​The UK retail euphoria around news that VAT-free shopping for tourists is returning and will include EU visitors has been tempered by suggestions it won’t happen until 2024. But retail is pushing for an earlier date.

​Frasers Group had an update on its offer to buy MySale on Monday with some shareholders accepting its offer, despite the board having rebuffed it.

​In what has been called a ‘mini budget’, the UK government on Friday not only said that it would bring back VAT-free shopping for tourists to Britain but that it would be a better system than the one abolished in 2021.

It’s going to be the “world’s first luxury virtual reality shopping universe”, we’re told. And although the so-called Xydrobe universe doesn’t officially open until 2023, it has just started taking registrations.

Balmain has linked up with water brand Evian for the first time on what they’re calling “a ground-breaking partnership, united over a shared vision to dream together and to collaborate on future innovations”.

​With the key festive selling season looming, Dior has announced that it’s paying “tribute to the unbreakable ties it has woven with Harrods over nearly 70 years, and to Christian Dior’s love of Christmas celebrations”. 

​Upscale department store retailer Liberty has promoted buying director Sarah Coonan to the role of MD of retail, a post she takes up immediately.

​Scotch & Soda has linked up with Salesforce and LA-based AE Studio to launch its latest loyalty programme. Called Club Soda 3.0, it’s “enabled by NFTs”.

John Lewis has appointed at big-hitter to take on the role of its all-new product director for lifestyle, covering fashion and home. It said hiring Zoe Matthews represented a “step-change in our business”.

Mike Ashely, the founder of Sports Direct and latterly The Frasers Group, is to relinquish his directorships in the business. As a departing gesture, he will provide the group with an additional £100m in support funding.

Zillah Byng-Thorne, the chief executive of specialist media platform Future, is preparing to step down in 2023 after eight years in charge.

​The UK’s online retail sales were down for the 17th month in a row in August, with a 4.1% year-on-year (YoY) drop, reversing the positive progress seen in July. But at least clothing did well, more of which later.

​Unbound Group — best known as the owner of the Hotter footwear brand — released its interim results on Tuesday with strong sales growth as the company continues its transformation into a multibrand retailer.

Frasers Group's bid to buy MySale has been rejected. The Australian online flash sales fashion platform said it considered last month's offer to be neither “fair” nor “reasonable”.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, around 800 firms – including Burberry, Barbour, Gieves & Hawkes, Dunhill and Fortnum & Mason – will have to reapply to display their Royal Warrants.

​Mytheresa’s Q4 and full-year results on Thursday showed accelerating growth in the final quarter of its financial year which meant general merchandise value (GMV) growth of 21.3% for the full 12 months.