General
The Third Space
One of the few positive elements to come out of Covid-19 for many people has been the removal from their lives of the drudgery that is the daily commute to the office. Meanwhile, one of the downsides for many people during this prolonged period of lockdowns has been the enforced working from home scenario within…
Read MoreZoom Cocktail Hour with Kresse Wesling, co-founder, Elvis & Kresse
Retail Insider, in partnership with Novomind, held its latest ‘Zoom Cocktail Hour’ with Kresse Wesling, co-founder of Elvis & Kresse, who is disrupting the luxury goods industry while saving waste materials from landfill. She relayed the story of her discovery of end-of-life fire hoses heading onto the waste pile and sought to turn them into desirable…
Read MoreSustainable Fashion: Elvis & Kresse
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From fur farms to fast fashion, excess…
Read MoreThe Power of Neighbourhood Restaurants…
Before I headed off to King’s Cross station to board a train to Timothy Taylor’s Brewery in Yorkshire for my stag do, and before my fiancée went off to do her hen things, we both did the sensible thing and prepared ourselves by popping into a local café for a full fry-up. Fast forward more…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Thrasio
The Name: Thrasio The Place: Well, it’s headquartered in Massachusetts, USA and has offices also in New York and Houston. But it has country specific websites in Japan, Germany and the UK and there are signs it may turn its Sauron-like gaze on the rest of Europe one day. The Story: You know those little…
Read MoreSteering clear of overly-cautious mindsets…
One of the notable features of the hospitality industry this past year has been the snaking queues of cars leading up to the counters of the drive-thru units of McDonald’s, Costa, KFC and a growing number of other foodservice operators. These outlets have been the perfect creation for servicing diners in a covid-19-ridden landscape where…
Read MoreZoom Cocktail Hour with Chris Griffin, CEO of LRG Online
Retail Insider, in partnership with Novomind, held its latest ‘Zoom Cocktail Hour’ with Chris Griffin, CEO of LRG Online, who detailed how he is building out Secret Sales as the largest discount-only, branded product site in the world. Since buying the Secret Sales business he has repositioned it away from a flash sales site to being…
Read MoreForthcoming Zoom Cocktail Hours – speaker programme for March and April
Retail Insider is pleased to announce its next two Zoom Cocktail Hour events with an interesting mix of special guests from very different parts of the retail universe. Each guest speaker will tell their own interesting story that will undoubtedly throw some fresh insights and perspectives on the broad retail industry. As well as covering…
Read MoreQR codes helping transform future of touchscreens
By Harry Horn When Scala showcased QR codes back in 2015 as a technology whose likely breakthrough was on the near-term horizon there was plenty of scepticism. People questioned its prospects having seen it fail to make an impact since it was first developed back in the 1990s. Well, it certainly found its place big-time…
Read MoreThe tech-led drive for delivery
Incredible as it sounds half the world’s internet users aged 16 to 64 have placed an order for takeaway food for delivery in the past month, according to Hootsuite and We Are Social. I’m certainly one of them and I don’t know anybody who isn’t. Maybe this statistic is not too surprising really because the…
Read MoreSustainable fashion: Eco-collaboration
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what clothing retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From fur farms to fast fashion, excess…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A with Sarah Miles, CEO of Feelunique
Sarah Miles, CEO of Feelunique 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? We have several exciting growth opportunities, all of which are underpinned by the investments we have made in our technology infrastructure and brand relationships during recent periods. Firstly, we have a great opportunity with our marketplace platform, which has delivered soaring…
Read MoreThe shift in city dynamics
There was a time when it was possible to secure a table at popular restaurants and bag a seat in the more fashionable bars in London without too much trouble. But, over the years, things became ever more difficult and a night out has required meticulous planning months in advance if you are particularly selective…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Pets At Home
The Name: Pets At Home The Place: Large stores all across the UK (around 450 of them), a full online presence, and some new small stores too. The Story: If you could describe a retail business that was going to do well in an international pandemic restricting people’s spending and movement – what would it…
Read MoreZoom Cocktail Hour with retail entrepreneur Chris Griffin
Retail Insider is pleased to announce it is hosting another small, perfectly formed, programme of Zoom Cocktail Hour events (supported by Novomind) with an interesting mix of special guests from very different parts of the retail universe. Speaker: Chris Griffin, CEO & co-founder of LRG Online (Secret Sales) Date: Tuesday 23rd February Time: 5pm to…
Read MoreThree ways technology will save retail in 2021
By Michael van den Berg Whilst we navigate a third UK lockdown due to the pandemic, businesses of all sizes in a variety of industries have had to review and rethink their strategies to adjust to changing health and safety compliance. In particular, the retail sector has been heavily impacted by the current restrictions. According…
Read MoreMicro-fulfilment centres coming of age
The odds on retailers utilising automated micro-fulfilment centres (MFCs) for groceries and also general merchandise (GM) categories have certainly shortened now that growing numbers of consumers have become accustomed to shopping online. Although Covid-19 boosted the levels of online sales to arguably justify an investigation into such solutions Steve Hornyak, chief commercial officer at…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A with Nick Devlin, CEO of Naked Wines
Nick Devlin, CEO, Naked Wines 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? Naked Wines was founded with the belief the wine industry could be better and our mission is to disrupt it for the benefit of our customers, winemakers and our people. Put simply, too many consumers are paying too much for mediocre…
Read MoreSustainable Fashion: The price is right… or is it?
