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.
David Lloyd, general manager for the UK, Nordics and Netherlands at Alibaba Group outlines three key trends which he believes will shape the retail sector in 2021
As the high street finally opens back up this week it is still unknown how the pandemic will affect footfall during retail’s busiest trading period.
The story of retail in 2020 is one of extreme contrasts. On the one hand, the Amazons, Asos and supermarket operators of the world have all enjoyed tremendous success; on the other, almost every other segment of the industry has
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit back in March, shoppers were left with no choice but to buy online, and as a result, e-commerce sales rocketed to a 10-year high. Due to new social distancing measures, retailers were left to grapple
This year has been a rollercoaster for the retail sector, there is no doubt about it. Fashion brands are calling for administration, home entertainment is at an all-time high, customers are changing behaviours with every new media headline. But there
Many people will say 2020 is a year to forget. The pandemic has had unimaginable consequences on our lives – both professional and personal. However, as I look back over the last eight months and reflect on how retailers and
For several years, there has been a very evident and well publicised demise of local high streets as they struggle to compete with the ease and efficiency of online shopping. This has led to what is commonly termed the ‘death
Sam Counterman, director of marketing, Northern Europe & global digital lead at Selligent discusses what customers really want from brands in testing times
New approaches to drive-thru service have helped c-store and QSR chains adapt to the pandemic—and they stand to yield big benefits far into the future, said Joseph Bona, Principal & Founder of Bona Design Lab, in an online presentation for
Amelia Neate, senior manager at Influencer Matchmaker, has explained why brands should focus on building brand tribes and why engagement between influencers and consumers is so important.
The CBI’s chief economist has warned the UK faces a “bleak midwinter”, with the economy expected to contract as new coronavirus restrictions hit businesses hard in the final quarter. Government investment and support may help to prevent “economic scarring”, but
According to IMRG, the UK’s online retail association, online sales in the UK grew by just 6.7% in 2019, but “a surprising surge in sales during Q4 suggests that it could be on track to bounce back in 2020.” That
New small business research has revealed five simple actions that owners in the retail sector can take to get control of their energy bills during this difficult time.
With a second national lockdown forcing shoppers online this winter, leading compliance authority Bureau Veritas is reiterating to retailers and logistics firms extending their e-commerce capacity to put in place the extra health, safety and hygiene measures this inevitably requires.
As Lockdown 2.0 closes Britain’s High Streets for a second time, the UK courier services expert ParcelHero says retailers and home delivery networks are braced for a massive surge in deliveries. ParcelHero says that, unlike the first lockdown, supermarkets, online
With England going into lockdown for the second time from Thursday 5th November, Kirsty Harris-Clarke, managing director of SalesOut, offers her predictions on the effect this will have on the wholesale market: "Our unrivalled level of data insight means that
How often have we heard of the demise of a retailer being linked to poor decision-making? For a long time (at least pre-pandemic), an inability to combat the rise of ecommerce was often positioned as the reason for many retailers’
COVID-19 has slowed down the majority of fashion retailers, but, as lockdown continues, fashion firms are beginning to regain their positions in the market through re-evaluation of their current business models. Fashion retailers must strip back the layers within the
Retailers already buffeted by fierce competition, fickle shoppers and 24/7 complete price transparency face even more daunting challenges in the pandemic era. A recent DemandTec-commissioned global study polled shoppers in Brazil, France, Germany and UK and the U.S. and confirmed
Digital technology might be advancing at a significant rate but that doesn’t mean print is dead. In fact, it still holds a great deal of value for retailers and businesses alike and can even be used to complement your digital
In recent months, more and more businesses have embraced digital than ever before in an attempt to claw back some revenue from factors such as store closures and physical restrictions. And, as a result, an omni-channel approach has never been
What More UK, the Lancashire housewares manufacturer that exports to 75 countries around the world, has today come out in support of the Great British shopkeeper. In a statement issued by company bosses, the firm acknowledges the 1600 plus independent retailers
If the retail industry wasn’t having a tough time of it before the pandemic - it certainly is now. With once household names like Marks and Spencer and John Lewis announcing store closures in the wake of Covid-19, it seems
Walking down almost any high street in the UK today is a walk that inevitably goes past empty buildings and fading shop fronts, with many major chain retailers and independents alike having closed their doors in recent years. The UK
For many retailers, markdowns are just another word for write off, when there is a better way to stop them happening in the first place.
