Find out which retailers are innovating in the on and offline retail space and what they are doing to keep ahead of the curve in this dynamic and highly competitive sector. Read the financials and analysis of the large multiples, the smaller chains to independent retailers, wholesalers and suppliers
Allianz Global Assistance in the UK has equipped its nationwide fleet of breakdown assistance technicians with PayPal Here Chip and PIN card readers to take card payments at the roadside. This will save time by avoiding the need for Allianz
Spar Hackney has opened a new concept store and restaurant on the site of a former cinema in partnership with Blakemore Trade Partners. The new Spar is said to combine a unique range of fixtures and fittings with an expertly selected
Specsavers, the world’s largest privately owned chain of opticians, has deployed open source software products from Red Hat to provide a platform for applications across its 1,500+ stores globally, its supply chain and datacentres in Guernsey, Denmark, and Australia. Specsavers is
British technology company Preoday has launched ‘My Order App’, giving takeaway owners the ability to create their own home delivery app for free. The app is free to use for consumers and restaurants, with no set-up, transaction or commission fees. My
The Co-operative Food is providing customers with a range of ice creams and ice lollies as part of its new summer food offering. The convenience retailer’s range, is now in stores nationwide and is said to be a must for those
Smiggle, a fast-growing Australian stationery brand, has selected Hughes Europe to provide its HughesON managed network services to all Smiggle’s UK stores. The solution comprises business broadband DSL, including voice services, connecting Smiggle stores to the company’s stocking and distribution
New hot beverage company, Black Sheep Coffee, has won a retail trial listing with Whole Foods Market, launching its product Robusta Revival – claimed to be the UK’s first ‘fine Robusta’ bean coffee – in the store’s Kensington High Street branch. To consumers
To mark the launch of DPD’s new Sunday service, the delivery company has teamed up with Aston Villa Football Club for a special one-off delivery for Villa fans. Six Villa legends from the 1982 European Cup winning team – Gordon Cowans, Gary Shaw,
Marks & Spencer’s first quarter performances in food and general merchandise show it continues to be a tale of two contrasting businesses in the UK, according to Kantar Retail. While like-for-like food sales increased by 1.7% in the 13 weeks
The tournament itself is building to a thrilling conclusion, and so too is Direct Golf UK’s huge World Cup giveaway – with more than £100,000 of vouchers due to be redeemed by customers. Direct Golf’s ‘World Cup Loyalty Bonus’ ran
Sheffield-based Birley Manufacturing, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers for interior environments and rail carriage equipment, is investing in its design skills and offering a bespoke design service. Birley is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers for interior environments and
The Tour de France has captured the imagination of the UK retail sector more than ever this year, following The Grand Départ, just streets away from Trinity Leeds on 5 July 2014 – this countdown clock at Land Securities’ award-winning shopping centre signalled the
My Parcel Delivery reports it has taken its next step to becoming a fully-fledged logistics business with a location move to new offices with warehousing facilities. The online parcel delivery comparison website founded four years ago in Manchester plans to offer
Chatwins Bakery will be rolling out a new point-of-sale solution using hardware from Digipos – Omnico Group’s retail hardware business – and software from C2Epos to improve stock management and the in-store customer experience. The new point-of-sale technology will be
K3 Retail and the UK’s leading digital consumer engagement specialist, Eagle Eye Solutions, have announced a partnership that will enable secure issuance and redemption of digital coupons, rewards, gifts and payments at the point of sale as well as real-time data management. The
Central London retail space is forecast to increase by 8% by 2020, with the current retail development pipeline around the seven new Central London Crossrail stations totalling c.2.3m sq ft. This comprises 40 schemes and is the equivalent of 1,000
Naked Wines, which crowd-funds independent winemakers, announces that it delivered strong profitable growth in 2013, thanks to a 50% increase in the number of Angel Investors (customers who fund winemakers in return for wholesale prices). Worldwide, the group saw sales
A socially connected, collaborative digital shopping mirror that links shoppers to their friends via video link, buying products by just speaking, and smart barcodes with full product information are just a few of the innovations set to change the way
Monsoon Accessorize has chosen Standard Life Investments’ Centre Court Shopping Centre in Wimbledon and Churchill Square Shopping Centre in Brighton to launch its new concept store. The British clothing and accessories brand that has stores internationally, has signed a 10-year lease
Boots Opticians claims it is transforming the opticians industry with a new customer offer that delivers a clearer pricing structure and guarantees UV lenses, as standard, with every pair of frames sold. Making it easier for customers to look after
Retailers are being urged to check that their service providers, who install, exchange or return defective devices to the manufacturer on the retailer’s behalf, have the necessary security agreements in place to ahead of an audit. It is common knowledge
The days of pile it high, sell it cheap are long gone. Alison Casey, senior client director, retail, food and household team at Millward Brown, on why retailers need to be part of our lives In 2013 the goal for a smart
Argos and eBay oday announced they have entered an agreement to extend their offering of click & collect services via Argos stores. This extension will enable shoppers to select products from a much wider range of eBay sellers for collection from
Poundland, Europe’s leading single price discount operator, has reported full-year sales growth of 13.3% to £997.8m, driven by new store openings and mature stores. The group opened 70 net new stores in the year to 30 March 2014, taking the year end store number
DC Thomson Consumer Products announces that a limited edition range of The Beano Alphabet greetings cards and exclusive screen prints has launched at The British Library, and timed to coincide with the highly publicised ‘Comics Unmasked’ exhibition which celebrates the heritage and legacy of
