By Dirk Hoerig, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at commercetools

When the solar eclipse passed over the UK, it swung a spotlight on the operational readiness of retailers.

The eclipse wasn’t exactly a surprise. Retailers knew months in advance what was coming and could anticipate a predictable surge in demand for eclipse glasses and related merchandise. Yet even with that early warning, many struggled to get stock into customers’ hands when they needed it. Shelves cleared out, websites buckled under traffic spikes and last-minute shoppers left stores empty-handed.

If a demand spike we could see coming months in advance still caught retailers out, what does that tell us about the ones we can’t predict?

A viral TikTok trend, a celebrity moment or a sudden cultural flashpoint can send demand soaring in minutes. The next total solar eclipse won’t hit UK skies again until 2090, but retailers won’t have to wait that long for the next surge in customer demand.

The eclipse’s real lesson is about operating in real time. Retail has spent decades getting better at predicting demand. AI creates the opportunity to get better at responding to it.

The problem isn’t necessarily that retailers fail to see demand changing. It’s what happens next. A retailer might spot a product suddenly selling faster in one store, while stock remains sitting elsewhere in the network. By the time teams identify the pattern, decide how to respond and move inventory accordingly, the opportunity may already have passed.

This is what I’d call the reactivity gap: the distance between knowing that demand is shifting and being able to do something about it. Closing that gap means moving from demand forecasting to demand readiness.

Demand readiness means building systems that can sense a shift as it happens and instantly act on it within the parameters the business has already set, from adjusting pricing, reallocating inventory, triggering fulfilment and reshaping promotions. There’s no need to move through a manual process of waiting for a team to realise, diagnose and step in.

This is where autonomous commerce becomes practical rather than theoretical. Autonomous systems can interpret demand signals and act across pricing, inventory and fulfilment within defined guardrails. The team’s role shifts from responding manually to every change towards setting the strategy and boundaries within which the system operates.

None of these decisions happen in isolation. If demand for a product suddenly jumps, cutting a promotion, changing its price or shifting inventory each has consequences elsewhere in the business. Reacting at machine speed only works if those systems are acting on the same real-time information and towards the same business objectives.

That doesn’t make forecasting obsolete. Retailers still need to plan for seasonal peaks, promotions and known events. But forecasts are predictions, and the moment reality diverges from the plan, the ability to respond becomes just as important as the accuracy of the forecast itself.

The eclipse might have been a rare test case. But retailers face less predictable versions of the same challenge throughout the year, from Black Friday surges to viral moments.

The next retail surge could begin with a celebrity appearance or an event. The businesses best equipped for it won’t be the ones that predicted it. The winners will be the ones capable of responding while everyone else is still working out what happened.

Image courtesy of Unsplash. Photo credit: Jongsun Lee.

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SEPHORA UK has officially arrived in Glasgow, opening the doors to its first store in the city at Silverburn today, as hundreds of eager beauty fans queued from early morning to be among the first to step inside and get a first glimpse.Spanning 4,940 sq ft of beauty, the new store brings Sephora UK’s unmistakable beauty experience to the west of Scotland for the first time. From cult favourites and viral beauty finds to coveted brands you can only shop at Sephora UK, Glaswegians can now discover some of the world’s most talked-about beauty names all under one roof, alongside expert advice, personalised services and Sephora’s latest in-store beauty technology.

The opening marks the fourth and final store launch of ‘Sephora Summer’, a landmark season of new openings across the UK, and comes just one month after Sephora made its Scottish debut at Edinburgh’s St James Quarter. With the doors now open at Silverburn, Sephora UK has officially landed on both sides of Scotland.

This morning, Sephora UK’s Managing Director Sarah Boyd, alongside the Sephora UK leadership team, officially cut the ribbon and welcomed the first beauty fans through the doors, kicking off four days of celebrations at Silverburn.

