Opinion time is the voice of retailers & retail industry figures, find out what they have to say here on Retail Times
There is no escaping that the Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a huge blow to our economy, not least our service sector. The impact of mass closures and rising unemployment levels have seen a huge drop in consumer spending, and the
Even before Coronavirus, bricks and mortar retailers were facing an existential crisis. Soaring business rates, rent reviews, and minimum wages were already putting pressure on the size and scale of physical shops. And against the increasing appeal of online shopping
As Argos announces plans to stop publishing its iconic catalogue as more shoppers browse and buy online, Michael Schirrmacher, UK MD at Bloomreach, comments: “The past few months have radically transformed the shopping experience: browsing and purchases are now happening
Delta Global, packaging provider for numerous luxury retail brands in the fashion and beauty sectors, has launched a new, data-driven intelligence system to enable greater transparency and control in supply chains.
With social distancing rules likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future many organisations are investigating lone worker solutions as an additional measure to keep employees safe. But with so much choice available on the market, it’s not surprising
Peter Ballard, co-founder of global product and service design company Foolproof, claims Amazon's Fresh delivery roll out in the UK could be risky if it doesn't create a seamless experience that links back to the historic ‘Amazon way’ that customers
Experts are predicting that the COVID-19 pandemic and the various restrictions in place to mitigate its spread have accelerated consumers’ e-commerce habits by five years. As a result, businesses are rapidly discovering that going digital is the key to survival.
Cost Per Click (CPC) has been a proven digital sales model for some time, providing rich pickings for the likes of Amazon and Google who have millions of sellers. It’s also a very sound strategy for retailers with long-tail brands,
Nestlé’s direct-to-consumer sales strategy, beginning in Spain this week, could be an opportunity for the brand to profit from lockdown and pre-empt future market disruptions, allowing the company to sell its products without the influence of retailer relationships. If the
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the traditional work-from-office models and enforced months of work from home (WFH) due to the prolonged lockdowns. Now that many countries have lifted lockdowns, enterprises are increasingly willing to reopen their physical offices by redesigning
Globally the Covid 19 pandemic has ripped through the hospitality sector with hotels, bars and restaurants shut up for months. In the UK, outlets closed their doors on 20 March, three days before the nationwide lockdown was announced and began
The Coronavirus has radically and abruptly changed the way we work and live our lives. How will this alter consumer behaviour and attitudes? And what will this mean for retail and the supply chains that support it? There will still be
As Britain’s high street sprung to life this week and non-essential retailers opened their doors for the first time in three months, a very different picture is emerging for retailers across the board as they adjust to the new normal.
It’s needless to say that the last few months have been incredibly testing for businesses, and the people within them. As we have navigated the complex challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic, employees across the country have been working tirelessly,
As the retail industry settles into the ‘new normal’, e-commerce platform Kooomo advises on why sustainability still needs to be top of the agenda
Global teledentistry pioneer SmileDirectClub opened in the UK in 2019 as part of its rapid international expansion plans to offer accessible, affordable, and convenient solution of direct-to-consumer teeth straightening with clear aligner therapy. Its presence in multiple markets, including the
The global disruption caused by Covid-19 has provided the e-commerce industry with a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, but digital-first businesses must be agile and embrace change in order to continue capitalising on this retail evolution, the latest report from
A new survey of members by UKHospitality (UKH), the sector trade association, shows that hospitality businesses are predicting a lengthy and painful recovery with levels of trade expected to be significantly supressed for many months to come.
Stock management issues cost retailers £1.6billion before the coronavirus outbreak and could rise to over £66bn this year because of disruption caused by COVID-19. Now retailers are re-opening their doors to customers and effective inventory management will be key.
As fears over coronavirus fuel a sudden spike in contactless transactions, Rob Crutchington, managing director of Encoded, explores the vital role of IVR or Interactive Voice Response to deliver fast, secure card payments that boost agent performance and customer confidence
Commenting on the reopening of all non-essential retail today, David Fox, co-head of retail agency at Colliers International, said: “From looking at the response in other countries and retail sectors in the UK which have already opened up, the indications
On Monday, non-essential retailers in England will open their doors for the first time in 12 weeks. The coming month will give an indication of consumer confidence and whether the recession we have now entered will be as deep as
Ahead of non-essential shops in the UK re-opening on Monday, supply chain expert Blue Yonder and IT services company Insight, warn flash sales are a quick fix that could result in longer term problems
In the space of just a few months, the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the working landscape upside down. Businesses across the country have been forced to review and adjust their operating models - and make difficult decisions in order to
Commenting on non-essential retail stores re-opening from Monday 15 June, Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said: “For those retailers that were deemed non-essential during the nation’s lockdown, the re-opening of stores on Monday 15 June mark a
