and test new tech, and it will soon open the lab to the public.

Known for simple, monotone stationary, apparel and home goods, Muji is betting that there’s just as much demand for no-frills homes and hotels, with plans to ramp up the number of Muji-style accommodations.

​It’s not just third-party fashion brands M&S is developing. The retail giant is backing up its impressive rebound by signing a new agreement with its financial partner HSBC UK to beef up experiences for M&S customers.

Pepco Group had lots of news on Thursday with a trading update and a CEO announcement. Executive Chairman Andy Bond unveiled Stephan Borchert as its new CEO and the firm reported lower like-for-like sales.

Hong Kong-based AS Watson has promoted Malina Ngai to the role of group chief executive, effective from the start of next month.

​Tesco had some good news when it released its preliminary results on Wednesday with the UK's largest supermarket operator saying that clothing growth beat the wider market and womenswear was particularly strong.

In a surprise move, the UK government has announced moves to deter the increasing number of attacks on shop workers. It has also committed more funding to tackle the explosion in shoplifting post-pandemic.

As Shein grows increasingly popular in the UK, the e-tailer is continuing to reach out to consumers and is planning a pop-up at the Liverpool One mall running for three days from 19 April.

Westfield London and sister mall Westfield Stratford are primed to host London’s biggest Eid al-Fitr festival again with separate events. Combined, the weekends' occasions are expected to attract over 300,000 visitors.

The New York-based fashion group is debuting food and beverage concepts in Dubai and Jakarta.

Liverpool One, the major retail and entertainment destination, said it’s expecting a major boost to footfall during the spring/early summer second quarter trading period.