The Commerce Brief: Fri 27th June

Another exciting week in the world of eCommerce and retail 🛍️

Sue Azari
June 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Boots UK reported a 5% YoY sales increase in Q2 2025 - marking its 17th straight quarter of market share growth. Online sales rose +14.8%, now accounting for 17% of retail revenue, with Korean beauty and wellness driving the uplift. Pharmacy sales were also up 5.4%, bolstered by its growing “online doctor” service. (source)
Superdrug launched a SuperSwaps pop-up in London’s Cavendish Square to promote its £20M investment in own-brand innovation. Visitors can swap 10 premium beauty products for Superdrug alternatives and save over £500. (source)

Clothing prices are rising in the U.S. amid new Trump-era import tariffs, according to H&M’s CEO. H&M reported just 1% sales growth for the first half of this year, with operating profit down 17%, squeezed by freight costs, the strong U.S. dollar, and store closures. (source)
Gymshark has opened a store in Amsterdam and is preparing to launch its first Manchester location next month. (source)
River Island has revealed the 33 store closures as part of a broader restructuring effort. (source)
M&S has restored third-party brands to its website as it recovers from the April cyberattack. (source)

LEGO has hit £500M in UK sales, a record high despite inflationary pressures and a soft toy market. (source)

Claire’s is reportedly seeking a buyer amid import tariff concerns and mounting operational pressure. (source)

Primark is set to cut 150 jobs, including a supposed 100 roles at its Dublin HQ, as it outsources HR, finance, and procurement functions. (source)
Walmart is piloting dark stores in Dallas - these are locations dedicated solely to fulfilling online orders, with no public access. (source)

Google has taken a €107m (4%) stake in South Korea’s Gentle Monster, aiming to push further into the smart glasses space. (source)
AI shopping platform Daydream has officially launched in the U.S., co-founded by Julie Bornstein. The platform reimagines online shopping using generative AI and LLMs like ChatGPT. (source)

Dressr, a fashion rental platform, has raised €1M for international expansion, eyeing Belgium and the Netherlands. (source)
The Volte, an eBay-backed fashion rental platform from Australia, is expanding into the U.K. with 1,000+ designer pieces for circular economy-minded consumers. (source)

Søstrene Grene, the Danish retail chain, plans to reach 500 European stores by 2027, with new markets including Italy and Poland. (source)
Flaconi, Germany’s online beauty retailer, has expanded into Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, with Italy coming next month, now serving 12 countries. (source)

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