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what clothing retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From fur farms to fast fashion –…
Read More2020 – Tale of Two Glasses
To describe 2020 as a challenging year would be a massive understatement. Pre-March things were going largely as predicted but then everything quickly changed. Nothing is ever black and white of course and although Covid-19 has brought about seismic changes some of these have been positive whereas others have undoubtedly been devastatingly damaging. Regardless of…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Games Workshop
Name: Games Workshop The Place: Ships to countries all over the world with a network of around 400 Games Workshop stores and several thousand further retail franchises but headquartered in Nottingham. The Story: You’ve got to love a company that describes its intellectual property rights as a ‘fortress wall’ and its network of shops as…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A with Chris Griffin, co-founder of Lifestyle Retail Group
Chris Griffin, co-founder, Lifestyle Retail Group 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? To be the largest marketplace in the world for discount fashion apparel sportswear and beauty. 2. What is the biggest challenge to your business? We designed Secret Sales to be a marketplace that consistently protects our brand partners’ brand…
Read MoreRetailing skills will be vital for hospitality’s future.
For £175, Angela Hartnett’s Cafe Murano will deliver a white truffle menu box to your home while Davies and Brook at Claridge’s is up for delivering a meal kit of roast chicken for four people at a cost of £145. Other high-end places such as Le Gavroche, Hide and Smith & Wollensky are offering similar…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A with Freddie Blackett, founder & CEO, Patch
Freddie Blackett, founder & CEO, Patch 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? At Patch, we believe that plants bring homes to life. However, in recent years, we’ve observed a widening gulf in the gardening industry – between its retailers and customers. Populations are increasingly urban – 85% of Western Europe will be…
Read MoreZoom Cocktail Hour with Catriona Marshall, owner of Running Bear Sports
Retail Insider, in partnership with Novomind, held its latest ‘Zoom Cocktail Hour’ with Catriona Marshall, owner of Running Bear Sports, who talked about the differences between holding senior positions within large global organisations and running your own small operation. Having spent time at Mars and Kraft in FMCG followed by senior roles at Pets At Home…
Read MoreSustainable Fashion: eBay – The Covid clearing house
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what clothing retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From palm oil to fur farms, fast…
Read MoreSympathy for students
One particular evening a couple of years ago remains very clear in my memory. I was sat in a bar with my then nine-year son who told me he didn’t like pubs. When his mother joined us a short time later she consoled me with the opinion that I’d dragged him out, away from his…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: LuxDeco
Name: LuxDeco The Place: Online/global with UK distribution warehouses but no showrooms. The Story: Did you ever get bored of your house and eating at home all the time during the pandemic? Oh yes: Ever wondered if a thousand pound chandelier would improve things? Umm: Ever wondered if having the correct serving tray could make…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A with Paolo Woods-Wyatt, CCO of Tails.com
Paolo Woods-Wyatt, CCO, Tails.com 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? At tails.com, the team have spent the last few years investing heavily in our infrastructure – people, technology, supply chain. We’re now in a place to leverage that to continue to scale the business rapidly. We have plans to continue to launch…
Read More‘Digital Retail Innovations 2020’ Report Launch
It is with great pleasure that we launch the annual ‘Retail Insider Digital Retail Innovations’ report for 2020 (sponsored by Webloyalty), which is arguably the most dynamic edition to date as highlighted by DNANudge heading up this year’s list of the Top 60 innovations. Covid-19 has been a major driver of new consumer behaviours and…
Read MoreZoom Cocktail Hour with Ken Daly, CEO of JML Group
Retail Insider, in partnership with Novomind, held its latest Zoom Cocktail Hour with Ken Daly, CEO of JML Group, who talked about rocketing online sales and the importance of hit products to fuelling the company’s £100 million annual sales. The business was already enjoying growing online sales through its own direct channel when Covid-19 drove a…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Award Winners: Infarm – Best Newcomer
We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us how they felt about winning their category. And here is more detail from Jeremy Byfleet, UK operations manager, Infarm on how it feels to be awarded Best Newcomer. How do you feel about winning this Award? It’s great to be recognised…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers in Retail 2020 report launched
