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- 2021 -18 January
How packaging can build retail resilience
The ‘stay at home’ impact of the pandemic is turbocharging the importance of packaging. It is a critical component helping retailers to sell more products online and effectively move goods through busier and changing supply chains that are constantly flexing in response to the impact of Covid-19. At the same…
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13 January
Physical retail in the year 2021
The relationship between the high street and its consumers has been somewhat turbulent during the coronavirus pandemic. Since reopening in June, nonessential stores have battled for the attention of wary consumers to tempt them away from online shopping, which became the enforced norm during lockdown. Undoubtedly, it’ll be a battle…
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13 January
How retailers can manage returns to Europe post-Brexit
After a tense end to the transition period, the UK finally secured a post-Brexit deal on trade with the EU. Yet, retailers which import goods from Europe are already struggling with the bottleneck at our ports caused by the impact of COVID-19 limiting resource availability. The addition of Brexit is…
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6 January
The year ahead in retail: An expert panel discussion
It’s been an unusual year to say the least, particularly in the retail sector. Some retailers have struggled as a result of the pandemic, but many have thrived as digital transformation becomes a habit and now preferable choice for consumers. Fast-growing digital marketing agency Modo25 hosted an online discussion with…
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6 January
How retailers can build a strong digital presence
Despite the announcement of a COVID vaccine last week, it’s clear that consumers’ shopping habits won’t be returning to ‘normal’ anytime soon. Even before the crisis, the high street had been fighting a losing battle against Amazon and the wider shift towards e-commerce. This has only accelerated as lockdown restrictions…
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Dec- 2020 -23 December
Four positive signals of a happy new year for retailers in 2021
The resilience of retail has been a remarkable success story of 2020 in the face of continuing huge challenges. The pandemic has forced new ways of trading, from the obvious ways of ensuring COVID-safe spaces to rethinking how to target consumers spending the majority of their lives at home. For…
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22 December
Planning for the Future White Paper
The Government published the Planning for the Future White Paper in August, hailing it as a once in a generation opportunity to fix a planning system that has long been regarded as not fit for purpose. Although the White Paper recognises that the planning system faces a number of challenges…
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16 December
Top tips for email marketing and deliverability this Christmas season
With such an unpredictable year coming to a close, one thing is certain: this year’s festive season will pose an extremely unique set of challenges for marketers. Under normal circumstances, Christmas is a time to come together with family to gather around the fire, exchange gifts, and share joy. However,…
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14 December
Forecasting future staffing needs
While many retail businesses use cash-flow forecasting to optimise their trading performance, could they be doing more to predict their staffing needs, both during and after the pandemic? Could this be key to their survival in the difficult months of winter trading ahead? In the retail sector particularly, both recruitment…
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11 December
The show must go on
Amazon’s Christmas 2020 advertising campaign perfectly captures the spirit of the nation with it’s story of a ballerina’s disappointment after a canceled show, and later determination and triumph when she performs solo outside for her community. The message is clear (as the new arrangement of The Queen classic in the…
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