Comment
Comment features expert perspectives and thought leadership from across the UK retail industry. This section includes opinion pieces, analysis, and commentary from senior retail executives, analysts, and sector specialists on the commercial, strategic, and operational forces shaping retail. Retail Sector’s Comment coverage explores issues such as consumer behaviour shifts, technology adoption, sustainability, regulation, and leadership — providing retail professionals with authoritative insight to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
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Nov- 2025 -17 November
Is your proof of delivery fit for today’s shopper?
A £500 games console, the weekly groceries or a repeat prescription from the chemist. Whatever the item is, today’s consumers are monitoring packages in real time, with eagle-eyed attention and rising expectations that delivery will be smooth and hassle-free. When parcels are now going from checkout to doorstep in hours,…
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11 November
Flexible working: the new norm retailers can’t afford to ignore
Flexible working changed during the pandemic and for many it offered a newfound sense of balance. But five years on, flexibility is under pressure. Across the sector, “return-to-office” mandates are on the rise. John Lewis is one example, now requiring its commercial teams to spend “at least three days a…
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11 November
Protecting your culture, identity, and people when inviting private equity investment
Private equity (PE) investment can provide a lifeline for struggling retailers with turnaround potential. PE firms can purchase these assets, install new management, and apply their expertise and network to get the business back to profitability, re-establishing its place in the market. For promising retailers, the capital, expertise, and commercial…
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6 November
How does installing an EV charging hub boost the value of your retail site?
The transition to EVs is not just a shift in how people purchase vehicles, it is a fundamental realignment of which businesses can profit from the expansion of transport infrastructure. Retail site owners are well positioned to capitalise on this change, as the market has shifted from the presence of…
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Oct- 2025 -3 October
D2C: From Ding Dong to Tik Tok
2025 is a milestone year for UK D2C retail body the UK Direct Selling Association, with the organisation celebrating its 60th year, and marking six decades in which all areas of retail – not least D2C – have borne witness to significant consumer change. Established in 1965 to ‘represent the…
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Sep- 2025 -29 September
The dos and don’ts of installing EV chargers at retail parks
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is accelerating across the UK, and retail parks are uniquely suited to support this shift. With more EVs on the road, the demand for good locations to charge is paramount. With their large car parks and numerous amenities, retail parks are well suited for hosting an…
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10 September
Rethinking retail rewards in an era of ad fatigue
UK consumers are navigating a relentless wave of marketing exposure. Estimates suggest the average person sees between 6,000 and 10,000 brand messages each day, and nearly a quarter (23.7%) of adults now actively block ads online. For retailers, this raises a fundamental challenge: if customers are tuning out, how do…
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Aug- 2025 -28 August
How retailers can keep frontline staff from feeling undervalued and overstressed
In retail, the shop floor is where the customer experience comes to life. It’s where expectations are met — or missed. Yet for decades, frontline employees, the people most directly responsible for shaping that experience, have often been left without the tools, recognition, and support they need to thrive. For…
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27 August
Is M&S signalling a structural shift in property strategy?
Mainstream retailers are increasingly treading on the discounters’ turf – and it appears that out-of-town retail parks are now the prime battleground. Few recent examples demonstrate this as clearly as Marks & Spencer’s strategy, which is pivoting its food hall rollout toward retail park sites in order to compete directly…
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26 August
How EV charging increases footfall and boosts customer loyalty
As the rate of EV adoption among the public increases, more drivers are looking for places to charge their EVs. This trend is only going to accelerate, especially considering the Government’s recent series of incentives and grants to make EVs more affordable. This is a key moment for retail site…
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