Invisible Technologies that turn ‘Product Graveyards’ into ‘Perpetual Distribution Centres!”

In the annual debate about the best use of retail technology budgets, heads are often turned by the ‘sexier’, and highly visible software solutions that enhance the visual interface and the customer experience. The rise of pureplay, the need for graphic stimulation, digital interaction, and brand immersion, all catapulted augmented and virtual reality to the top of IT director shopping lists. They are of course equally amazing and important. But-

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Discussing Sustainability & Ethical Retailing: Timberland – ‘Local Responsibility’

Listen to myself, Tim Radley, on the Louise Lally podcast, discussing the world of retail sustainability, from diverse shopping channels, rental & second-hand resell, to on-demand manufacturing & the virtual inventory, and how sustainability, ethical governance and diversity are intrinsically linked. Join the free podcast now through this link…https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ua8ca-1307ed8 The podcast features a discussion on Timberland. They have a long history already as a sustainable brand, working with the environment,-

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Exclusive Interview with Tim Radley: “Sustainability & Ethical Retailing”

Join Tim Radley, international retail specialist, and founder of VM-Unleashed, as he chats with Louise Lally about the world of retail sustainability, diverse shopping channels, rental & second-hand resell, on-demand manufacturing & the virtual inventory, and how sustainability, ethical governance and diversity are intrinsically linked. Please click on the image link below… In this interview Tim explains and illustrates with best practice examples, the important areas that all retailers should-

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Discover a ‘Five-Star Christmas: “Meaning in the Retail Madness”

“An excellent read *****” “Valuable reference for anyone in retail *****” “This book is more relevant now than ever! *****” ‘Meaning in the Retail Madness’ explains how touchpoints have replaced channels, how linear supply chains will become circular, why assortments are increasingly virtual, how physical is turning to local, and why products and shops are not necessarily made for each other anymore. It supplies a blueprint for retail’s new ‘agile-

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Is pureplay just a replay of retail’s oldest mistake? ‘Dumbing down retail to distribution domination!’

So here we are, less than a couple of years after the peak of lockdown. Less than a  couple of years after the stella rise of ecommerce market share, and the adoption of every app and touchpoint available to engage with digital retail and diverse home delivery services. So, here we now are, with some of the biggest names in pureplay retail suffering, losing sales and profits eroding, scrambling to-

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Were the seeds of second-hand, vintage, and fashion rental sewn in ’70s football sub-culture?

Were the seeds of second-hand, vintage, and fashion rental sewn in ’70s football sub-culture?Check out a fascinating BBC article and exhibition in Liverpool The popularity of fashion rental and vintage re-sale is gathering pace, driven by both aesthetic and sustainable motives. A key attraction is to break away from the mainstream commercial, both in terms of destructive fast-fashionsupply chains, and the desire for individual expression in the way that we-

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On-Demand & Second-Hand: The Yin & Yang solutions to over-production

Supply and Demand has always been the driver for commercial brands and retailers. In new and growing markets, the demand temporarily outstrips supply. For those retailers who simply have the means to manufacture and get their product to the marketplace and to the customer, there is a lot of easy money to be made. A lot of easy money has been made. That was the scenario over recent decades. One-

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Is Primark following up its sustainability claims with decisive actions?

Is Primark following up its sustainability claims with decisive actions? We have had a week where momentum against fashion retailers who are ‘greenwashing’ has been gathering pace with investigations by the CMA, and threatened legal action. So against this it is good to see a concrete commitment by one of biggest volume clothing retailers in the world. The fashion giant has announced it is to become the first retailer to feature-

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The 4 reasons why retailers behave ethically & ‘change for the better’

The invasion of Ukraine, as with COVID before, is showing us the ‘Ethical DNA’ of our favourite brands & retailers There are 4 reasons why retail and consumer brands behave ethically and “change for the better.” It is simply in their DNA. They respond proactively by asking customers and staff how they should change. They respond reactively when falling customer loyalty, sales and profits force them to change. They only-

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IKEA: The value of ‘groundwork’ not ‘deskwork’ . From ‘customer to community experiences!’

IKEA: ‘A lively happening’ coming soon to a place nearby There are many interesting learnings from the opening of the new IKEA shops across the globe, not least the fact that the roll-out is happening at a pace against a back-drop of shop closures, particularly amongst established chains. There is much to digest in the location of the shops, the retail and social environments that IKEA is creating around them,-

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