In my opinion, retail industry executives and experts give Retail Times readers their views, insights, and analysis on the latest retail trends.
Anthony Wilkey, regional director, account management group, SmartFocus, on why personalisation matters to consumers and the business benefits it brings True personalisation is more than just customising a promotional email or newsletter with each customer’s first name; it’s about creating unique experiences for
Phillip Blundell, CEO of Eagle Eye, says merchants that embrace digital innovation will secure customer loyalty In the past consumers relied on local shops. It was easy for businesses to develop strong relationships – to learn preferences and to understand
Technology is driving the customer experience in ways the industry has never experienced before. But is this always a good thing? The problem with any new offering is that unless the support network is there to ensure it remains in
Alan Davey, director of innovation, LINPAC Packaging, explores the role packaging plays in reducing waste and achieving sustainability targets If plastic packaging was invented today it would be regarded as one of the greatest technological innovations to rank alongside the
Alan Davey, director of innovation at LINPAC Packaging, on food waste and why retailers, manufacturers and the packaging industry should work together to cut wastage across the supply chain Only a few years ago, if you had asked the average
Retailers and manufacturers can rebuild reputation through ethical supply chain management, argues Anna McAvoy, director at Millward Brown Corporate Practice, a specialist in business, stakeholder management and reputation research The repercussions of the clothing factory collapse in Bangladesh and Europe’s ‘horsemeat
The issue of safety standards in developing world factories, which produce clothes for Western economies, has once again been highlighted by recent events. Martin Philpott, head of retail at information management and business intelligence expert, IMGROUP, explains the demand for responsible
Effectively engaging employees in today’s challenging economic climate is increasingly important for retailers to maintain exemplary customer service levels and maximise sales, says Nigel Garrett, business development director at the workforce management solutions provider Workplace As the ‘face’ of a business, the
With the e-commerce industry developing at an express pace, retailers need to learn why segregated, ‘best-of-breed’ merchandising systems no longer make sense in today’s time-poor retail world. The customer expects an optimised and efficient shopping experience and the retailer is
Jacqui Gray, business development director at brand activation agency, Arc, says in-store events like product sampling can add real value and has three top tips to ensure they deliver on all counts Supermarket shoppers should enjoy a touch of in-store
Simon Hill, managing director and founder of idea management firm, Wazoku, explains why new approaches to innovation and building new networks to enable this are so important for retail 2013, much like 2012 before it, hasn’t been a vintage year
Shopper marketing provides a means for retailers to share insight and work with suppliers to grow incremental revenues for both parties. However, achieving success can be challenging and often requires a change in approach. Sarah Atkins, managing director of customer
Al Rose, VP retail and internet properties at TELUS International, a provider of contact centre and customer care solutions to global clients, explores the top trends poised to impact retail customer service in 2013 It has been an interesting year for
Adrian Hado, head of insight and analytics at rewards programme operator, Avios, says brands should use behavioural and transactional data more effectively to deliver meaningful and relevant customer rewards and drive loyalty In a challenging economic environment and a period of fierce
Retailers dan drive sales through social media, according to Hjalmar Winbladh, CEO of social gifting service, Wrapp, which allows users to send free and paid gift cards to friends using its mobile app or the web In recent years retailers have invested considerable
Consumers want the same customer experience from online and offline shopping and retailers must deliver by ensuring their data strategy is in tune in order to provide a personalised shopping experience, says Martin Philpott, head of retail at information management services consultant, IMGROUP
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Mike Hughes, managing director for European operations at intuitive consumer experience firm [24]7, explains why retail customer service needs to up its game and how it can use technology to do so Ask the average consumer what they think
Retailers must embrace online analytics to understand their big data, improve their forecasting and grow sales, claims Michael Feindt, founder of Blue Yonder, a leading provider of predictive analytics As consumer spending confidence falls, retail margins continue to decline, making today’s
Optimised retailing is the buzzword of the moment, but how can retailers achieve the right balance of process, technology and enhanced customer experience? Scott Storey, managing director at retail software and solutions provider, CTS Retail, gives his top tips for
In a new opinion column on Retail Times, Simon Cotton, founder and development director at leading UK alfresco design and build company, Breezefree, discusses the UK’s flourishing outdoor culture and why bamboo is becoming the timber of choice in alfresco dining
In a new opinion column on Retail Times, Andrew Southgate, managing director at at Zetes, looks at the importance of new generation proof of delivery and fulfilment solutions in an increasingly omni-channel world It is an interesting, albeit challenging time
In a new opinion column on Retail Times, Ray Cranston, business development manager for business systems, Epson UK, explores how the retail industry should react to advances in cloud technology and POS systems Since the advent of electronic point of sale
In a new opinion column on Retail Times, Stephen Dunnigan, country manager, UK and Ireland, at business intelligence firm, MicroStrategy, claims retailers can make more effective use of Facebook with a data-driven approach Facebook has been a key marketing tool
