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- 2024 -26 November
Reinventing loyalty: Josh Graham’s vision for mobile-driven retail
Josh Graham, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Airtime Rewards, reflects on a journey that began in the aisles of an independent menswear store and now sees him at the forefront of mobile-driven retail innovation. With nearly a decade of Airtime Rewards behind him, Graham is helping redefine how retailers…
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22 November
Retail insights for the Golden Quarter ahead
The Golden Quarter – November to January – remains the most critical period for UK retailers, and in 2024, the stakes are higher than ever. Consumers are still risk-averse in the run-up to Christmas, but coupled with the rise of social commerce and growing sustainability concerns, you get both challenges…
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21 November
Third spaces: The changing face of retail outlets
Nicky Lovell, Head of Outlets and Retail Business Development at Global Mutual, embodies the transformation of retail over the past few decades. From her beginnings as a buyer at Selfridges to leading a portfolio of outlet centres across the UK, Lovell has witnessed and influenced the evolution of shopping destinations,…
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19 November
Melissa Minkow: Bridging Retail Innovation and Consumer-Centric Solutions
Melissa Minkow, Global Director, Retail Strategy at CI&T, has built a career fusing customer insights with transformative technology. From her early days at Anthropologie to leading retail innovation strategies for global clients, her journey is a testament to how curiosity, expertise, and vision can reshape an industry. “I like to…
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13 November
Outform’s VP of growth on understanding today’s shopper psychology
In a retail industry that’s evolving at breakneck speed, Clare Cryer, Vice President of Growth at Outform, is a veteran of the field and an outspoken advocate for blending insights, creativity, and technology to reshape physical retail. With a career that spans from humble beginnings at a Dublin Zoo souvenir…
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8 November
Valerie: The liquid supplement startup for perimenopausal women
Having launched in September, Valerie is set to revolutionize the way women approach health during the stages of menopause. Olly Johnson, co-founder, draws from both a career in health-focused retail and a deeply personal motivation for this venture. “Valerie exists to empower women and to take back control of their…
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6 November
How detrimental has Brexit been for UK retail?
Brexit. The term alone conjures layers of complexity for UK retailers as they try to adjust to the changing tides of regulations, consumer behaviours, and economic challenges. Retail is a dynamic industry, historically resilient but now forced to adapt faster than ever. In an engaging conversation, Alexander Otto and Richard…
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1 November
From side hustle to global costume leader – The story of Fraser Smeaton’s costume empire
In 2009, Fraser Smeaton, CEO and co-founder of MorphCostumes, saw an unusual potential in what seemed like an ordinary moment. While walking the streets of Dublin with a friend sporting a bright blue spandex suit, he noticed that people couldn’t help but stop and stare, with many even approaching to…
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Oct- 2024 -30 October
How does a turnaround specialist help retailers improve their performance?
Erin Brookes’ journey into the world of retail consultancy is a testament to how passion, experience, and adaptability can shape a career in an ever-evolving industry. Now managing director and head of Retail at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), Brookes’ career has spanned across operational and consulting roles, from working on…
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28 October
Behind the curtain of retail logistics at DHL Supply Chain
Most consumers think of the shopping experience as the final click online or the moment they walk out of a store with bags in hand. But what happens behind the scenes to ensure that products are on the shelf, or that parcels arrive at our doorsteps on time, is a…
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