Opinion time is the voice of retailers & retail industry figures, find out what they have to say here on Retail Times
The predicted boom in last-mile logistics and the ongoing growth in online retailing could be hindered by inadequate planning policy, according to planning and development consultancy Turley.
Waste takes many shapes in a retail operation, be it discarded packaging, damaged food, time spent on unproductive practices, or mileage wasted on carrying half-full loads. It is damaging from an environmental as well as business perspective, so it is
In the latest Spring budget, the government announced an extension to the existing ban on commercial evictions in England until June 30th in a bid to provide breathing space to businesses struggling to stay afloat. Around 49% of hospitality workers
Choosing a supply chain partner for reusable packaging solutions and pooling is a significant consideration for many businesses, as the level of support partners provide can be a key contributor to overall performance. It is a relationship built on trust.
By Mike Barclay, senior director of European operations for MoEngage, an insights-driven customer engagement platform
Gaming has grown into a huge entertainment industry in recent years. Today it is deemed to be worth more than the sports, movie and music industries combined.
B2C online marketplaces such as Amazon and Walmart are a very big deal, with $2.67 trillion spent globally on the top 100 online marketplaces in 2020. That’s 62% of global online retail sales. Unsurprisingly the B2B world, from software and
The lockdown is almost over; across the UK non-essential retailers are finally able to reopen. But with various Covid-19 restrictions likely to remain in place for some time, there’s a lingering concern in the minds of many retail leaders: how
By Graham Long, director ecosystem development, Huawei UK Consumer Business Group
The world is in the midst of a major digitalization shift. We have been forced to embrace new and emerging technologies with the hopes of being able to stay connected socially as well as at work. Companies, families, and day-to-day
David Hannah, principal consultant at Cornerstone Tax, discusses this important milestone for British businesses
Retailers must not destroy customer loyalty by offering a poor fulfilment experience, says Tobias Buxhoidt, founder and CEO of parcelLab
Despite the promises, both anecdotal and data-backed evidence suggests that the UK’s transition out of the European Union has not been as smoothed as hoped. Official government figures state that exports of goods to the EU fell by 40% in
By Dr Amna Khan, senior lecturer in Consumer Behaviour and Retailing at Manchester Metropolitan University Last month the popular department store John Lewis announced that it will not reopen eight of its stores once the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown restrictions ease.
As stores reopen, what's the future for dark stores and how will their role change, asks Romulus Grigoras, founder and CEO of OneStock?
With the demand for e-commerce growing exponentially, the pandemic has thrown the customer experience online into the spotlight. Retailers have work to do. And if you’re not sure where to look, the 'last mile' is flashing red.
We live in unprecedented times and for retailers this challenging environment throws a new curve ball each week. Shopper behaviour is not easy to predict in normal circumstances and Covid-19 has exacerbated this challenge. This can, for example, be seen
As the retail sector prepares to reopen after Easter, UK shops are pulling out all the stops to persuade Britons to venture out to their local high streets and favourite stores. People are understandably cautious about returning to public spaces
When the pandemic rewrote the rules of everyday life, online retail became a lifeline for consumers and businesses alike. But coronavirus did more than increase the volume of online sales: it changed our relationship to e-commerce and reshaped the entire
By Liz Leigh Bowler, Dynamics 365 senior product manager at Microsoft UK 2020 saw the retail industry change at an unprecedented pace. As shops moved online, supply chains were disrupted, consumer behaviour shifted, and the sector was forced to pivot
A decade ago, sustainability was a cause championed by a visionary minority in fashion. Now, a better understanding of fashion’s environmental footprint and growing consumer demand for sustainable apparel means this is an issue for all brands and retailers, and
Have you turned your hand to baking during lockdown? From basic banana breads to tasty care packages for loved ones, the rise of our new favourite hobby led to nationwide ingredient shortages last year and shows no sign of slowing.
Britain has famously been called a “a nation of shop keepers,” although whether it was Napoleon Bonaparte who coined the phrase, we don’t know for sure. It does, however, show that for hundreds of years, retailing has been key to
By Nils Zündorf, Amazon expert and managing director of the largest European Amazon agency, factor-a The pandemic’s effects on customer behaviour in 2020 lead to significant changes in the e-commerce world. With increases in online sales of over 30% compared to
The lockdown is almost over; across the UK non-essential retailers are finally able to prepare for what they hope will be a permanent reopening. But with various Covid-19 restrictions likely to remain in place for some time, there’s a lingering
