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Big businesses changing plans due to COVID-19

A wedding by Selfridges
Tesla is pushing forward with its first European Gigafactory
And Tesla's left Silicon Valley for Texas
Audi is focusing on electric cars
Amazon is fast-tracking its new fulfilment centres
Gap is tripling the number of robots in its warehouses
Google is adjusting its manufacturing locations
Microsoft is moving production to Vietnam
Microsoft is taking sales online-only
Starbucks is focusing on takeout orders
Walmart has dropped the minimum order on its Express delivery
And Walmart is scaling back its robot revolution
Qantas is launching mystery flights and flights to nowhere
Airlines have turned into cargo services
Airlines are retiring the Airbus A380 early
Princess Cruises will offer offices at sea
Zipline's drones are now delivering medicines
Teladoc Health is adapting to increased demand
Boots is trialling online consultations
Holographic tech company HYPERVSN is developing new holographic products for a range of industries
Hanson Robotics' Sophia the AI robot is going into mass production
Dating apps are introducing virtual date features
Estate agents are launching immersive virtual viewings
Hopin is expanding its virtual conferencing business ahead of schedule
Disney has brought productions onto Disney+ earlier
And Disney is going to make more original series for streaming
Nike is fast-tracking its digital offering
Pret A Manger is moving into Tesco stores
Publix and other retailers are switching to contactless payments
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TOLGA AKMEN / Contributor/ Getty Images

A wedding by Selfridges

Luxury department store Selfridges is branching out into weddings and has been granted a wedding licence. The iconic central London store has created a dedicated wedding suite on the fourth floor of the Grade II-listed building, and will offer packages that include pampering, flowers and food and drink. And weddings are not the only new venture for Selfridges. The world-famous store will also be offering floristry classes, out-of-hours children's parties and private cinema screenings. 

Selfridges is hopeful the new offerings will help it bounce back from its pandemic-year losses. Last summer the store announced it was cutting its staff numbers back by 14%, the equivalent of 450 lost jobs. And it's not the only business making changes. 

COVID-19 has been a catalyst for some major companies to fast-forward plans or change their business model, even temporarily, to keep cash coming in and adapt to the new world we're living in. Click or scroll through our round-up of big businesses changing course as a result of the global crisis.

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Daniel Coughlin

12 May 2021

Features

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