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  1. Business
18 January 2013updated 22 Oct 2020 3:55pm

UK retail sales fell – who were the biggest casualties?

Blockbuster, HMV, Jessops and more.

By New Statesman

UK retail sales fell in December – 0.1 per cent from the month before. For a December, this is bad: at 0.3 per cent the annual growth rate is the slowest since 1998 (excepting 2010).

Only one sector has been doing well: rather unsurprisingly, online retailers are fine. About 10.6 per cent of sales were carried out online during the month, compared to 9.4 per cent in December last year.

Companies from other sectors have not been as lucky. Here are the biggest casualties from the past year:

1. Blockbuster

On 16 January the company announced it would go into administration. Online competition and posted rental videos had destroyed the business.

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2. HMV

The company announced it was filing for adminstration on 15 Jan, overtaken by supermarket and online sales of CDs and DVDs.

3. Jessops

Administration happened on 9 January. Competitors had been supermarkets, smartphone cameras, and internet camera vendors.

4. Comet

Went into administration on 2 November: the sale of TVs and other large appliances have mostly moved online.

5. JJB Sports

Announced administration on 24 September. Rival Sports Direct had wiped it out.

6. Clinton Cards

The company announced administrators were coming in on 9 May. Supermarkets and the internet had started selling greetings cards, and the company couldn’t compete.

7. Aquascutum

17 April went into administration. The economic downturn had caused major problems.

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
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  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
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  • Public Relations and Media
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  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU