Category: branding & visual communication
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Ben Francis, Gymshark and why ‘The physical world is a great place to do business!’
Gymshark – ‘The physical world is a great place to do business!’ As you may know, I am a great advocate of Gymshark and its founder Ben Francis. For those of you who are not familiar with either, Gymshark is now one of the leading gym wear brands in the world valued at over $1…
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Time for consumer brands to find their ‘Meaning in the Retail Madness.’
Time for consumer retail brands to find their ‘Meaning in the Retail Madness.’ It would be fair to say that the retail industry has lost its way over recent years. In my own work, I have become increasingly disillusioned with the strategies and operational practices of businesses that have grown to ‘love volumes over value’…
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John Lewis: ‘Out-of-sight, out-of-mind!’
in branding & visual communication, customer service, high street planning, home, in-store services, location strategy, meaning in the retail madness, multi-category, omni-channel retailing, retail, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, store experience, town centre planningJohn Lewis: ‘Out-of-sight, out-of-mind!’ Tunbridge Wells, or to be correct Royal Tunbridge Wells, is John Lewis heartland. If you were designing the perfect town for the values and qualities of the brand, the lifestyle, the demographic, the income levels, then you would create Tunbridge Wells. Tunbridge Wells had a John Lewis shop. We had a…
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The ‘Passion Supply Chain’ delivering customer engagement and commercial success.
in branding & visual communication, brave-words, customer experience, customer service, customer-engagement, meaning in the retail madness, personalisation, product suppliers, retail, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, store experience, store theatre, supply-chains, telling product storiesThe fundamental purpose of any retailer is to bring together a physical customer and a physical product, irrespective of whether the sale is made in a physical shop or online. A successful supply chain is therefore a pre-requisite for any retail business. However, managing the ‘beast’ of the supply chain to ensure customers and their…
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What makes a customer love a retailer? It is about keeping your promises!
Retail Week has published its annual list of the most-loved retailers in the UK. Interestingly if you are looking for big picture trends relating to product sectors, or types of retailers, you will struggle to discover any conclusive findings. Understandably retailers that deliver low prices are very well represented in the cost-of-living climate, but by…
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eBay: First to sell the new story of second-hand
in accessories, branding & visual communication, brave-words, customer experience, disruptive retail, fashion accessories, ladies fashion, luxury, meaning in the retail madness, omni-channel retailing, recycling, renting, retail, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, social savvy, store experience, store theatre, supply-chains, sustainabilityOnce again, I find myself agreeing with Murray Lambell, UK general manager at eBay. Not only with his words and insights, but with the actions that eBay are taking towards operating and flourishing in a better and more sustainable retail future. Last year eBay promoted only re-sell products for Black Friday, opened a Luxury Exchange to verify…
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Why Independent Retailers need to be Less Independent!
in branding & visual communication, customer experience, customer service, customer-engagement, health & beauty, high street planning, location strategy, meaning in the retail madness, retail, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, retail-regeneration, store experience, sustainabilityIt was my great pleasure to be the guest of Health Stores Ireland, at their “Putting Our Best Foot Forward” gathering, in Shannon last weekend. The health store sector is perfectly placed to grow and flourish in a world where consumers are increasingly looking to be more proactive in their health, wellbeing, fitness, and mindfulness.…
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Why Independent Retailers should naturally make the best social media influencers!
in branding & visual communication, brave-words, customer experience, customer service, customer-engagement, food & drink, high street planning, location strategy, meaning in the retail madness, personalisation, retail, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail strategy, retail-regeneration, store experience, store theatre, telling product stories, town centre planningHave you ever wondered why shopping on a good local high street takes so long? Well, there may be negatives such as finding somewhere to park, particularly if its popular, but once in situ it is largely down to becoming immersed in the whole shopping experience. You discover new and unusual products that require further…
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Retail winners combine ’New Thinking & Processes’ with ‘Old Values & Channels.’
in branding & visual communication, customer experience, customer service, high street planning, location strategy, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, omni-channel retailing, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, retail-regeneration, store experience, store theatre, town centre planningMy own Top 5 predictions for the year ahead… 1. The ‘Pureplay bubble’ will continue to burst. 2. Physical retail, in one form or another, will almost always be essential. 3. The convenience and reliability of Click & Collect will become even more widespread as a game-changer. 4. Traditional retailers will continue to decisively get…
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Keep your ‘Retail Feet’ firmly on the Ground. Physical is back with a vengeance!
in assortment structure planning, branding & visual communication, customer experience, customer service, customer-engagement, disruptive retail, high street planning, location strategy, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, omni-channel retailing, personalisation, retail, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, retail-regeneration, sales promotions & events, social savvy, store experience, store operations, store theatre, town centre planning, value retailing, website excellenceIt’s the time of year when the Christmas period sales results come in, and the assessment of winners and loses takes place. My own Top 5 conclusions… The top of Retail Week’s ‘Christmas trading 2022 league table’ has a strangely familiar feel to it, featuring the likes of JDSports, Greggs, Next, B&M, Sainsburys and Tesco.…
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