And Sephora is making sure its Glasgow arrival gets the welcome it deserves. From Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th August, Silverburn will play host to a packed programme of music, beauty experiences, exclusive rewards, giveaways and surprises throughout the opening weekend.

The celebrations will feature DJ sets from Haley Zalassi, DJ Lu, Shedcat, Ocean, Amzil, Yuzo B2B Kiia and Loose E, alongside performances from Beeswax, Shneedzawoman and CJ Banks.

Beauty lovers can also expect surprise and delight moments from some of the biggest names in beauty, including Vieve, BYOMA, Kayali, Gisou, Caudalie, Maria Nila and Inde Wild, while those joining the celebrations can enjoy treats from IRN-BRU, Walkers Shortbread, Black Sheep Coffee, Wingstop, Patisserie Valerie and Hotel Chocolat.

Customers making any purchase between Thursday 13th and Sunday 16th August, while stocks last, will also receive a Beauty Bonus Card, giving everyone an equal chance to instantly win. Prizes range from goodie bags, Sephora merch and complimentary makeup services to discounts and beauty treats from Tower 28, Topicals, Fazit, Merit and Makeup by Mario.

Inside, the new Silverburn store is a beauty lover’s playground, bringing together Sephora UK’s signature curation of global icons, cult favourites, viral sensations and emerging names alongside its own Sephora Collection.

For the first time in Glasgow, customers can get their hands on coveted Only at Sephora brands including rhode, Haus Labs, Makeup by Mario, Merit Beauty, Half Magic, Yepoda and Tower 28, alongside social media favourites including Tatcha, Tarte, Summer Fridays and Kosas.

And Scottish beauty is firmly in the spotlight too, with homegrown favourites Vieve and BYOMA taking their place among the brands available at Silverburn.

Beyond the shelves, customers can experience Sephora UK’s new Beauty Scan technology, which uses an advanced lens operated by a Beauty Advisor to assess factors including skin oil and hydration levels and support more precise foundation shade matching. The results allow Sephora UK’s Beauty Advisors to tailor recommendations to each customer, making beauty discovery more personal than ever.

Sarah Boyd, Managing Director, Sephora UK, said: “The opening of our Glasgow Silverburn store is a proud milestone for Sephora UK. Following the incredible response to our Edinburgh opening, we knew beauty lovers in the west of Scotland were ready for Sephora too, and we’re so excited to finally open our doors.

Every new store is about more than just opening a new place to shop. We want to create a beauty destination where people can discover something new, experiment, learn and be inspired. Glasgow has such an incredible energy and sense of style, and we can’t wait to become part of the city’s beauty community.”

Diarmuid Donohoe, General Manager of Silverburn, said: “Sephora UK’s arrival in Scotland is one of the biggest retail stories of the summer. Their decision to open their first Glasgow store at Silverburn reflects our position as a leading retail destination and our appeal to the most sought-after international brands. We could not be more thrilled to welcome them.

Beauty at Silverburn has grown significantly over the past year and Sephora UK continues that momentum, giving our guests another reason to make us their first stop for the best in beauty and fashion.

Glaswegians have been waiting for this day all summer. I’ve no doubt today’s opening celebrations will give Sephora UK the warmest of Glasgow welcomes.”

The Glasgow opening also provides a fitting finale to ‘Sephora Summer’, a milestone season that has seen the beauty retailer accelerate its ambitious expansion across the UK with four store openings in just over a month.

Since July, Sephora has opened its first Scottish store at Edinburgh St James Quarter and unveiled its first-ever UK boutique stores on London’s Carnaby Street and at Old Spitalfields Market, before rounding out the summer with its arrival in Glasgow today.

The new boutique format was developed in response to evolving customer shopping habits, bringing Sephora’s signature beauty experience to convenient high-street locations through expertly curated product edits, personalised beauty advice and a seamless ‘pop-in’ shopping experience.

And Sephora Summer may be drawing to a close, but Sephora’s UK expansion is showing no signs of slowing down. Further store openings are planned before the end of the year as the retailer works towards a nationwide portfolio of 20 stores.

