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Welcome to The Checkout by Kuro House, your daily dose of AI and retail news. Today, we’re diving into some fresh developments from UK shopping trends to new retail partnerships and outlet expansions. Let’s get started with what’s happening over the Boxing Day sales.
UK shoppers are gearing up to spend a hefty £3.6 billion this Boxing Day, according to the Barclays Consumer Spend report. That’s a bit down from previous years, likely due to rising cost-of-living pressures, with 69% of shoppers saying it will impact their spending. Interestingly, fewer people plan to shop this year, but those who do have increased their budgets slightly. AI tools are playing a bigger role too, helping shoppers research and compare deals more efficiently. And despite the digital shift, nearly half still prefer the in-store experience for the tactile joy and social aspect it brings.
In a surprising wellness move, rugby star Joe Marler has teamed up with Davina McCall for Ancient + Brave’s latest campaign. This female-founded wellness brand is shaking things up with a fun, irreverent take on New Year’s resolutions. The campaign, called “Resolutions Worth Nourishing,” promotes wellness rituals that prioritize joy over sacrifice. Joe’s candid, humorous approach fits perfectly with the brand’s mission to make wellness relatable and enjoyable. For those interested, there’s even a 20% discount on subscriptions to kickstart your nourishing resolution journey.
Outlet Shopping at The O2 is finishing the year strong with some exciting new store signings. Jewellery brand Lovisa and menswear label T.M. Lewin are making their outlet debuts, with The Entertainer opening its first London outlet store. There’s also a new ‘roboshop’ vending machine by POP MART, bringing art toy blind-boxes to an outlet location for the first time. Meanwhile, New Balance is upsizing to a larger store with their latest concept, reflecting strong demand at the destination. November sales were up 23%, and footfall rose 24%, showing the outlet’s momentum heading into the new year.
Looking back at 2025, Retail Gazette shared their most-read stories, highlighting some major retail shifts. From Poundland’s closing down sales with items starting at just 10p, to Currys doubling cash-for-trash rewards to boost tech recycling. We saw Ikea opening new concept stores inside former Homebase units, and The Range rebranding Homebase locations. Asda made headlines with SKU cuts and a significant fine, while Clarks launched its first Cloudsteppers stores. It’s been a year of change, with a clear focus on sustainability, store innovation, and cost-cutting measures.
Finally, Sensormatic Solutions reported that footfall on December 23rd was “stubbornly muted” compared to last year. Store visits dropped by over 13%, while retail parks saw a nearly 9% decline year-on-year. However, shopper traffic did spike compared to the previous week, with shopping centres up more than 74% in visits. Retailers like Currys and Boots have launched early Boxing Day deals to try and boost sales, but it remains to be seen if this will fully revive the season’s performance.
So, that’s a wrap on today’s retail and AI update. From evolving shopping habits powered by AI to fresh retail partnerships and outlet expansions, the landscape keeps shifting. Thanks for tuning in to The Checkout by Kuro House — we’ll catch you next time with more insights to keep you ahead of the curve.
