The most popular stories on retailgazette.co.uk

#1 HMV to close iconic Oxford Street flagship

London‘s Oxford Street will lose its iconic HVM flagship store, following a 96-year residence.

Landlords of the building are reported to have commenced negotiations to surrender the lease through property agent Savills, according to Property Week.

The famous high street staple opened in 1921 as HMV‘s first-ever store, then named The Gramophone Company and has retained a presence on Oxford Street ever since.

#2 Bunnings Warehouse opens first UK store in Hertfordshire

Australian home and DIY retailer Bunnings Warehouse has opened its first UK store in Hertfordshire, with the 67,000sq ft shop replacing one of St Albans’ previous Homebase stores.

The opening of Bunnings is part of a £500 million investment plan by parent company Wesfarmers, which had acquired Homebase last year in a £340 million deal.

Wesfarmers plans to open at least four pilot Bunnings locations by June, and a total of 10 stores could be achieved by the end of 2017.

#3 Standard Life sets its sights on Sports Direct

Prime Minister Theresa May‘s new crackdown on poor corporate governance and executive pay has prompted one of the City‘s most renowned institutions to turn on Sports Direct.

Standard Life Investments stated in its yearly stewardship report that it was willing to rebel against excessive pay rises, contribute towards the government‘s consultation on boardroom pay, and called for change to the governance of Sports Direct.

The financial giant cited Mike Ashley‘s overbearing influence over Sports Direct in its report.