Mothercare throws baby out with bathwater

There are enlightened individuals in every retailer in the land who will recognise that the journey from simply running stores to operating a seamless multi-channel business is very painful and extremely long (and getting longer it seems). What it also requires is support and commitment from the very top. The big problem here is that…

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Grocers’ strong performance in top 25 UK drinks retailers websites

The websites of the UK’s largest supermarkets delivered a strong performance in February when tested among the top 25 UK drinks retailers, with Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco  all delivering improvements on last month. Asda moved up five places, Tesco four places, and Sainsbury’s six places in the ranked table of the top UK drinks retailers’…

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Retail Insider Breakfast – Simon Calver, outgoing-CEO, Mothercare

Retail Insider held its latest Breakfast Event on Friday with Simon Calver, outgoing CEO of Mothercare, who highlighted just how challenging his role had been, having landed at a business that was behind the multi-channel game. Senior executives from a variety of retailers including Tesco, WH Smith, Just-Eat, eBay, Aurora Fashions and Monsoon/Accessorize attended the…

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Time for some beer on Retail Insider

Seven UK brewers have earned a place in the Top 100 World’s best brewers list compiled by the well regarded RateBeer website. Congratulations are in order to BrewDog, Buxton, Fuller’s, Magic Rock, Oakham, The Kernel and Thornbridge who have achieved the honour of being listed among some of the world’s most illustrious and cutting-edge brewers…

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Movers & Shakers Q&A with Andrew Livingston, CEO of Screwfix

Andrew Livingston, CEO, Screwfix 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? Our growth programme provides the greatest opportunity to expand our offering. Screwfix currently has a store network of over 300, with 60 new openings planned for 2014. We are also building our EU shipping service and will assess the success of our…

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Insiders’ view of the world of headhunting

‘Excerpts from the life of a head-hunter’ working in the leisure/hospitality/retail sectors. [Unfortunately such is the sensitivity of the head-hunting profession that it is rarely possible that the names of the Insiders’ clients can be divulged] 6:30pm Tuesday Nov 19 – The customer is not always right it seems I’m at Novikov restaurant in central…

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Innovative Retailer – Asos

The Name: ASOS The Place: No shops, of course, but head office is in scruffily trendy Camden Town and fulfilment is up in Barnsley which is probably just scruffy. The story: Who would found a fashion company aimed predominantly at 18-34 year old women? – Two (almost getting on for) middle-aged men of course. It’s…

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