From Debenhams’ State-side expansion into Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s to FARFETCH powering up its personalisation and predictions for the busiest in-store footfall days of Peak Trading 2025, what’s been making waves in retail this week?
Debenham’s Group eyes international growth with U.S. debut
Debenhams Group is taking its most popular British fashion labels to the United States, with Coast, Warehouse, Oasis, Nasty Gal and Karen Millen now available on Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom’s online marketplaces.
The expansion is being delivered in partnership with Refined Networks, which works with fashion and lifestyle brands to scale internationally and connect with new customers through online marketplaces.
Dan Finley, CEO of Debenhams Group, said that the move would put its labels “in front of millions of potential shoppers across the U.S., giving British fashion an unprecedented platform in one of the world’s largest retail markets.”
The expansion forms part of Debenhams Group’s broader international expansion strategy, using a marketplace-led model to open up access into new geographies.
Bringing back an icon: Topshop’s Moses Rashid on the retailer’s comeback journey
Topshop’s relaunch required careful balance, Moses Rashid, Global Marketing Director of Topshop and Topman, told audiences at Ecommerce Expo 2025.
This meant tapping into deep-rooted ’90s fashion nostalgia, while moving the brand into a modern day fashion destination. In his Ecommerce Expo session, he shared insights into:
⚡The strategy for bringing back Topshop’s ‘energy’ beyond nostalgia
🏬 What’s next for Topshop’s partnership with John Lewis
🛍️ Plans for more physical stores on the UK High Street and its international expansion plans
Read the full session write-up here 👉 Ecommerce Expo 2025 – Topshop’s Moses Rashid on the iconic fashion retailer’s comeback
FARFETCH powers enhanced personalisation with MoEngage
FARFETCH has partnered with leading customer engagement platform, MoEngage, to unify its customer data and enhance personalisation to drive deeper shopper engagement.
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do,” said Matthew Hully, Director of CRM & Loyalty at FARFETCH, adding the partnership would “deliver personalised experiences across every touchpoint… to deepen engagement and strengthen loyalty.”
Working with MoEngage, FARFETCH will build a single, trusted view of the customer, unifying data across its owned and paid channels to create seamless and personalised buying experiences to drive campaign performance and growth.
Raviteja Dodda, CEO & Co-Founder of MoEngage, added that the move would enable FARFETCH to “set a new benchmark for personalisation in luxury fashion.”
Guest Post | What happens when AI becomes the customer?
With the potential for AI to become responsible for up to 55% of all purchasing activity by 2030, Cognizant’s Phil Matthews asks what happens when AI becomes the ‘customer’?
As adoption by businesses and consumers of Agentic AI accelerates, paving the way for agent-to-agent (A2A) shopping, in our latest guest post Matthews explores:
🔮 The rise of AI-powered shoppers and the agentic commerce revolution
🧑💻 How AI adoption differs depending on customer cohort and shoppers’ missions
📦 Fixing the ‘forgotten stage of shopping’ with post-purchase AI engagement
🤖 What agent-to-agent (A2A) shopping will mean for brands shaping new buying journeys
Read the full article here 👉 Guest Post | Cognizant’s Philip Matthews asks what happens when AI becomes the customer?
Super Saturday tipped to be busiest footfall day of Peak Trading 2025
Super Saturday (20 Dec) is tipped to be the busiest in-store shopping day of the entire Peak Trading period for a third consecutive year, according to predictions from Sensormatic Solutions.
| Top busiest UK in-store shopping days for Peak Trading 2025 1. Super Saturday (20 Dec) 2. Saturday after Black Friday (29 Nov) 3. Last full shopping day before Christmas (23 Dec) 4. Boxing Day (26 Dec) 5. Second Saturday in December (13 Dec) |
As consumers continue to spend cautiously, some of the busiest days for in-store footfall over the Christmas period this year are expected to centre around retailers’ discounting events.
The Saturday of the Black Friday weekend (29 Nov) is expected to be the second busiest day for in-store footfall during Christmas trading. Meanwhile, Boxing Day (26 Dec), which didn’t feature in last year’s top 5 busiest days predictions, re-enters in 4th place.
“With economic uncertainty affecting both shoppers and businesses, stores that prioritise precise, personalised omnichannel promotions will have the edge come Peak Trading,” said Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic Solutions’ EMEA Retail Consultant.
Fortnum & Mason brings luxury food offer to Bicester Village
Fortnum & Mason has opened its first UK store and hospitality offering outside London, in Bicester Village in Oxfordshire.
Open seven days a week, Fortnum’s Bicester Village store will sell products including its renowned tea blends alongside a selection of its gift hamper, while Fortnum’s Red Coats will also offer personalisation services across a range of products, including spirits and champagne.
Our beautiful new location will allow visitors to explore a curated edit of Fortnum’s extraordinary food and drink, and provide a great pit-stop for those looking to buy Fortnum’s favourites to enjoy or gift,” Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason, said.
Iceland taps Stuart for same-day deliveries
Frozen food retailer, Iceland Foods, has partnered with last-mile specialist Stuart to extend its in-store home delivery service, giving customers the ability to shop and schedule same-day delivery within a two-hour time slot.
“The service offers new levels of convenience to Iceland customers, while maintaining the quality and choice they expect from in-store shopping,” said Stuart’s CRO, Ricardo Amorim.
Following a trial in nine stores, Iceland will now extend the same-day delivery service to over 100 locations nationwide and will leverage Stuart’s sustainable delivery network, with over half of orders fulfilled using low-emission vehicles.
“With more slots available for customers, our same-day delivery service will make shopping in-store more convenient than ever before,” an Iceland spokesperson said.
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