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.
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
Matthew Hopkinson, director at retail location data and insight provider, The Local Data Company, highlights the key topics debated at the Retail Week Conference, 16-17 March 2011 Stand still and you get run over. This is certainly true in the
Convenience stores and independent forecourts should take advantage of the pending tobacco display ban in England and the window of opportunity it provides them over multiple rivals, according to Jon Dunman, vice president of petrol and convenience at Torex. “While
Insurance company Aviva is warning retailers to be aware of the continuing risk of slips on floors made wet by rainwater or spillages, as part of its ongoing Simply Safety campaign. The advice is targeted at the retail and leisure
Technology is bringing about some of the biggest changes to a customer’s shopping experience. Ivano Ortis, international director of trend forecasting agency Retail Insights, explains what this means for retailers Once upon a time, the customer experience depended largely upon
Retailers will have welcomed an increase in sales in January but the indications for February look bleak, according to a leading retail advisor. Commenting on the latest figures released today by the Office for National Statistics, which show 1.9% growth
Employers can help reduce staff absenteeism brought on by back pain if they encourage employees to improve their posture, claims the workplace equipment provider Slingsby. Figures from the NHS show back pain remains the most common cause of workplace absence
Employers can help reduce staff absenteeism brought on by back pain if they encourage employees to improve their posture, claims the workplace equipment provider Slingsby. Figures from the NHS show back pain remains the most common cause of workplace absence
Fewer retail and wholesale businesses went into administration in the last quarter of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009, figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal. But a leading financial adviser has warned this is the lull
Jon Dunman, vice president of petrol and convenience at Torex, the technology solutions provider, is advising convenience stores maintain stock levels of milk, despite rising prices. “Independent and convenience retailers are already struggling to keep up with the large supermarkets
Jon Dunman (JD), vice president of petrol and convenience at Torex, the global technology solutions provider, talks to Retail Times editor Fiona Briggs (FB) about the retail trends, which can drive sales FB: How important is technology to retail businesses?
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) claims the Government’s impending ban on below cost selling of alcohol will barely affect the supermarket promotions that have attracted criticism. Under plans to be unveiled by the government later today (18 January 2011),
