From Boots extending its on-demand delivery services to meet rising consumer demand for convenience to Retail Technology Show announcing its funky disco theme for RTS 2026 and Pottery Barn’s UK website launch, what’s been making waves in retail this week?

Boots extends on-demand deliveries with Deliveroo & UberEats

Boots will expand its on-demand delivery services through its partnerships with Deliveroo and UberEats, offering rapid fulfilment across over 10,000 health & beauty products from almost 500 UK stores nationwide.

With delivery in as little as 30minutes, the service aims to offer increased convenience and flexibility to customers, with fast doorstep deliveries for urgent healthcare orders, speedy beauty buys or last-minute gifts.

The extension of q-commerce deliveries was in response to continued strong customer demand, which “reflects how customers expect modern retailers to support their busy lifestyles,” Paula Bobbett, Chief Data and Digital Officer at Boots, said.

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Retail Technology Show unveils new disco theme for 2026

Retail Technology Show (RTS), the leading event that connects retail’s changemakers with tech innovators, has unveiled its theme for RTS 2026. 

Grooving to the beat of retail innovation, RTS will let the good times roll at ExCeL London on 22–23 April next year with a disco-themed retail extravaganza. 

Bringing together the sector’s movers and shakers, the UK’s leading retail event promises innovation, energy, bold moves and good vibes, connecting retailers with the tools and tech they need to keep in step and never miss a beat.

“With a new theme – but the same incredible energy that unites the sector – we can’t wait to bring the funk, flair and future of retail to life as we look ahead to next year’s show,” said Matt Bradley, Event Director at RTS.

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Shoppers warm to body-cams as acceptance & trust grows

Shoppers are becoming increasingly accepting and more trustful of body-worn cameras (body-cams), as they increasingly recognise their role in keeping retail colleagues and customers safe in-store, the latest research by HALOS has found.

Original research of over 2,000 UK consumers by the body-cam company revealed that more than half (55%) of shoppers said wearable recording devices make them feel safer.

“[Previously, the presence of a body-worn camera might have felt unusual or even confrontational,” said Matthew Dawes, Head of Enterprise Solutions at HALOS. “Today, they’re a quiet reassurance to both the wearer and the everyday person.”

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Guest Post | How will France’s Fast Fashion crackdown reshape retail?

With the French government introducing its Ultra-Fast Fashion Bill, one of the world’s toughest crackdowns on fast fashion, its significance could be far reaching with its ramifications felt well beyond French borders.

In our latest guest post, ReBound’s Emily McGill, explores how France’s fast fashion crackdown will reshape international retail – she discusses:

🪴 The environmental imperative and tightening of regulation
🎲 The domino effect of French fashion legislation
🔍 ESG under scrutiny: the impact for retailers
👗 Fashion brands – including MANGO & Nobody’s Child – leading the way
🌍 Strategies for building sustainable future supply chains

Read the full guest article here 👉 Guest Post | ReBound Returns on how France’s Fast Fashion crackdown will reshape retail.

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Retailers risk lost revenue & loyalty by neglecting exchange-first returns options

UK brands could be leaving revenue and loyalty on the table by prioritising refunds over exchanges in their returns processes, the latest data from returns management platform for Shopify merchants, Loop, reveals.

Analysis of over 13.8million returns from 4,000+ Shopify merchants across the UK, U.S., ANZ and Europe in Loop’s 2025 State of Ecommerce Returns Report, showed that UK return rates now sit at just under 1 in 5, with 18% of online orders sent back.

However, 78% of all returned items in the UK are refunds, meaning the value of the returned items exits the business entirely. This not only means UK retailers lose the value of the sale, but they could risk lost loyalty too. In contrast, just 6% of UK retailers are actively encouraging exchanges, rather than refunds, in their returns operations. 

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Brompton, Ahmad Tea & Kavee on how retailers can navigate U.S. expansion in the Trump Tariff era

Trump’s trade tariffs on British goods, combined with the removal of the de minimis threshold, are increasing costs and complexity for brands selling into the U.S. market.

Speaking at Ecommerce Expo 2025, Brompton Bikes, the iconic folding bike brand, the fast-growing pet brand Kavee, and family-owned British tea company, Ahmad Tea, shared how they have built successful ecommerce strategies to overcome the challenges and capture growth across the Atlantic.

From different routes to market, from 3PL partnerships to establiashing U.S. entities to circumvent tariff exposure, to localising retail offerings and content to meet the needs of the North American shopper, read the full session write up: Ecommerce Expo 2025 – How Brompton, Ahmad Tea and Kavee are navigating U.S. expansion.

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Pottery Barn launches its DTC UK website, ahead of John Lewis partnership later this year

Pottery Barn, the American home furnishings retailer, has announced its launch in the United Kingdom, with customers able to buy via a dedicated UK website.

The new Pottery Barn UK site offers a “curated assortment tailored to local customers,” with shipping and delivery available throughout the country. UK shoppers will also be able to access Pottery Barn’s free interior design services by booking online consultations either in-store or in-home with members of its Design Crew.

“We’re excited to bring Pottery Barn’s timeless design and quality craftsmanship to the UK through a dedicated website that reflects our brand values and showcases our passion for incredible products,” said Laura Alber, President and CEO of Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

A retail partnership with John Lewis is expected to launch later this year, expanding the availability of Pottery Barn goods and allowing the retail to reach new audiences.