Clothing retailer Joules has reported a revenue increase of 4 per cent, beating analyst expectations to hit approximately £199 million for its financial year. Joules attributed the performance to strong e-commerce sales and its £9 million February acquisition of digital-led garden and outdoor furniture retailer Garden Trading.

Amazon destroys millions of items of unsold stock every year, much of which is new and unused, according to an investigation by ITV News. Undercover footage showed millions of products being destroyed in the e-commerce giant’s Dunfermline warehouse, just one of 24 fulfilment centres operating in the UK.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched a live-video service that connects in-store staff to customers shopping online at home. M&S Video Expert enables staff working in beauty and furniture departments to have one-on-one consultations with online shoppers, which will be available on demand via product pages on the retailer’s website.

Almost three-quarters – 73 per cent – of Brits think Amazon should be legally required to recognise and engage with trade unions representing their employees. The research, commissioned by UK-based trade union Unite, also found 68 per cent of Brits believe trade union recognition should be a prerequisite for companies securing public sector contracts.