Retail Insider is pleased to launch the 2020 edition of the Movers & Shakers in retail Top 100 report highlighting the most digitally progressive people in the industry who are making a major contribution to changing the landscape of retail. Produced in conjunction with sponsors K3 BTG, this year’s report continues with the objective of previous editions in…
Read MoreSunnier in the suburbs
On leaving the Royal Academy last Sunday after viewing this year’s Summer Exhibition it felt like a much more airy and less frenetic experience than previous year’s, with the art seemingly less crammed together on the walls. But then I realised it was nothing to do with the art at all. It was instead all…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Bread Ahead
Name: Bread Ahead The Place: Started in the oldest market in London (or pretty much anywhere) Borough Market but now has several sites in the West End and has just opened up a big old emporium at Wembley (but more of that later). The Story: Bread – the staff of life innit. And hasn’t it…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Award Winners: John Lewis – Best Connected Experience
We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us how they felt about winning their category. And here is more detail on exactly why the judges were taken with John Lewis’ entry in the Best Connected Experience . How do you feel about winning this award? We’re delighted to have…
Read MoreA decade of change in six months…
Taking my regular cycle route to the top of Alexandra Palace in north London recently it was impossible to miss an enormous stage being constructed on one of the car park spaces. It turned out to be set-up for a two-week run of Puccini’s La bohème by the English National Opera dubbed “ENO Drive &…
Read MoreSustainable Fashion: Counting those carbon calories…
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what clothing retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From palm oil to fur farms, fast…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Award winners: Lost Stock – Sustainability Award
We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us a bit more about themselves and their winning entry. Lost Stock won out in the sustainability category for their phenomenally successful venture to support garment workers in Asia while also diverting unwanted stock from landfill. 1. How do you…
Read MoreExtra restrictions kill the swift pint option…
Many times over the past couple of weeks at the end of the day I’ve thought about popping out to the pub for a quick pint while I read the paper. But I’ve then changed my mind and instead cracked open a can of beer or poured a glass of wine at home. Once lock-down…
Read MoreZoom Cocktail Hour with Mark Fox, CEO of Roadchef
Retail Insider, in partnership with Novomind, held its latest Zoom Cocktail Hour with Mark Fox, CEO of Roadchef, who talked about his mission to elevate the perception of the motorway service station. With a major £75 million investment made across the estate of Roadchef service stations and the introduction of new brands like Leon Mark detailed…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A with Freddy Ward, co-founder, Wild Cosmetics
Freddy Ward, co-founder of Wild Cosmetics 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? We believe there will be an unstoppable wave of change in the way consumers think about sustainability and how their buying behaviours impact the world we live in. Wild is well positioned to help consumers on this journey and to…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Award winners: Stitched – Editor’s Special Award
We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us a bit more about themselves and their winning entry. Customized blind and curtain company Stitched won out in the Editor’s Special Award category and also caught the editor’s eye with their Covid plan to utilise artisan workers working from home when…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Award Winners: Optimizely/Farfetch – Most Intelligent Use Of Data
We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us a little bit more about themselves and their winning entry. Here Khoshal Wial, Strategic Account Executive EMEA at Optimizely, tells us about Optimizely’s work on an experimentation platform for Farfetch which won the Most Intelligent Use of Data category. How do…
Read MoreDiminishing probability of serendipity…
“The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” You might not have experienced much of this over the past six months because it’s the definition of serendipity and it’s become a bit of a scarce resource. Over the years it’s fair to say that my personal circumstances and work-related…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Awards winners: DPD Group – Delivery Innovation of the Year
We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us a little bit more about themselves and their winning entry. DPD Group won out in the Delivery Innovation category with its new app. How do you feel about winning this Award? We’re delighted with this award. Our app has been downloaded…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Winners: OneStock – Editor’s Special Award