This autumn will also see another major milestone with the highly anticipated UK debut of SEPHORiA, Sephora’s iconic global beauty festival, arriving at London’s 180 Studios in October. Tickets go on sale from 18th August for Gold members and 20th August for general admission.

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Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 officially closed its doors at 16:00 on Friday 6^th February following four days of inspiring firsts that pushed beyond the expected to redefine the possible and reinvigorate the AV and systems integration industry. ISE 2026 broke all records welcoming 92,170 visitors from around the world. A total of 1,751 exhibitors, including 323 making their debut at the event, contributed to the largest total show floor space in the event’s history at 101,000 sqm.

ISE 2026 delivered exceptional attendance growth, underlining the continued expansion and global appeal of the show. By Tuesday, the event had already welcomed 55,156 unique attendees, a 10 percent increase compared with Tuesday 2025 (49,981). By Wednesday, total unique attendance across all show days reached 76,035, while the show recorded its largest single day ever, with 64,198 visitors onsite, almost equalling the pre-pandemic record attendance of an entire ISE show (64,908 at ISE 2019 in Amsterdam). Momentum continued through Thursday, as total unique attendance climbed to 87,648, officially marking the highest attendance in ISE history. Overall, ISE 2026 achieved an 8 percent increase in total attendance compared with 2025, demonstrating unprecedented energy, scale, and industry engagement, and confirming its position as the world’s leading event for the audiovisual and systems integration community. The total number of registrations reached 120,914 with over 212,000 visits across the four days.

“As ISE 2026 comes to a close, I’m truly inspired by the passion and strength of our community,” said Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events. “Over four extraordinary days, we celebrated groundbreaking technology, ignited bold ideas, forged lasting connections, and set new benchmarks for our industry. What excites me most is the creativity, energy, and diversity of our exhibitors and partners, and the unwavering dedication of the ISE team that makes it all possible.”

Growing and empowering the ISE community and beyond

At ISE 2026, Spark debuted as a show of unity for creativity and technology – a new initiative driving innovation and knowledge sharing across the creative industries. The new event format brought together the creators of tomorrow, uniting the brightest minds from Broadcast, Live Events, Marketing, Design, and Gaming into one immersive experience. Spark served as a hub for creative professionals, technologists, and decision-makers to connect, share ideas, and explore the future of creativity. With an outstanding line-up of partners and speakers, Spark 2026 showcased how technology transformed the audience experience, on screen, in physical spaces, and live, and demonstrated how innovation and collaboration are shaping the next generation of creative work.

In another first, ISE announced the ISE Foundation, an initiative spearheaded by ISE, and backed by co-owners AVIXA and CEDIA, with support from the City of Barcelona and the Government of Catalonia. The ISE Foundation aims to empower the AV and systems integration community, with an emphasis on teamwork, innovation, and lasting impact under the tagline “Powering On, Together”. The foundation launched at a press conference, with distinguished speakers David Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA; Daryl Friedman, Global President & CEO of CEDIA; Raquel Gil, Deputy Mayor of Barcelona; and Miquel Sàmper, Minister for Business and Labour, Government of Catalonia.

From iconic landmarks to AI insights, ISE 2026 showcased the future of creativity

The keynote sessions at ISE 2026, delivered by Matt Clark and Sol Rashidi, electrified the event, drawing full-capacity audiences. Clark took attendees “Behind the Façade: Building a Performance-led Mapping at Casa Batlló, from Concept to Implementation,” revealing the creative and technical mastery behind the mapping at one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks. Rashidi’s “The AI Reality Check: What It Takes to Scale and the Future of Leadership” offered a compelling look at how AI is reshaping industries and the leadership needed to navigate this transformation. Together, their presentations showcased ISE as the ultimate stage for innovation, creativity, and forward-thinking industry leadership.

