International Women’s Day (IWD) is around the corner (8 March), and a host of retailers are launching campaigns to celebrate the occasion.
It comes after the latest MBS Group and BRC report on tracking progress on diversity and inclusion in UK retail found that progress on gender had been “strong,” with data collected by MBS within the last five years showing that it was “very nearly at gender equity at board level”.
However, it highlighted that progress elsewhere had been “slow,” with ethnic representation backtracking after “notable progress” last year.
With the industry grappling with “significant challenges” over the past few years, the report acknowledged that the current cost and regulatory environment meant there was a “real risk” of diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategies “falling off the radar of CEOs and boards”.
In this environment, promoting diversity and inclusion in the retail sector remains more important than ever.
Against this backdrop, Retail Gazette looks at six retailers championing women this IWD.
B&Q
DIY giant B&Q is marking IWD by celebrating the event’s theme for this year – Give to Gain.
Posting on LinkedIn, the retailer explained that at B&Q, giving meant “rolling up our sleeves and taking real action to support women’s careers”.
To do this, B&Q is launching its Women in Leadership programme, which is designed to encourage, develop and accelerate the careers of women at the business.
It is also investing £1m in trade apprenticeships, working to close the gender gap in trade, and celebrating a milestone with 56% women in its 2025 apprenticeship cohort.
Additionally, B&Q said it was championing the women across its business, including its female TradePoint UK business development managers who supported local trade professionals.
The company said: “By giving opportunity, visibility and practical support, we are helping to grow the next generation of women trade professionals and leaders.”
Ocado
To celebrate IWD, Ocado has teamed up with campaign Buy Women Built to help shoppers “discover more incredible brands built by women”.
The ecommerce giant has launched a dedicated Buy Women Built aisle on its website, made up exclusively of items from female-founded businesses.
It comes after the online retailer was the first major UK supermarket to launch the dedicated aisle in 2024.
Posting on Facebook last month, the company encouraged its shoppers to “head to the BWB aisle to explore, stock up on your favourites, and find a few new ones while you’re there”
Superdry & Co
To mark IWD, fashion brand Superdry & Co said that it was “taking a moment to recognise the voices, experiences and perspectives of the formidable women of Superdry”.
Posting on LinkedIn, the clothing specialist shared a PDF with thoughts from women across the company on what IWD meant to them.
The group said that women played “an important role across every part of our business” which helped “shape who we are and where we’re going”.
The company said: “To all the women working incredibly hard across our brand – this International Women’s Day, and every day – we see you, we hear you, and we value the impact you make at Superdry.”
Tesco
Tesco is another UK supermarket to have joined the Buy Women Built movement for IWD.
To celebrate the day, the grocery giant has launched hundreds of stacks in stores across the UK displaying women built brands.
Posting about the launch on LinkedIn, Buy Women Built said: “When shoppers walk into Tesco and see how many brands they love are women built, something shifts.
“Retail has power. And when retailers use that power to spotlight the brands that are female founded, we flip the narrative.
“That’s how we change perception. We are so proud and so grateful to Tesco. And excited for what this means-not just for the brands involved but for the next generation watching.”
M&S
Taking a different approach to IWD, food and fashion specialist M&S is doubling its donations to its charity partner Wellbeing of Women to mark the occasion.
The charity funds “life-changing research, education and advocacy into women’s health and wellbeing,” according to the retailer.
Posting on social media earlier this week, M&S urged customers to show their support by heading to their Sparks account and updating their chosen charity to Wellbeing of Women.
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Uniqlo
Marking IWD, Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo is celebrating its partnership with Smart Works, a charity that helps unemployed women get the “coaching, clothing and confidence they need to secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives”.
The organisations shared a photography series on Instagram called The Power of Clothing, that aimed to champion the “transformative impact of gaining confidence, opportunity, and style”.
The photos, captured by portrait photographer Sane Seven, featured seven women supported by Smart Works “at a pivotal point” in their journey into employment.
The photos portrayed the women as “confident professionals stepping into their future” rather than jobseekers, according to the retailer.
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