Blick Bassy:- '1 of Africa's most inventive and distinctive singer songwriters' to play Liverpool this September

THE Cameroonian Singer, Songwriter, Blick Bassy, will be performing with his 3 piece band at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's Music Room, at 8pm, on 19 September 2021. Described by The Guardian as:- "1 of Africa’s most inventive and distinctive singer songwriters" in a 5 star review, Bassy's Liverpool date follows the acclaimed release of his album:- '1958.' A defiant tribute to the heroes who fought and died for the independence of his native Cameroon. The album's focus is specific, but its themes; the bondage of neo-colonialism, the need for heroes, the relevance of history and the search for the true identity; are universal. In addition to The Guardian, Bassy has received rave reviews from the likes of:- The London Evening Standard, The Observer and Songlines Magazine, as well as being played by Lauren Laverne, Gideon Coe and Cerys Matthews on 6 Music and by Max Reinhardt and Mary Anne Kennedy, on BBC Radio 3. His music was also chosen by tech giants Apple for a worldwide ad campaign. The show in Liverpool comes ahead of Africa Oyé's 30th Anniversary celebrations, due to be held in 2022, with many more events due to take place across the City Region, alongside their flagship festival in Sefton Park; scheduled to return after what will be a 2 year absence due to the Pandemic. Tickets for Blick Bassy perform at the Liverpool Philharmonic's Music Room, on 19 September, 2021 are on sale now and can be bought from the Philharmonic's website. Please note that customers that the Liverpool Philharmonic have said that:- "people who have previously booked tickets for the cancelled concert, on Monday, 25 May 2020, will need to re-book their tickets. Tickets for May 2020 concert will not be valid for this event."
 

New Perfume Shop Launching in Beales, Southport

THE Perfume Shop has opened a brand new pop up in department store Beales, in Southport, officially opened, on Tuesday, 24 August 2021, the pop up will be a permanent addition to the newly reopened store. The new pop up has a 9 bay counter stocking hundreds of favourite fragrances brands, from:- Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs and Dolce and Gabbana to Armani, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, alongside bestselling own brand collections ME and The Perfume Edit. The shop will offer customers free gift wrapping, as well as offering the unrivalled expertise of The Perfume Shop's colleagues. Cathy Newman, The Perfume Shop’s Marketing and Customer Experience Director, comments:- "We are so excited to be able to open a brand new pop up store, within Beales department store, Southport. We can't wait to welcome customers into store."
 

CBI says:- "UK Retail sales and orders growth soar, but supply issues are mounting."

UK Retail sales grew at the sharpest pace since December 2014, in the year to August, while orders growth hit a survey record high, according to the latest CBI ¼ Distributive Trades Survey. Sales were also viewed as above average for the time of year, to the greatest extent since September 2015. The survey of 104 companies, of which 42 were retailers, found that while firms expect orders and sales growth to slow next month, both are ultimately set to remain strong. Meanwhile, stock levels in relation to expected sales hit a survey record low across retail and the distribution sector as a whole; marking the 5th consecutive month in which a record low has been reached in distribution sector stock levels. Within retail, the proportion of deliveries from suppliers accounted for by imports also fell sharply, at 1 of the fastest rates in the survey's history. Notably, average selling prices in August increased at the fastest pace since November 2017. Respondents expect this picture to remain broadly similar in the month ahead.

Despite signs of operational challenges, investment intentions for the next 12 months picked up in the year to August and are now at their strongest since February 1994. Overall, retailers expect the business situation to improve slightly over the coming ¼. Elsewhere, sales volumes growth in wholesaling eased in the year to August, but stayed above the long run average. Motor traders saw a slight acceleration in the pace of sales growth, and both sectors expect another strong rise in sales in the year to September 2021.

Alpesh Paleja, CBI Lead Economist, said:- "A ramping up in retail sales growth in the year to August shows just how much consumer demand continues to spur economic recovery. While sales growth is set to remain strong, a more definitive shift in household spending towards consumer services is anticipated later in the year; leading to greater normalisation of growth in the retail sector. Furthermore, there are signs of operational challenges still biting, with stock levels reaching another record low and import penetration falling. Disruption is being exacerbated by continued labour shortages, with many retailers reliant on younger employees currently awaiting their jab. Thankfully, changes to the self isolation rules have eased the impact of the 'Pingdemic' on firms. But ensuring continued progress on vaccine roll out for younger cohorts is crucial. This will also boost confidence as we move onto a new stage in the Pandemic, namely living with the virus."

Key findings by the Distributive Trades Survey (DTS) are as follows:-

Retail monthly questions...

► Retail sales grew at the fastest pace since December 2014 (balance of +60% from +23% in July). Sales are expected to increase at a slower, but still strong, pace in the year to September (+39%).

► Retail orders grew at a survey record pace (balance of +68% from +49% in July - record since July 1983). Orders are expected to grow at a slower, yet still strong, pace next month (+55%)

► Sales were seen as:- "good" for the time of year (balance of +26% from 0% last month), to the greatest extent since September 2015.

► Stock levels in relation to expected sales reached a record low across retail (-21% from -17% last month) and across the distribution sector (-22% from -21%). Across distribution, this marked the 5th consecutive month in which a record low (since July 1983) has been reached.

Retail quarterly questions...

► Investment intentions for the next 12 months (compared to the previous 12) improved sharply and are now at their strongest since February 1994 (+36% from +35% in May).

► On a year ago, average selling prices grew at the fastest pace since November 2017 (+73% from +53% in May). They are expected to grow at a similar pace next month (+75%).

► Employment fell for the 19th consecutive ¼ in the year to August (-13% from -37% in the year to May), but at the slowest pace since November 2019. The rate of decline is expected to ease slightly further next month (-9%).

► Import penetration fell in the year to August (-17% from -10% in May), marking the 7th consecutive ¼ that it has fallen or been broadly flat.

► Wholesalers and motor trade. Wholesalers reported an easing in the rate of sales growth in the year to August (+28% from +59% last month) but expect a pick up next month (+37%).

► Motor traders saw a slight acceleration in the rate of sales growth (+47% from +40% last month). A similar rise is expected next month (+44%).