Barcelona welcomes international officials to ISE 2026

ISE’s partnership with Barcelona continues to play a vital role in the event’s success. The 2026 show featured a notable delegation of VIPs and government officials, including representatives from Latin American countries, reflecting Barcelona’s status as a global technology hub. Attendees included leaders in national and regional governments, as well as experts in digitalisation and AI policy, highlighting ISE’s impact on international collaboration and regional growth.

“ISE jumpstarts every year as the largest gathering of AV professionals. But beyond the numbers is a more remarkable story: people connecting with one another from different corners of the world and exchanging ideas that will live on past the convention center walls,” said David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, Chief Executive Officer of AVIXA. “The week was full of brilliant minds that push this exciting industry forward. AVIXA is proud to collaborate with the ISE and CEDIA teams to deliver such a vibrant forum.”

“ISE 2026 once again demonstrated the extraordinary power of collaboration across our global technology ecosystem,” said Daryl Friedman, Global President and CEO of CEDIA. “As co-owners of ISE, we are proud to see the event continue to expand its influence as a platform where innovation, education, and partnership converge. The energy on the show floor and throughout the conference programme reflects a thriving industry that is not only embracing emerging technologies, but shaping how they enhance the spaces where people live, work, and connect.”

See you at ISE 2027

As the industry looks ahead, ISE 2026 leaves a lasting impression, as a showcase of cutting‑edge solutions, and a catalyst for collaboration and progress across the AV and systems integration landscape. ISE will return for ISE 2027 from 2nd – 5^thFebruary 2027 at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via – save the dates and prepare to push beyond even further.

Image credit: MichielTon.com.

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This year’s shopping behaviours reflected a more intentional approach to Christmas spending. Whilst The Perfume Shop saw online searches begin in September, customers timed their purchases around those major deal moments they knew were worth waiting for. Interest peaked around Black Friday and again from mid-December, culminating between the 14th and 20th of December, becoming the retailer’s strongest week of the season. The classic last-minute rush also played a starring role, as 23rd December became the single biggest in-store trading day.

Throughout the season, shoppers continued their shift away from multi-product promotions and instead responded best to simple price drops on single bottles or sets, a trend that has been consistent across 2025.

Gift sets delivered another standout year. Overall sales increased +4 percent versus last year, while online demand surged +62 percent during the peak Christmas period. Across the full year, sets represented 16.8 percent of total sales, up from 15.7 percent in 2024, a clear sign that customers still consider them one of the most reliable gifting choices.

Personalisation was another major success story. From engraved bottles to personalised ribbons and gift messages, customers embraced bespoke touches more than ever. Online personalisation services rose significantly, with December usage up +23.74 percent YoY. Individual services also saw strong growth, including 50,000 gift wraps (+84.6 percent YoY), 54,000 personalised ribbons (+106.8 percent YoY), 21,000 engraved bottles, and 3,500 custom gift messages introduced in November.

Convenience continued to drive purchasing decisions. Click & Collect services remained a key part of the Christmas countdown, while Next Day Delivery again proved essential for last-minute gifting and the partnership with Deliveroo for last minute deliveries.

Reflecting on the season, Andrea Rickard, Trading Director at The Perfume Shop, said: “Perfume continues to be one of the most heartfelt and memorable gifts at Christmas. Shoppers were more deliberate this year, waiting for the right moment to buy and choosing gifts that felt thoughtful, from engraved bottles to beautiful new launches. This festive period truly showed the power of personal touches and the enduring joy of gifting scent.”

Gill Smith, Managing Director at The Perfume Shop, also shared: “Christmas 2025 has been a good and exciting period for us. With over 1.5 million bottles sold, growth in gift sets, and significant uplifts in personalised ribbons and wrapping, it’s clear that customers are looking for thoughtful, high-quality gifts, and they trust us to deliver them both in-store and online.”

