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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May- 2021 -5 May
Why space is so important to D2C retailers
It seems like there’s a gold rush at the moment for warehouse and fulfilment space as online retailers and direct-to-consumer operators wrestle for every last inch of viable commercial space across the UK. Research by Knight Frank backs this up, with 40 million square foot of new commercial space slated…
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Apr- 2021 -28 April
Unlocking the future of in-store shopping – with our phones
Amazon Fresh still seems surreal (at least for some shoppers, for whom it feels a bit too closely like theft!). It’s a relatively new concept in the UK, with just three Amazon stores live at time of writing. But everything else surrounding the Fresh concept is already second nature, and…
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26 April
Tackling the new user, missed opportunity phenomenon
In a turbulent year, retailers have faced both famine (with retail stores closing) and feast (with the spike in online shopping) as they adapted to the restrictions and opportunities created by Covid-19. Our research shows that in the past 12 months the number of first-time online shoppers has doubled. However,…
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23 April
Getting ready for the post-covid retail boom
From being in the grip of the second wave in a bleak mid-Winter two months ago with so much uncertainty and anxiety there really has been a remarkable turnaround due to the determination of all to fix this situation. A majority of the population have been vaccinated and sunnier days…
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22 April
SCA exemptions: A merchant’s best friend, with complications
When it comes to online commerce, much of Europe is living in a new payment regulation era — and the UK will soon follow. It’s an era of two-factor authentication, exemptions, step-ups, transaction legs that are either in or out — and a more secure ecommerce shopping experience for consumers.…
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20 April
How retailers can ensure frictionless trade despite Brexit paperwork boom
Despite the promises, both anecdotal and data-backed evidence suggests that the UK’s transition out of the European Union has not been as smoothed as hoped. Official government figures state that exports of goods to the EU fell by 40% in January 2021, with imports dropping 29%. The Federation of Small…
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19 April
How retailers can optimise their digital strategies for a post-lockdown world
As we pass the anniversary of the first national lockdown, many retailers are pausing to reflect on how the past year has impacted their business. While some have struggled to adapt others have thrived, seeing restrictions as an opportunity to attract new customers through Google Shopping and e-commerce platforms. With…
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16 April
Real time data underpins retail success with unpredictable shoppers
We live in unprecedented times and for retailers this challenging environment throws a new curve ball each week. Shopper behaviour is not easy to predict in normal circumstances and Covid-19 has exacerbated this challenge. This can, for example, be seen in foot traffic to stores – a key indicator of shopper…
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15 April
Could failed deliveries threaten to derail the global eCommerce boom?
The pandemic has prompted a global surge in consumers buying goods online, quickly accelerating a trend that was already well underway. As a result, business is booming for retail businesses worldwide, with 54% of firms reporting an increase in international orders during the past 12 months. While this has clearly…
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14 April
A repackaged retail strategy – How FMCG brands are innovating to stay ahead
The FMCG category has been buffeted by unprecedented change over the past year with huge disruption to traditional routes to market and dramatically altered customer behaviour. With consumers stuck at home, brands have been forced to overhaul long-running product distribution strategies and completely rethink marketing plans for product launches. Encouragingly…
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