A string of store groups have gone out of business or announced shop closures this year as they battle subdued consumer spending, rising labour costs, higher business property taxes, growing online competition and uncertainty over Brexit.Toys R Us UK, Maplin and Poundworld have all gone bust, while Marks & Spencer , Debenhams , Mothercare and House of Fraser are between them shutting hundreds of stores.

British retailers are seeking respite from the annual promotional Black Friday event that was first imported from the United States by Amazon in 2010. More money has been spent every year since, though – after chaos and scuffles in stores in 2014 – it is now predominantly an online affair.Research firm GlobalData forecasts UK spending during the Black Friday period – which it defin…