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.
Emmanuel Hembert, principal at global strategy consultancy, AT Kearney, has warned of austere conditions on the UK high street. “It’s a bloodbath on the high street,” Hembert said. “We urged caution about the unexpectedly upbeat retail figures in March and
New EU rules, which will give online buyers longer to send back items they do not want, will put small etailers at risk, claims a leading e-commerce solution supplier. Keith Bird, CEO at eSellerPro, said: “The news online retailers from
The removal of multi-buy promotions won’t solve the food waste problem, argues Andrew Copson, managing director at packaging manufacturer Sharpak There has been much debate surrounding recent local government calculations, which suggest households are wasting £520 every year on food
Top global brands including McDonald’s, Microsoft, Vodafone and China Mobile are using Webtrends to measure and improve their online, mobile and social presence, according to the analytics company. The brands, which feature in the top 10 brands globally in the
Brands must engage with consumers on social networks, according to e-commerce provider, ChannelAdvisor. It claims businesses, including Procter & Gamble (P&G), are simply recreating their existing e-commerce sites on Facebook. While this is becoming a fairly common approach, a smarter
Retailers will be hit with an increase of £200m in finance costs, equating to 2.4% of total profits, due to a new accounting standard, according to a new survey of retail companies in the FTSE350. The study, conducted by a
Figures released from the Office for National Statistics today show the value of retail sales in May 2011 increased by 3.8% on May 2010, while sales volumes increased by 0.2% on the same period. Barry Knight, head of retail at
Businesses that run websites aimed at UK consumers are being given up to 12 months to get their house in order before enforcement of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, which recently came into force in the UK. The main
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on peers to stand up for high streets during the debate of the Localism Bill in the House of Lords today. High streets have suffered considerably during the recession with the closure
Energy companies are bullying small business customers and costing them thousands of pounds each year, with small companies powerless to challenge them, according to the ACS (Association of Convenience Stores). It claims basic rights afforded to domestic customers are denied to
The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed the publication of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Draft Bill but urged Government to move swiftly in taking the Bill through parliament. When introduced, the new regulator will be charged with investigating abusive practices
Bill Farmer, CEO of Mako Networks, the network security specialist, says retailers can increase consumer loyalty and sales by protecting their customers’ data In this tough economic situation, everyone is fighting to win consumer interest. Competition is high between retailers,
Web analytics company Webtrends claims some of the UK’s savviest web brands, including Moneysupermarket, Laterooms.com, Flybe, AllSaints, Urban-Outfitters, The Digital Property Group and Phones4U, have adopted its Optimize tool to improve the performance of their websites and internet marketing campaigns.
Verizon Business, the IT, communications, security and network solutions provider, claims mobile devices are just as vulnerable to security breaches as unprotected computers on the internet. The company said it has reviewed Visa’s Mobile Acceptance Best Practices and wants to add
Barry Knight, head of retail at Grant Thornton UK, remains cautious about retail trading despite the recent boost in sales, which was lifted by the warm weather, Easter and extended Bank Holidays. “Many retail groups have issued profit warnings and
Summer months can be a flourishing time for businesses in the UK and this year it’s predicted more people will opt for a stay-cation, and if the good weather continues, busy pub gardens and dining al fresco could be on
The launch of eBay’s iPhone app for cars, parts and accessories is well-timed, according to Keith Bird CEO eSellerPro, the e-commerce software supplier to multi-channel retailers. Bird said: “I’m not surprised to see that eBay has launched a dedicated app
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has joined forces with the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) to urge MPs to pass two amendments to the Government’s Localism Bill to give greater power to local communities. MPs will discuss amendments
Emmanuel Hembert, principal at the retail practice of global strategy consultancy AT Kearney, urges caution despite the jump in April retail sales. “As with last month’s figures, the jump in retail sales figures of 5.2% in April should be read
Figures from the Insolvency Service on the administration of wholesale and retail companies in Q1 2011 show a 70% increase from the 58 company failures in Q4 2010 to 99 in Q1 2011 and an 11% increase on the 89
UK retail sales experienced the biggest fall for at least 16 years, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Total values in March 2011 were down 1.9% from March 2010. With the top line under pressure, retailers should turn
Shopper transaction company Global Blue claims the combination of the Royal Wedding, Olympics and Diamond Jubilee will boost tourism spend in the UK and has dubbed it the WODJ (Wedding, Olympics and Diamond Jubilee) effect. Nigel Dasler, vice president UK
Emmanuel Hembert, principal at global strategy consultancy AT Kearney, said he was surprised at the pick-up in retail sales in March 2011 but urged caution. “Optimism over UK retail must be moderated,” he said. “We believe the uplift is linked to
Food and drink companies must recognise the role marketing plays in bottom line growth and safeguarding production, according to insight at The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Food, Drink and Agriculture Group conference on 7 April 2011. To keep relevant
Barry Knight, head of retail at Grant Thornton UK LLP, claims the Chancellor’s Budget announcement to defer the duty increase on fuel is welcome news for the retail sector. “The scrapping of the fuel duty increase will have been top
