Consumer demand lures yet more reluctant retailers online

Both Poundland and Aldi have recently announced plans for launches of online stores after much deliberation and questions over whether the channel stacks up financially for value retailers. And Lidl has also been talking of making the plunge. The argument for going online continues to ratchet-up because every bit of research you care to read…

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Movers & Shakers Q&A – Tim Robinson, CEO of Doddle

Tim Robinson, CEO, Doddle 1.What is the greatest opportunity for your business? For us it’s about being the company that revolutionises the way people deal with parcels, becoming the parcel service you can’t believe you lived without. The quest to eradicate the ‘sorry you were out’ card is also a driving force for Doddle. We…

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Innovative Retailer – Spar UK

The Name: Spar The Place: 2.4k stores around the UK, so very prevalent basically. And if you are talking global reach then 12k shops around the world. The Story: Spar, I hear you cry. What, that corner shop mainstay with its Kingsmill bread rolls and Heinz baked beans. What on earth is innovative about that?…

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Retail Insider Breakfast – Mark Lewis, online director at John Lewis

Retail Insider held its latest Breakfast Event with Mark Lewis, online director of John Lewis, who highlighted how his present role will soon become extinct as the channels all converge and e-commerce directors become a “dying breed”. Senior executives from Marks & Spencer, Boohoo.com, Dobbies Garden Centres, and Farfetch were among those who heard how…

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If only pure-plays had stores

Hardly a week goes by without some news of a pure-play about to open a physical store or rumours circlulating that a big-gun of the online world is investigating joining the multi-channel fraternity through adding bricks and mortar. This has been particularly prevalent in fashion and the reason is because the online-only guys have significantly…

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World Retail Congress say hello to Alcoholics Anonymous

When senior executives from established retailers convene around a table or share a conference platform it can often feel like a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous where the group gain some comfort and solace from sharing their experiences and problems. But it is not alcohol that is the problem for these business leaders at the moment…

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From auction to fixed price in only 20 years for EBay

Time flies when you’re having fun. Can it really be 20 years since Pierre Omidyar created eBay and sold the very first item on what was then a rather unusual beast – an online marketplace. Since then there have been marketplaces opened up by all and sundry but none have gained the presence that eBay…

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Innovative Retailer – T2

  The Name: T2. The Place: It’s Australia-based (with 60 stores in the country) but well and truly over here now. Six outlets in the capital from old money Chelsea to new money Shoreditch and opening fresh outlets like topsy. It’s all so exhausting I need to put the kettle on for a nice cup…

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Movers & Shakers Q&A – Simon Harrow, CEO, Elevaate

Simon Harrow, CEO, Elevaate. 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? Elevaate has an exciting year ahead. Our core platform is delivering for our customers but there are so many legacy tools holding retailers back. The prospect of building an increasingly innovative and intelligent SaaS platform for retailers and suppliers to grow their…

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Pop-ups now a permanent retail fixture

When pop-ups first appeared on the retail landscape they seemed to have more than a whiff of short-term fad about them. They looked to be a very temporary solution to fill the numerous empty shop spaces that had become features across the UK’s high streets in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008. Brands…

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