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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Jan- 2023 -10 January
Could budget supermarkets dominate ‘the big four’?
The big four – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons – were once the undisputed favourites for supermarket shopping. However, when the drastic cost-of-living crisis emerged in 2021, it made many households rethink their priorities when it came to buying their essentials and non-essentials. At the tail end of 2022, Aldi…
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9 January
Greenwashing vs ‘Greenhushing’ – how can businesses get it right?
Greenwashing has become a popular buzzword to describe how companies potentially mislead consumers through advertising and messaging by making environmental claims about products or services that do not stand up to scrutiny. The latest casualty to face allegations of greenwashing is clothing retailer H&M, who in the US are being…
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Dec- 2022 -2 December
Tips for making a success of festive trading in a cost-of-living crisis
The most important trading season of the year has arrived, and in an intensely competitive market, retailers can’t afford to fail. With mounting costs eroding margins, and a cost-of-living crisis dissuading customers from indulging too heavily this season, retailers know they have to work harder and smarter to turn a…
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2 December
A ‘fall from grace’: what went wrong with Made.com
Made.com was once a force to be reckoned with in the retail landscape. Having launched 12 years ago, the group had since enjoyed a rise to dizzying new heights. The company used sleek marketing to tap into its millennial customer base, and became one of the most popular destinations for…
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Nov- 2022 -29 November
Primark’s relationship with online shopping
As a company that has hand-waved away online shopping as unnecessary to its business model, Primark has finally relented in a small way with its recent launch of ‘Click and Collect’ for just 25 locations. Primark notoriously operates on the cheapest end of the clothing market and so has previously…
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23 November
Black Friday: How can algorithmic retailing ensure a successful event?
Worldwide activity surrounding Black Friday has never been stronger. In the US, over 53% of consumers plan to make a purchase on Black Friday ; in the UK consumers are expected to spend £8.71 billion over the course of the 2022 Black Friday weekend. It’s an event which represents a…
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18 November
Retail news: whats happening in the industry?
In this article, we’ll share some of the top retail news stories from the past month. From new launches to spending trends, we’ll cover the most important topics that retail businesses should be aware of. What are the latest trends in retail? How can brands keep up with the competition?…
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16 November
Consumers are feeling the pinch – but so are retailers. Can Black Friday even happen this year?
Black Friday traditionally marks the start of the festive shopping season, with big ticket promotions that seem to get bigger every year. Black Friday is now fast approaching, and many retailers are reassessing their strategies for this year’s event in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The cost-of-living crisis is…
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16 November
Retail faces multiple challenges – A key one is fixing the data layer
As the UK consumer battles rising inflation, interest rates, scary heating bills and even considering back-up generators to avoid potential power cuts, retailers have needed to consistently up their games to maintain customer loyalty. On the supply side, the latest uncertainties are an unwelcome addition to the disruption from…
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9 November
How retailers can win customers in a more challenging climate
As we enter this critical period of the year for retailers, they are faced with a series of new challenges dampening consumer confidence. The impact of inflation with consumers facing real term pay cuts, increased energy costs, surging mortgage bills and now the highest interest rate hike in more than…
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