We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us a little bit more about themselves and their winning entry. Order management system OneStock jointly won the Editor’s Special Award for its agile Web to Store IT system which allowed Whistles to unify their stock (e-commerce, warehouses, points of sale, suppliers)…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Selfridges
Name: Selfridges The Place: One of the grande dames of the department stores of London’s Oxford Street (and now Birmingham and Manchester too) but one which has always been a bit wild and exuberant and just a teeny bit off the wall. Like Princess Margaret to the Queen’s Fortnum & Mason if you will. There…
Read MoreBeing multi-channel must be the Apple of a company’s eye
Apple’s market cap recently hit an incredible £2tn, which represents a doubling in only two years, and this has happened during a period when sales of its core iPhone have been slowing. The reason for this apparent disparity is largely down to a realisation by investors that the value of Apple is not so much…
Read More‘Transforming Retail Awards 2020’ winners announced
The winners of the Retail Insider ‘Transforming Retail Awards 2020’ have been announced during an online unveiling via Zoom. The Awards always aims at highlighting some of the most exciting innovations to happen in the retail sector over the past year and there were plenty of those in 2020. The categories being judged this year…
Read MoreRetail Insider’s Autumn/Winter programme of Zoom Cocktail Hours announced
Back by popular demand, Retail Insider is pleased to announce it is hosting another small, perfectly formed, programme of Zoom Cocktail Hour events with an interesting mix of special guests from very different parts of the retail universe. Each guest speaker will tell their own interesting story that will undoubtedly throw some fresh insights and…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Awards: Q&A with Gavin Matthews, partner at awards sponsor Womble Bond Dickinson
1. What attracted you and Womble Bond Dickinson to being involved with these Awards? We were attracted to the Retail Insider Awards because we believe that a vibrant retail industry is crucial to the country’s economic success and these awards recognise the best companies, big, medium and small which are revolutionising the way the industry develops. 2.…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Awards: Q&A with Andy Harding, UK MD of awards sponsor Openpay
1. What attracted you and Openpay to be involved with the Retail Insider ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards?The pandemic brought with it store closures on an unimaginable scale and challenges for many retailers which would have seemed insurmountable. Yet, through hard work and dedication, many teams innovated and pivoted to adapt to ever-changing customer demands. As the economy slowlyshows…
Read MoreSustainable focus: Waste specific clothing
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From palm oil to fur farms, fast fashion…
Read MoreLandlords must be willing to flex
Chatting to leading property player Roger Madelin recently, it was clear he was proud of the fact that in the early 1990s, when he was running property developer Argent, the company’s Brindleyplace project in Birmingham had been the first mixed-use site to introduce turnover-based rentals for retailers and hospitality companies. He went on to use…
Read MoreRetail Insider ‘Transforming Retail Awards 2020’ Shortlist Announced
Retail Insider is delighted to reveal the shortlist for its fourth annual ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards of 2020 kindly supported by Openpay and Womble Bond Dickinson. The aim of the awards is to showcase the very best examples of innovation across the sector as decided by our independent panel of judges. This year’s panel comprised: Paul Wilkinson,…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Top 100 Q&A – Freddy Ward, co-founder of Wild Cosmetics
Freddy Ward, co-founder of Wild Cosmetics 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? We believe there will be an unstoppable wave of change in the way consumers think about sustainability and how their buying behaviours impact the world we live in. Wild is well positioned to help consumers on this journey and to…
Read MoreTeasing the customer back
When growing up in Yorkshire, ordering the ‘scallop’ – a deep-fried, layered fish and potato cake – was the value option at my local fish and chip shop because it was significantly cheaper than going for a cod or haddock with my chips. Only later, when frequenting smarter restaurants, did I come across the alternative…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Cazoo
Brought to you by Retail Insider and Flooid Name: Cazoo The Place: Billed as the new disruptor on the block of one of the last consumer markets not yet transformed by digital commerce – yes, it’s used cars. The Story: It’s very early days for Cazoo. Seriously, this thing launched just as Covid-19 was getting going…
Read MoreDon’t just leave us with memories
