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- 2019 -8 April
Retail, data security and (re)building trust
Data security may have once been the sole mandate of the IT professional but that is no longer the case. Data breaches have become a fact of life for businesses, occurring numerous times each year worldwide. As a result, the public is now more aware than ever before about the…
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5 April
The global online opportunity for luxury retailers and brands
The global luxury retail industry does not show any sign of slowing down, with the market expected to grow by 3-5% YoY to reach €320-365bn by 2025. Though the luxury sector has been well-known for its initial hesitation to expand online, its steady growth can be attributed to the increased…
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4 April
Securing the future of the UK high street
UK High Streets have reached a ‘tipping point’. That was the view of a recently published parliamentary inquiry report on UK high streets. The shift to online sales (now accounting for 20% of all retail sales); the upward revaluation of business rates, previous planning policies; and local authority financing constraints…
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3 April
How returns became essential in the retail landscape
For as long as people have been able to buy items, they have been returning them. It’s by no means a new phenomenon and retailers across all industries, from technology to fashion know this. However, the rise in online only brands, and online shopping more generally, has seen a steady…
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2 April
Now is the time for UK retailers to rethink the handling of returned stock
As the end of the financial year approaches in April, retailers have several options to begin their spring cleaning. A new fiscal year allows companies to evaluate their spending over the past 12 months and look to make any changes as budgets refresh and new targets are set. With return…
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1 April
Why retail rewards schemes do not necessarily create loyalty
Customer loyalty is not something retailers can afford to take for granted. With only 3% of people saying they feel devoted to their favourite stores, it’s the norm to shop around for the best deals and ‘cheat’ on one’s usual shop of choice. Although consumers still see some of the…
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Mar- 2019 -28 March
Who are the most impulsive online shoppers in the UK?
The debate rages on as to whether the high street is finished or not, but the exponential rise of online shopping cannot be questioned. The ease in which you can locate an item and have it delivered to your door the next day has meant more and more people now…
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27 March
Three marketing principles for challenging retail conditions
It’s a great time for putting the boot into retail in the UK. With sales growth down year-on-year and 85,000 job losses across the sector, negativity is on-trend. Much of this pressure is being felt by high street retailers: increasing overheads and declining consumer confidence have led to a situation…
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27 March
The future of payment is going mobile
Over the past few years we are seeing a steady decline in cash transactions with two thirds of payments made by card. With the introduction of contactless it is much easier to tap and go rather than take cash out of the bank. Mobile POS or the abbreviated term mPOS…
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25 March
Designing the stores of the future
The ever-increasing shift to online shopping, powered by e-tail giants such as Amazon, and the rise of mobile and social commerce dovetailing the consumer desire for experiences, have impacted the British high street. While retailers are under severe pressure, this is far from the end of physical retail stores. Many…
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