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Best year yet for footfall and sales

• The O2 welcomed over 11 million visitors in 2025, boasting the destination’s most successful year yet, with a 9.4 percent uplift on 2024 and a 23 percent uplift on 2023
• This record-breaking success was reflected across retail, leisure, and F&B sales too, increasing by 12% vs 2024

Retail smashes records with double-digit growth and outlet debuts 

• Outlet Shopping at The O2’s sales achieved double-digit growth, up a staggering 15 percent compared to 2024
• Several retail categories also delivered double-digit growth, with beauty, accessories, confectionery, and footwear up 17 percent, 18 percent, 17 percent, and 24 percent respectively vs 2024
• Boxing Day was a standout success for retail, with the outlet experiencing its highest sales day of the year with a 7 percent uplift vs 2024, as well as Black Friday Weekend (28^th November – 1^st December), where sales were up 12 percent vs 2024
• Outlet Shopping at The O2 diversified its offering and welcomed 16,679 sq ft of new lettings in 2025, including Rituals, and London outlet debuts for kate spade new york, Jack & Jones, New Era, Lovisa, and T.M Lewin. This was in addition to nine renewals and seven sample sales, with brands including Scamp and Dude and Hackett

Leisure grows at pace, whilst F&B continues to thrive

• The O2 has built a reputation as the go-to location for leisure within the UK, with category sales growing by 18 percent in 2025 vs 2024, boosted by the continued success of its offer, including Clip ‘n Climb, Padel Social Club, Hollywood Bowl, BOOM BATTLE BAR, Mamma Mia! The Party, and more
• The O2 is set to welcome the UK debut for Guinness World Records, a 25,000 sq ft attraction, later this year, following in the footsteps of Activate, TOCA Social, and iFLY’s London debut
• Sales across F&B continued to rise and were up 9 percent vs 2024, boosted further by new 2025 additions such as KFC

Alistair Wood, Executive Vice President, Real Estate and Development at AEG International, commented: “2025 has been another landmark year for The O2. Our success comes from offering more of what people want in one place, and continually integrating and evolving our offer to stay relevant and appealing.

Destinations that combine variety and adapt to changing consumer needs perform best, and The O2 reflects this. Our wide range of experiences drives social spending amongst friends and family, creating memorable moments and building strong customer loyalty that drives our continued outperformance.

With a busy events programme and several new additions planned, we are confident this momentum will continue into 2026.

These record-breaking results across the wider destination coincide with a stand-out year for The O2 arena, which celebrated over 2.9m tickets sold in 2025 (+11.5 percent vs 2024), and a record show count of 239 performances (+19 percent vs 2024). With a stellar calendar of events planned, including three nights of Lily Allen, six nights of Oliva Dean, and European-exclusive with 10 nights of Ariana Grande, as well as the return of the NBA, UFC, and The Laver Cup, 2026 is set to be even bigger and better at one of the world’s busiest arenas.

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London Designer Outlet (LDO) has reported over £1m worth of sales on Boxing Day for the first time since its opening in 2013, cementing its place as London’s go-to destination for designer brands.

Overall, Boxing Day sales increased by over 9 percent compared to 2024, highlighting the continued demand for outlet retail as customers seek designer brands at discount prices, whilst also preferring a discovery-led shopping experience over online purchases.

The record Boxing Day sales follow a bumper year from LDO which saw Black Friday weekend sales and footfall grow by 6.8 percent and 19 percent respectively – whilst sales and footfall rose by 9 percent and 15 percent respectively over the summer thanks to LDO’s location next to two of the UK’s largest sporting and entertainment venue who both boasted action-packed events calendars.

LDO’ strong sales and footfall growth during 2025 has also been supported by the arrivals of key brands including Gap, who selected LDO for its return to the UK outlet market, as well as Crocs, Columbia, and New Era. These arrivals were complemented by an evolving F&B scene which tapped into Londoners’ desire for a whole day out experience as LDO continues to cater for a broad, diverse and culturally savvy visitor – from the introductions of new dining favourite Afrikana to trendy grab-and-go brands DumDums and Mowchi.

