Category: retail
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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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Retailers walking ‘the Tight rope of Trust’ in their quest for customer loyalty.
Retailers walking ‘the Tight rope of Trust’ in their quest for customer loyalty. Interesting to hear that Frasers, which has evolved out of the Sports Direct brand, is planning to launch a loyalty club and subscription. It hopes to emulate the likes of Amazon Prime. Amazon has an enviable stable of content and benefits that…
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The ‘Biggest Threat’ to the High Street is to try to keep it the same!
in disruptive retail, food & drink, high street planning, leisure & sport, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, omni-channel retailing, pop-up stores, recycling, renting, retail, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, retail-regeneration, town centre planningThe ‘Biggest Threat’ to the High Street is to try to keep it the same! I am often asked, ‘What are the biggest threats to the High Street?’ I am asked by multiples who are trying to work out whether their current and future strategy and investment in town centres is correct, and by new…
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Why not “Wipe the Slate Green” when it comes to retail business rates reform?
Why not “Wipe the Slate Green” when it comes to retail business rates reform? It is common consensus that the UK retail business rates system is broken. It is unfair and inappropriate for this omnichannel world. However much of the dialogue on reform has revolved around the ‘battle between channels.’ Does it not seem equally…
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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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Charity Super.Mkt: ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the people!’
in brave-words, customer experience, disruptive retail, high street planning, ladies fashion, location strategy, meaning in the retail madness, new retail, pop-up stores, recycling, renting, retail, retail businesses, retail management, retail organisations, retail strategy, retail-regeneration, sales promotions & events, supply-chains, sustainability, town centre planningFollowers of sustainable fashion cannot have avoided the opening of the first multi-charity department store, at the Brent Cross shopping centre, in North London. Ten charities are represented in the store, including Age UK, Cancer Research, Shelter and Traid. It has opened to much fanfare in a former TopShop unit and is not just remarkable…
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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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