Ireland’s premier fragrance and candle brand La Bougie has launched in the UK.

With the new school year just around the corner, we’re told that Gen Z was poised to spend an average of £1,600 per person on back-to-campus supplies, representing a total spend of £4.3 billion, according to UniDays.

The Metrocentre shopping destination in Gateshead is planning to spend £6 million on an upgrade to revitalise an area in and around its Green Mall entrance.

High-end leather goods brand Aspinal of London has entered the beauty sector, debuting a luxury fragrance collection in partnership with specialist company Colbico.

​Alibaba Group Holding missed market expectations for first-quarter revenue as the company's domestic e-commerce sales came under pressure from cautious spending by Chinese consumers in a faltering economy.

​Chinese e-commerce group JD.com on Thursday reported forecast beating second-quarter profits, helped by price cuts that attracted cost-conscious shoppers to its platform.

UK retail sales bounced back in July after summer discounts and the Euros football competition unleashed spending at department stores and sports shops.

​Lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret & Co (VS&Co) has named Hillary Super as its new CEO and board member, effective September 9. She succeeds Martin Waters in both roles. 

Britain's aviation regulator has selected six projects, including one by e-commerce giant Amazon, to test the use of drones in deliveries, inspection of infrastructure and emergency services, it said on 15 August.

A potential strike at U.S. seaports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico could back up cargo there for weeks or even months, shipping experts said on Wednesday.

German perfume and cosmetics retailer Douglas is betting on the European premium beauty market to keep driving growth, it said on 14 August after reporting higher earnings for its fiscal third quarter.

Riots last week led to a near-5% decline in high street footfall but a 2.5% jump in home deliveries that helped to make up for the dip.

​Capri Holdings is the latest luxury giant to prove that times are tough out there. The company’s Q1 results for fiscal 2025 saw revenue falling 13.2% on a reported basis and 12.1% in constant currency.

​Asda, Britain's third-biggest supermarket group, posted a 5.3% decline in underlying sales in the three months to the end of June, as it continues to underperform its rivals.

E.l.f. Beauty forecast annual sales and profit below estimates on 8 August and said it would raise prices of its products if presidential candidate Donald Trump comes to power and hikes tariffs on imports from China.

China’s consumer prices rose more than expected, offering hope of a recovery in domestic demand that has weighed on growth this year.