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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Feb- 2019 -20 February
Shopping for software ahead of Making Tax Digital
The Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative is designed to be a cost and time saving exercise both for the Exchequer and the small businesses that must comply. Almost three million businesses will be affected by MTD when it comes into effect in April 2019, and it offers a real opportunity…
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19 February
Evolving employment laws – a stronger future for workers’ rights
Since 2010, the UK has experienced lower unemployment rates across every region, underpinned by a strong and innovative labour market that has seized on the opportunities offered by new technologies, emerging business models and changing ways of working. Existing employment law and policy framework has found a balance between flexibility…
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18 February
Generation Z: Is retail communicating with them in the right way?
Generation Z is the next batch of bright young things; still young at 18 to 20 but soon to be the new influencers. It’s a small window so how can retailers align their thinking to stay on track with Gen Z in the here and now and also keep their…
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15 February
How can retailers do their bit to save the environment when it comes to returned and excess stock?
Globally there is a huge demand to change the way we interact with and treat the natural world, particularly since news broke in late 2018 that we have only 12 years to limit catastrophic climate change. Whilst previously the focus would be on individual behaviour, such as not using plastic…
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14 February
Killing plastic before it kills us
Research has revealed that a staggering 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging ends up in landfill each year whilst 226,800 miles of wrapping paper are thrown away each year. 2019 must be the year that we reform. The amount of waste produced per household is increasing by 30% each year whilst…
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13 February
Sustaining success: Luxury fashion and the environment in 2019
Environmental concern is high on the agenda for retailers of all sectors, shapes and sizes at present, and as we look ahead to a new year the signs are that luxury fashion players are going to need to prove their eco-credentials if they are to maintain their brand equity in…
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12 February
Gender fluid fashion: Are your stores and colleagues ready to assist?
Fashion retailers are masters at riding the Zeitgeist. So with interest in gender fluidity mushrooming across the globe, it’s no surprise that innovative retailers are reaching out to a growing band of consumers who like their jeans, jackets, tops and trainers to be gender neutral. Statistics reveal that 56% of…
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11 February
Three trends from NRF that will shape retail in 2019
Every January the retail industry flocks to New York for ‘The Big Show’, also known as NRF, a three-day event aimed at uncovering what’s next for the industry and how the sector can utilize ground-breaking new technologies to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape. Attracting over 16,000 exhibitors and…
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8 February
DTC ‘done right’ could reignite loyalty of fickle customers
Nowadays, more and more brands are bypassing stores or retail partners through direct-to-consumer strategies – or DTC – in an effort to achieve greater profits and stronger customer relationships; the latter ultimately to improve loyalty. The DTC market is exploding. 87% of brands have plans to launch a DTC channel,…
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7 February
Auto-replenishment: Is this how we want to shop in the future?
From supermarkets automating their stock systems, to consumers installing Amazon Dash buttons in their homes, auto-replenishment is a hot topic for many retail experts. Whatever happens in 2019, retailers will undoubtedly face a difficult year ahead, but will it be the teams harnessing and investing in new technology that come…
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