LDO did see a more muted start to the December shopping period, but the introduction of brands such as Gap over the past month saw shoppers flock to LDO over the Boxing Day weekend to seek out its high-quality fashion and cosmetic brands at discounted prices.

Matt Slade, Retail Director at Quintain, said: “We are proud to report our strongest ever Boxing Day with over £1m worth of sales as retailers at LDO continue to thrive. Over the course of 2025 we continued to see sales and footfall rise thanks to our evolving retail and F&B line-up alongside the action-packed Wembley events calendar.

Despite a slower than expected start to December, our array of premium brands at discount prices, combined with our prime location, allowed us to attract shoppers from across London and beyond who didn’t want to miss out on exclusive offers over Boxing Day and Black Friday. This loyal and repeat customer base means we are seeing unprecedented interest from brands eager to capitalise on the spending power of our shoppers.”

Managed by Multi-Realm, LDO offers 265,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, including 70 outlet stores, restaurants, and coffee shops.

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MINISO has opened a 1,759 sq ft store on Lower Level High Street, introducing its vibrant range of lifestyle, homeware, and technology products, alongside the brand’s well-loved character collections. TK Maxx meanwhile has extended into the unit adjacent, combining for 19,000 sq ft at Upper Level The Gallery, showcasing its mix of branded fashion, beauty, homeware, and accessories, and featuring an impressive 53m fully glazed frontage. Both stores strengthen Meadowhall’s collection of affordable, design-led retail, broadening the offer for families and younger demographics.

Over the course of 2025, Meadowhall has exchanged on new leases covering 300,000 sq ft of the destination, 80 percent being retail and 20 percent from hospitality operators, and including renewals from 19 tenants.

The openings of MINISO and TK Maxx round off a period in which several tenants have invested significantly in upgrading and expanding their stores. More than £47m has been spent by brands alone across 2024 and 2025, with more than a third of Meadowhall’s operators undertaking new fitouts and refurbishments in that time. Looking ahead to 2026, more than 25 brands have already committed, and will be bringing a further £8m of investment to the centre.

Louisa Holmes, Asset Director at British Land, said: “This year’s level of investment, from new arrivals and long-standing tenants, reflects the confidence brands have in Meadowhall as a critical part of their national portfolio. In addition to that, the centre’s success means our brands are effectively competing to bring the best and latest shop fits and concepts here, elevating the experience for our visitors.

MINISO and TK Maxx are two recent examples of why that’s important, joining the likes of Sephora, Superdrug, and Wingstop, all having opened to huge fanfare this year because they understand the value of creating a quality experience. 2025 has demonstrated our commitment to evolving the tenant mix, ensuring that, even 35 years in, Meadowhall can remain both a regional economic powerhouse, and a cornerstone of the UK’s shopping centre landscape.”

Commercial brand activations continued to perform effectively throughout 2025, including standout initiatives from Trinny London and Jo Malone. Visitor numbers have also remained consistently high. Meadowhall recorded its busiest Black Friday weekend in six years, welcoming 262,981 visitors across the three days, while October half-term was also the strongest in six years, the 457,000 visitors representing a 9.7 percent year-on-year increase.

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One of Scotland’s outlet shopping destinations has recorded its best ever November performance in history, marking a major milestone just as Livingston Designer Outlet celebrates 25 years since opening.

Sales for the month grew by 7.5 percent year on year, supported by a 4 percent increase in footfall. The strong uplift reflects the appeal of the centre’s evolving retail mix and continued consumer demand for outlet shopping.

Performance was further boosted during the Black Friday trading period, where sales were up 13.3 pe cent year on year and like for like sales grew by 11.5 percent. In a shifting economic landscape, outlet shopping continues to stand out as a top choice for customers seeking high-quality products at exceptional value with footfall across the same period increased by 8.5 percent.

