The comment column is for retail professionals to have their say. Whether responding to published opinion, reacting to or challenging reports or commenting on retail trends and predictions this is where you can gauge sentiment on all sorts of retail focussed topics.
Following the news that Zara has started charging for returns made by post or collection pointMark Hook, VP brand & PR at Brightpearl, says: "Returns cost approximately £60bn in the UK yearly, £20bn of which is generated by items bought
I travel down Oxford Street most days on my journey to the office and am constantly struck by two, rather obvious, things; firstly the extraordinary number of shops that are simply empty and the concomitant property management groups trying desperately
The retail industry is chronically understaffed. Although there is no magic cure to such endemic problems – IoT and real-time data can help fill the gaps, says Sam Roberts, sector director at mpro5
Managing retail staff is a specialised skill in itself - what then of part-time retail staff? Part-time employees form a sizable part of the workforce, they offer companies cost-effective solutions, a greater pool of candidates, and seasonal support. However, there
Non-alcoholic beverages have been on the rise over the last couple of years, no longer exclusively for pregnant women or designated drivers, and are set to be huge in 2022. As we look forward to those summer months, non-alcoholic drinks
Customer experience industry expert Jill Spencer reviews the key challenges for brick and mortar based businesses and how they can ensure they’re front-and-centre in the hearts and minds of customers
If you are looking to set up a new online casino in the UK, there are a few things that you need to know.
Gordon Polson, chief executive of the Federation of Bakers has written to the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling for action on the pressing issues facing UK bakery businesses, due to
As we’ve explored in previous articles, the concept of sustainability is far broader and multifaceted than simply the environmental element, spanning instead the ‘five capitals’ of natural, human, social, manufactured and financial capital. By understanding this, sustainability leaders will be
The Spring Statement delivered some relief to families and small businesses – but forgot to acknowledge the post-pandemic struggles of our hospitality sector. To put this into perspective, in 2020 alone, UK Hospitality quarterly sales tracker estimated a loss of
The rise in card fees has come about following the UK’s departure from the EU, which ended a long-standing regulation that previously capped the fees that card issuers could charge. This has resulted in card issuer fees being increased by
Design, layout and infrastructure of traditional c-stores may more resemble that of Pret-A-Manger than Chipotle Mexican Grill, advise James Owens of HFA Architecture and Engineering and Joseph Bona of Bona Design Lab
Product information has become increasingly important in retail over recent years, with its criticality growing further as the pandemic accelerated the shift to online shopping. However, many retailers still struggle to correctly store, manage and understand this data, and are
The convenience store/newsagents chain McColl’s is reported to be on the brink of collapse. It’s the largest Post Office provider in the UK, and host to hundreds of Amazon lockers and CollectPlus collection points. This makes it a vital part
Ubamarket discusses the appetite for low cost grocery deliveries sweeping the nation
Brick-and-mortar retail leaders are posed for another challenging year. Aside from competing with e-commerce companies, hiring issues are intensifying within the workplace around the globe. In the past, one solution to businesses struggling to retain employees has been the use
With experts predicting everything from robot repair shops, bug burger bars and virtual reality travel agents, Sara Jones, partner and client services director at creative agency Free The Birds, considers the future opportunities for high street retailers
More and more people are choosing a gaming laptop - even if they don't game. Read on to find out if a gaming laptop could be suitable for work as an engineer
Now that travel is becoming possible again, brush up on important information about visas to different countries and rules for travelling abroad
With its 27% growth, the UK e-commerce market has significantly contributed to the global growth rate of the industry. A growth that should continue over the coming years.
The home delivery expert ParcelHero says UK businesses had lost over £250bn to Covid and an equal amount to Brexit by the end of 2021, but the Brexit tally is now rising faster.
I started as General Manager at Uber Eats in the UK in December, and since then my focus has been on understanding what we can do as a team to help our restaurant partners get the best out of our
As we enter further into the decade, we adjust more and more to the changing landscape of the pandemic. It is not only the day-to-day lives of people where we can observe such change, though, but also in
Oil markets have had a buoyant few months as the global economy continues to post an impressive recovery post-COVID. After demand literally shut down in 2020 as governments instituted tough lockdown and curfew restrictions, the price of crude oil rallied
Nowadays, a robust digital strategy is a necessity for brands to survive, let alone thrive. As the digital transformation of all industries reaches unprecedented acceleration, brands must think about how they can maximise their data insights, to have a competitive
