Features
Features delivers in-depth coverage of the people, brands, and trends shaping the UK retail landscape. This section offers detailed reports, case studies, and interviews exploring innovation, strategy, and performance across high street, ecommerce, and luxury sectors. Retail Sector’s Features coverage provides retail leaders, managers, and suppliers with contextual insight into business transformation, consumer behaviour, and the evolving commercial environment driving long-term success.
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Sep- 2020 -14 September
Behind the headline figures: Four reasons for optimism for retailers
The latest retail figures are showing signs of real encouragement for retailers. Retail sales volumes rose a better-than-expected 3.6% in July and are now above pre-pandemic levels. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that sales rose 2% ahead of a 0.2% prediction by economists, and this was on…
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Jul- 2020 -21 July
How to get consumers spending? Make them feel a million dollars again
On Thursday 19 March, I found myself driving as fast as I could up the A12 towards the Suffolk countryside. After a ‘hot tip-off’ that a lockdown was coming, we packed the cars, abandoned our London flat and decided to batten down the hatches amongst the green pastures of East…
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3 July
Reducing returns abuse without sacrificing customer experience
For merchants, delivering a great customer experience has always been high on their list of priorities. It’s essential for fostering customer loyalty, and increasing top-line revenue. A significant aspect of customer experience is how a merchant handles returns, as this can mean increased flexibility and convenience for consumers. Recent Forter…
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Jun- 2020 -2 June
Coronavirus Diary: Moda in Pelle
As cases of coronavirus started to quickly rise in early March, we knew it was only a matter of time before the UK went into some form of lockdown, with shops legally obliged to shutter up. To ensure safety across our teams and a smooth transition, we closed our doors…
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Feb- 2020 -17 February
Book Smart: Why the independent bookshop is here to stay
The bookselling industry is subject to constant speculation. In a world where Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos reigns and tablet devices are a mainstay, one would be forgiven for assuming the end is nigh for independent booksellers’ success. But despite the rise of retail giants and fall of book…
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12 February
Parasite boosts Spanish crisp sales
Now that’s the kind of headline journalists like to write. But unfortunately, now that you’re reading the article, the subterfuge must be exposed. We’re not talking about parasites that look for hosts, and we’re not talking about infected food. Instead we’re talking about the Korean movie sensation that just won…
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7 February
Optimising your customer contact strategy
The way that retailers and brands communicate with customers has changed radically over the past decade, and it is clearly set to continue to evolve through the 2020s. Customers are spread over a variety of channels, each with their own unique benefits. Retailers must navigate this complex environment to maximise…
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Jan- 2020 -16 January
All hail Trump for his damp squib trade deal with China
Do you know what, I don’t know anything about the detail of Trump’s new ‘deal’ with China, designed to hit ‘pause’ on the escalating trade tensions between the two countries after a couple of years of rancour. But I am going to assume, given the president has described it as…
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16 January
How in-store experiences will shape gaming retail in 2020 and beyond
A little over a year ago the Entertainment Retailer Association (ERA) announced that the gaming market accounted for more than half of the entire UK entertainment sector at more than £3.8bn, making it bigger than video and music combined. The top games released that year included FIFA 2019, Red Dead…
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15 January
How catering to older consumers can help save the high street
2019 was the “worst year on record” for retail according to figures released by the BRC last week, with commentators quick to blame the rise of internet shopping or the impact of Brexit, but the reality can be seen to be much more complex. Across the UK, high streets are…
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