Category: customer service
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
Why Local Shopkeepers have more ‘Retail Intelligence’ than retail multiples!
Disruptive pureplay retailers have brought about an essential change to traditional business structures and processes. Well, ones that have watched and have quickly learned themselves. Best practice retail businesses now put the customer and customer data at the heart of the business. Customer centric & data centric. Everyday processes and new initiatives begin and end…
-
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…
-
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…
-
How ‘Passion Supply Chains’ enable Local Independent Retailers to compete commercially and win!
in assortment structure planning, customer experience, customer service, customer-engagement, disruptive retail, food & drink, health & beauty, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, packaging, product suppliers, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, space planning, store experience, store operations, supply-chains, sustainability, telling product storiesI’m often asked how small independent retailers can compete against the scale efficiencies and operational expertise of larger chains. There are in fact, many ways, but always my first answer is about being authentic, about generating a unique passion. That ‘passion’ must be genuine. It needs to be engaging and infectious. And that can only…
-
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.…
-
Is 2024 the year when being a “Worthy Retailer” is no longer enough?
in assortment structure planning, customer experience, customer service, disruptive retail, in-store services, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, omni-channel retailing, product suppliers, recycling, renting, retail, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, sales promotions & events, space management, space planning, supply-chains, sustainabilityThere are many examples, from politics to business, where those who were at the forefront of driving change failed to benefit from the arrival of those changes. New retailers, born from the ambition to create a world of sustainable shoppers and ethical businesses, have stood out from the traditional crowd of retail alternatives. Namely the…
-
Is eBay and its ‘Luxury Exchange’ the new face of sustainable ownership?
in accessories, branding & visual communication, brave-words, customer service, disruptive retail, fashion accessories, footwear, in-store services, jewellery, ladies fashion, leisure & sport, location strategy, luxury, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, omni-channel retailing, personalisation, pop-up stores, recycling, renting, retail, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, sales promotions & events, social savvy, supply-chains, sustainability, website excellence, windowsIs eBay and its ‘Luxury Exchange’ the new face of sustainable ownership? The recent initiative from eBay only to promote re-sell products for Black Friday has re-established the brand as a genuine and very significant player in the world of sustainable retailing. A market that is set to grow rapidly as a hybrid of reselling,…
Stay in touch with our…
’52 Steps to the Perfect Shop!’
weekly newsletter
For everyone looking to improve their physical shops,
or even thinking of opening their first pop-up or permanent shop,
we have written the ’52 Steps to the Perfect Shop!’ weekly newsletter, delivered direct to your inbox.
You too can have ‘The Perfect Shop’ by this time next year!