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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Apr- 2023 -3 April
The current discourse surrounding John Lewis
Recent news of John Lewis’ plan to shake up its partnership model, which sees that staff are treated as shareholders, has received a number of very passionate responses. Andy Street, who was the John Lewis managing director from 2007 to 2016, went on record to say that, should the employee-owned…
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Mar- 2023 -21 March
EPR for Packaging – are you covered?
In a nutshell, extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging makes producers responsible for the cost of collecting, sorting and recycling household packaging. This includes the funding of council recycling collections and management of litter. The aim is to create a more circular economy, and to provide an incentive to reduce…
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20 March
Private equity is changing supermarkets
After being dethroned as one of the Big Four supermarkets by Aldi in late 2022, Morrison’s most recent blow came in the shape of £1.5bn worth of losses one year after being acquired by Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R) in October 2021 for £7bn with a debt-led takeover. Morrisons, which…
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8 March
Data is the perfect conversation starter for retailers – check out Tesco for proof
Improving online and in-store integration is a priority for many omnichannel retailers in 2023. Tesco, for instance, has seen huge success by making its Tesco Pay + app integral to improving the customer in-store experience. The app allows customers to pay with their phones and collect Clubcard points, and has…
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Feb- 2023 -9 February
Five factors driving purchase behaviour in the current climate
The last few years have seen a series of unprecedented events that have created a new paradigm where consumer expectations and needs have been radically redefined. In this new world, retailers need to respond with a new approach in tune with our changed times. So how did we get here?…
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8 February
What the Amazon strikes mean for the retail industry
Last month, Amazon workers staged its first ever strike in the UK, with hundreds of fulfilment centre employees voting to walk out “in anger” over the company’s 50p per hour pay offer and poor working conditions. An industrial action ballot saw a majority of more than 98 per of workers…
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3 February
After a tough golden quarter, can Asos reclaim its crown?
The most recent golden quarter came as something of a pleasant surprise to the market. Across the retail sector, companies rejoiced as sales bounced back in the first Christmas period that was not disrupted by virus variants. Of course, the period was not without its tribulations. Businesses were still hit…
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2 February
What does France’s new environmental legislation mean for UK retail?
When it comes to environmental legislation, France is a pioneer. A decade ago, it became the first country to introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles and furniture; last year, it added sports equipment, toys, and DIY and gardening equipment to the list. All retailers trading in France – large…
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Jan- 2023 -27 January
Reasons retailers should prioritise delivery
The Covid-19 Pandemic accelerated the growth in e-Commerce and it is going to continue to grow as consumers value the convenience and ease of online shopping. Retailers need to have completely joined-up sales, fulfilment and returns processes. There is little point in having a slick website to sell the product…
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25 January
How ChatGPT could affect the retail space in 2023
ChatGPT is the new tool taking the world by storm. The AI language processing tool can give you recommendations for a new trip you’re going on, write cohesive essays on a number of topics, and even generate music for you. The sophisticated chatbot interface of ChatGPT works similarly to a…
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