Category: meaning in the retail madness
-
Is a global fashion business without global creativity the biggest waste of human resources?
I’ve always found it very strange that many of the factories that are required to churn out mindless, repetitive fashions for global brands, are in countries which naturally have the most beautiful fabrics, designs, colours, fashion sense, and artisan skills to create extraordinary and original clothing. It is even stranger when you consider that the…
-
“Shein don’t Cheat, they Compete!” – Discuss…
in assortment structure planning, ethical retailing, fabrics, fashion, fast fashion, internationalisation, ladies fashion, meaning in the retail madness, product development, product suppliers, pureplay, retail, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, social savvy, supply-chains, sustainability, value retailingAnd then suddenly from the Shein silence, the non-communication with government committees, potential shareholders and the general public, we have Peter Pernot-Day, Shein’s head of strategic and corporate affairs in North America, the UK and Europe, speaking to delegates at Retail Week’s Live 2025 conference. Firstly, thank you to Retail Week for sharing his speech…
-
Finisterre: Owning a responsibility to protect and share the ocean.
in branding & visual communication, customer service, customer-engagement, disruptive retail, ethical retailing, fabrics, in-store services, leisure & sport, meaning in the retail madness, pre-loved, product development, re-sell, recycling, renting, retail, retail brand heritage, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, secondhand, shop of the future, store experience, store theatre, supply-chains, sustainabilitySome brands sell products, whilst others sell passions. And in this consumer world of over-supply and product fatigue it finally seems that customers are being drawn to companies that were never really meant to be retailers at all. To call them ‘accidental retailers’ is really not fair, because in most cases they have developed assortments…
-
To achieve the ‘Healthier Planet’ we crave, will we all need to suffer an ‘Unhealthier Economy?’
in disruptive retail, ethical retailing, fast fashion, high street planning, ladies fashion, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, pre-loved, product suppliers, re-sell, recycling, retail, retail businesses, retail organisations, retail strategy, secondhand, supply-chains, sustainability, town centre planningSustainability must mean less consumption. But should we be very careful about what we wish for? The results from Primark for the recent period, including the ‘golden quarter of Christmas, show a 6% slump in like-for-like sales in the UK. Primark has explained that this has been caused by fragile customer confidence and the wider…
-
Will it be complex evidence or trusted witnesses that change the verdict of fast-fashion consumers?
So, it’s been a week when Shein has never been far from the news. Firstly with a pitiful account of itself in front of the government committee, and then the fallout and discussions on why customers shop with them, will they continue to shop with them, and what will it take for them ever to…
-
2025: A year to safeguard your trust and keep your customers safe.
in assortment structure planning, branding & visual communication, brave-words, customer experience, customer service, customer-engagement, ethical retailing, food & drink, health & beauty, high street planning, in-store services, leisure & sport, location strategy, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, personalisation, retail, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, shop of the future, store experienceJanuary is not many people’s favourite month of the year, unless you work for a credit card business, I guess. But the start to 2025 has been a particularly bad one, with horrendous fires in Los Angeles and Ghana, and our own problems with flooding and storms closer to home. Of course, there are always…
-
No.03: “How much product should I put in my shops?” – ’52 Steps to the Perfect Shop!’
in analytics, assortment structure planning, meaning in the retail madness, multi-category, retail, retail businesses, retail management, space management, space planning, store experience, store layout, store operations, store operations audits, store operations compliance, visual merchandising, visual merchandising operations, vm compliance, vm operations, VM Selling Toolkit, VManalyticsPost No.03 in the weekly newsletter series: ‘52 Steps to the Perfect Shop!’ You too can have ‘The Perfect Shop’ by this time next year! If you want your shops to be commercially successful then you need to consider very carefully, right at the beginning of the process how much product you are going to…
-
When ‘thoughtful’ becomes ‘thoughtless!’ – The Damning Data behind our Merry Christmas.
in analytics, disruptive retail, ethical retailing, fashion accessories, fast fashion, health & beauty, jewellery, ladies fashion, meaning in the retail madness, packaging, pre-loved, recycling, retail, retail businesses, retail management, secondhand, store operations, supply-chains, sustainabilityBritish shoppers are expected to send back £1.5bn worth of Christmas gifts this year, according to new research by Manhattan Associates. These are not the presents bought or the presents kept, this is the eye-watering figure of the presents that nobody wants. And the data just keeps on giving… As per usual the editorials focus…
-
How can a truly sustainable brand embrace the concept of growth?
As with all things sustainable the answer is often complex and multi-layered. This question is no exception. Just like many consumers I’ve sifted through all the general data and detailed product specifications to try to work out how sustainable a brand, or a individual item actually is. How much damage am I doing to the…
-
Swimming with the current: Gymshark’s coffee conversations
As you may already be aware I am a huge fan of Gymshark, the gym wear producer and retailer. There are so many things to learn from the rags to riches business that began in a garage 10 years ago and is now valued at over $1 billion. I’ve been following their press during their…
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!