Omnichannel
This coverage explores the evolution and execution of omnichannel strategies within the UK retail industry. Reporting highlights technology integration, customer experience innovations, store–online alignment, supply chain adjustments, and leadership decisions driving seamless retail operations. Designed for executives and managers, it provides analysis to support strategic planning and operational excellence across digital and physical retail channels.
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Jul- 2021 -19 JulySport & Leisure
NBA launches debut UK store in partnership with Fanatics
The National Basketball Association (NBA), in partnership with sports merchandise retailer Fanatics, has announced the launch of a debut UK NBA store. Located at 14-16 Foubert’s Place in London’s Carnaby, Soho area, the store features a range of NBA and WNBA merchandise and memorabilia. Products such as apparel, jerseys, headwear,…
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Jun- 2021 -17 JuneComment
In the age of online shopping, shoplifting has gone digital
April this year signalled a fresh start for shop owners as lockdown restrictions on non-essential retailers in the UK were lifted. Retailers now have the chance to forge a new relationship with customers and engage with them as they return to the high street. However, our world is becoming increasingly…
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16 JunePeople Moves
Westfield owner names Caroline Puechoultres as CCO
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), the owner of Westfield, has announced the appointment of Caroline Puechoultres as chief customer officer (CCO) at the group. Effective 15 July 2021, the addition is part of the firm’s wider strategy to capture growth opportunities in a changing retail environment as an increasingly customer-focused brand. In the…
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11 JuneAnalysis
Bringing brick-and-mortar retail into the digital age
In April, we saw UK retail sales surge as non-essential stores across England opened for the first time after months of ongoing lockdown restrictions. In a week, high street footfall doubled. In fact, shoppers were spotted queuing from 7 am outside brands such as Primark, Zara and TKMaxx in preparation for the highly anticipated high…
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3 JuneComment
The benefits of the Amazon model are overstated – it’s time for true disruption
It is undeniable that Covid jumped ecommerce into 2030. A 2021 report from Retail Economics and Natwest discovered that since the pandemic began, nearly half (46%) of UK consumers have purchased a product online that they had previously only ever purchased in store. Meanwhile 32% of consumers surveyed said they…
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2 June
Amazon to become UK’s largest retailer by 2025, study finds
Amazon is to overtake Tesco as the UK’s largest retailer within the next four years, with UK sales expected to reach £77.1bn by 2025, according to a report from Edge by Ascential’s syndicated research arm, Edge Retail Insight. In 2020, Amazon UK’s total sales were £36.3bn, while Tesco’s sales were…
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May- 2021 -25 MayDepartment Stores
Wilko FY21 sales plummet £107m to £1.36bn
Wilkinson Hardware Stores (Wilko) saw its total sales drop 7.3% and £107.2m year-on-year from £1.47bn in FY20 to £1.36bn in FY21. Despite the fall in total sales, the homewares and household goods retailer’s EBITDA held steady for the 12 months ended 30 January 2021, declining from £48.5m to £48.3m. The…
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21 MayAnalysis
Customer experience differentiation is at the core of retail innovation
The rise of DTC, net-zero commerce, hyper-local shopping, dark stores, same-day (if not, same-15-minutes) delivery, and brand drops mark the point of no return for mainstream retailers. Over the past decade, retail has somewhat sleepwalked into paradigm shifts that are shaping the modern world. The fall of Arcadia Group is…
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14 MayElectrical
Dixons Carphone rebrands to Currys
Dixons Carphone is set to drop its name as the group rebrands to Currys, with all stores across the business changing their name in the process. Across the United Kingdom and Ireland, Currys PC World, Carphone Warehouse and Team KnowHow will all become a single brand Currys by October 2021,…
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7 MayAnalysis
How Amazon delivered a smart retail customer experience with a human touch
Competition in modern retail is all about customer experience, and during the pandemic e-commerce and digital retail has accelerated rapidly, creating new customer expectations around digital experiences. According to the ONS, online retail sales grew by 46% in 2020 compared to the previous year – the largest increase since 2008.…
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