Online sales helped to salvage some good news out of the gloom during May with BDO’s Retail Sales Tracker for the month showing a 129.5% e-sales uplift year-on-year.

J.C. Penney revealed on Thursday the company is permanently closing 154 stores and will pursue store liquidations, as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring plan. 

The outdoor lifestyle group has announced skyrocketing e-commerce sales in the first nine weeks of Q2, giving the company hope of achieving better-than-expected results in a quarter negatively impacted by Covid-19.

The NYC-based owner of DKNY and Donna Karan has reported a 36.1% decline in its Q1 sales as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and also announced the permanent closure of its Wilsons Leather and G.H. Bass Stores.

Having struck rent deals for most of its stores, Debenhams is planning for its reopening programme to begin next week as three Northern Ireland shops open on Tuesday. 

With rumors mounting that Bernard Arnault may be attempting to renegotiate a lower deal price for LVMH’s acquisition of Tiffany, the luxury group said Thursday it will not buy any shares in the jeweler on the market.

Less than two years on from its CVA, New Look is in talks with its landlords again and has appointed property agents to help it negotiate rent deals based on turnover as it prepares to reopen its store estate this month.

Watchmaking giant Fossil had a tough time in Q1 as the effects of the global pandemic hurt its operations all over the world. But things could have been worse and its Q1 global net sales fell ’only’ 16% to $390.7m.

Dune London has partnered with Klarna to launch a Pay Later option in five European markets, including Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

Kering, one of the largest luxury groups on the planet, has made financial commitment to fight racism, with contributions to the NAACP and to Campaign Zero – following eight days of protests in multiple American cities.

Eden Park, the high-end French label inspired by rugby, has launched an online store dedicated to the United States. The e-tail store marks a first step by Eden Park into the sportswear market in the US.

As fashion retail gets ready for a deluge of discounts once stores reopen, many retailers are already cutting prices with French Connection and a quartet of Arcadia labels leading the charge.

UK retail prices, especially fashion, fell at their fastest pace in 14 years last month as a result of the coronavirus crisis and more of the same is expected as reopenings mean mega clearance sales.

Reitmans is exiting two of its five fashion banners, as it attempts to reposition the company “for long-term success”, the fashion retailer announced on Monday.

Jigsaw has closed its stores and e-tail site in Australia to focus on its operations in the UK. The British clothing brand said the decision to exit Australia was due to the coronavirus crisis.

Hammerson and Marks & Spencer have released further details of their reopening plans as retailers across the UK prepare to transition to a “new normal”.