Whatever happened to Weight Watchers?

Whatever happened to Weight Watchers?

If you trace the long arc of British dieting from the late 1980s to the 2020s, the first thing you notice is that the dieting never stopped. The TGI chart of Trying to Lose Weight, 1987–2022,  shows a steady, relentless rise. By 2022 about 40% of UK adults are trying...
Was 1989 the tipping point in ‘Designer’ Fashion?

Was 1989 the tipping point in ‘Designer’ Fashion?

“There’s no point buying £40 shoes for a £400 suit” says a respondent in a 1989 study for Adidas, who were looking to launch an international lifestyle brand (including shoes). The report, held within AMSR, summarises the UK qualitative research, and...
Is Russell & Bromley out of step with the times?

Is Russell & Bromley out of step with the times?

The shoe retailer Russell and Bromley has been bought by Next, following a period in administration. The business is over 150 years old, having started in 1873, but now joins other brands in a familiar path to largely disappearing off the high street. 30-year TGI data...
Can Habitat keep changing with the times?

Can Habitat keep changing with the times?

One of the new breed of design and retail brands that emerged in the 1960s, Habitat enjoyed a longer time in the sun than many of its peer group. And it’s still around today, albeit in a somewhat different form.  Founded 1964 by Terence Conran, the Habitat business...
Is Topshop back to stay?

Is Topshop back to stay?

Topshop is returning to the High Street, several years after closing all its UK stores. It’s going to be available in 32 John Lewis branches from February 2026. After its heyday from the 1980s to the 2000s, the Topshop chain disappeared with the collapse of Sir Philip...