The success follows a series of recent openings including Belstaff, Columbia (the first and only Scottish store), Monsoon and Ravensburger, with Crocs set to join the line up shortly. These brands elevate the centre’s profile, driving footfall and creating a dynamic shopping destination.

The benefits of strategic asset management are also evident in individual retailer performance. Calvin Klein, which recently upsized at Livingston Designer Outlet, saw sales climb by 44 percent in November.

Livingston Designer Outlet is home to over 80 designer and high street names and continues to attract retailers investing in both customer experience and growth. Earlier in the year, brands including Le Creuset and Lacoste invested in new store fit outs and relocations within the scheme and have since continued to deliver strong results.

Nicky Lovell, Head of Outlets and Retail Business Development at Global Mutual, said: “We are incredibly pleased to see Livingston Designer Outlet deliver its strongest November since opening 25 years ago. These results demonstrate the momentum that is building at the centre and the positive impact of our leasing strategy alongside the continued commitment of our retail partners. With a refreshed line up and more exciting openings to come, we look forward to building on this success into the year ahead.”

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Gunwharf Quays, Braintree Village and Clarks Village generated a combined spend of £16.3 million across Black Friday week, with footfall up 8.6 percent year on year, demonstrating the continued strength of in-person retail during key calendar moments.

This builds on a consistently strong trading performance across the outlet portfolio and follows a record-breaking year for spend across major Landsec retail destinations during the last financial year.

Braintree Village enjoyed a record-breaking week, with Saturday seeing its highest single day of footfall since the pandemic. Clarks Village recorded its highest-ever sales day.

Gunwharf Quays saw its biggest-ever sales week, building on last year’s record. The outlet also recorded its highest-ever single-day revenue and footfall up 9.8 percent year on year

Individual store success was strong, with 25 brands achieving record sales weeks at Gunwharf Quays alone, while a further nine brands set new records on Saturday.

Across the outlet portfolio, shoppers spent the most on health and beauty (+46 percent week on week), gifts, cards, toys and books (+43 percent), and accessories (+40 percent) – categories that have continued to show strong momentum into 2025 across Landsec’s outlet destinations.

Bruce Findlay, Managing Director of Retail at Landsec, said: “This has been another exceptional period for our outlets, building on the momentum created last year and demonstrating the continued strength of the outlet model.

These landmark sales figures also show the sheer power of in-person retail. Our outlet destinations offer great value, as well as unique food, leisure and experience-led moments that turn a simple shopping trip into a full day out – perfect for spending quality time with family and friends.”

*Data based on Black Friday week 24th – 30th November 2025. 

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Visa blocked 280 percent more suspected fraud in the UK on Black Friday 2025 compared to Black Friday 2024, and 63 percent more compared to the previous Friday. Across Europe, Visa blocked 140 percent more suspected fraud on this year’s Black Friday, compared to last year’s, and 40 percent more compared to the previous Friday.

David Capezza, Interim Chief Risk Officer, Visa Europe said: “Black Friday still remains a prime time for retailers – and especially for online shopping. However, where there is money to be spent, fraudsters will always try to take advantage – which is why Visa’s network never takes a day off. We protect every transaction, no matter how big or small, helping consumers shop with peace of mind all year round.”

Visa’s analysis of this year’s Black Friday activity serves as a timely reminder that while the holidays are one of the most joyful times of the year, fraudsters see this season as an opportunity to exploit the festive cheer. Common scams Visa has identified include fake shopping sites, package delivery scams, “extra holiday cash” job scams, travel fraud and holiday charity scams. Learn more about these scams in Visa’s Holiday Threats report here.

Visa has invested $12 billion in technology and infrastructure in the last five years, including in cyber security and fraud. In just one year, the Visa Scam Disruption team has identified and blocked more than €220 million in Europe – and over $1 billion globally – in scam attempts before they could impact consumers.

Image courtesy of Unsplash. Photo credit: Joshua Mayo.

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