Long-standing Covent Garden bar the Roadhouse has become the latest casualty of covid-19 with the announcement it will not be opening again. The toll of dealing with the current uncertainly around late-night London has meant its owners sadly do not regard the operation as viable. The statement on its website reads: “It is the end…
Read MoreDon’t just leave us with memories
Long-standing Covent Garden bar the Roadhouse has become the latest casualty of covid-19 with the announcement it will not be opening again. The toll of dealing with the current uncertainly around late-night London has meant its owners sadly do not regard the operation as viable. The statement on its website reads: “It is the end…
Read MoreSustainability Focus: Lost Stock
Welcome to our section of the site which focuses on the sustainable side of retail. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From palm oil to fur farms, fast fashion to one-use plastic, excess packaging to food waste…
Read MoreKeep the human contact
Regular users of the bathing ponds on Hampstead Heath have been getting hot under the collar over the recent introduction of an online booking and payment system brought in by the City of London Corporation to safely manage swimmers during covid-19. Previously, the denizens of this smart north London enclave could pitch up whenever they…
Read MoreBest Seat In The House
Charles Wells’ pubs in France have been a quiet success story as the portfolio of outlets has grown on the back of young French drinkers’ appetite for the unique British bar vibe the UK operator has shipped across the Channel. One of the key components of this has been the hubbub around the bar. Unlike…
Read MoreMonopoly Moves
Despite the incredible rejuvenation of the King’s Cross area of London it remains largely bereft of traditional pubs serving top-notch craft beers apart from one that has become a firm favourite of mine: The Queens Head on Acton Street. Located only a five-minute walk from the train station it was until Covid-19 in a decent…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: THG Ingenuity
Brought to you by Retail Insider and Flooid Name: The Hut Group The Place: Based in Manchester Airport City. And building a really huge HQ there even as we speak plus its ICON building, which is all about content creation. But also fulfilment and warehousing centres across the world. The Story: It’s a funny one. Ask…
Read MoreSustainable Focus: Rites
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. Today an interview with the co-founder of luxury resale site Rites brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box This month our sustainability column is an interview with the co-founder of…
Read MoreTransforming Retail Awards – why YOU should enter!
Calling all innovative companies who want to tell the world about their amazing work… you have until 10th July to enter Retail Insider’s fourth annual Transforming Retail Awards. And the good news in these times of straitened finances for retail is that it is entirely free to enter and also very easy. Far from being…
Read MoreManaging the difficult challenge of reopening stores
When McDonald’s reopened my local Drive Thru restaurant my son absolutely demanded we made a visit. What was interesting was that as lockdown was in place there were no employees required in the restaurant. Cost savings you might think. Not so, because they had all been deployed outside where many more people were required to…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Atoms
Name: Atoms The Place: Headquartered in Brooklyn, US. No shops yet – it’s more of an online outfit. And it’s teeny weeny – less than 20 employees. The Story: Shoes. We all have to have them, it’s one of the very few universal products. The world must be shod! Can’t argue with it so far:…
Read MoreSustainable Focus: The return to plastic after Covid
Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. Today an analysis of the role of plastic in the Covid 19 crisis brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box In the past few years, really positive moves have…
Read MoreRising to challenge of increased flour demand
Home baking continues to enjoy its meteoric rise in popularity as a result of Covid-19 that is making flour one of the few items to still suffer shortage problems in retail outlets. Whereas things like hand sanitiser and toilet rolls have long returned to normal levels of availability in supermarkets this has not been the…
Read MoreThree new Zoom Cocktail Hours with Retail Insider and leading retail figures announced…
Retail Insider is pleased to announce it is hosting a small, perfectly formed, programme of Zoom Cocktail Hour events with an interesting mix of special guests from within the retail universe. Each guest speaker will tell their own interesting story and naturally bring things up to date as they consider the impact of Covid-19 on…
Read MoreRetail Insider Zoom Cocktail Hour with Retail Futurist Howard Saunders
Retail Insider, in partnership with Novomind, held its first Zoom Cocktail Hour with Retail Futurist Howard Saunders, founder of Twenty Second & Fifth, who considered where the industry is heading and how consumer behaviour is dramatically changing. There was no escaping Covid-19 in Howard’s assessment which determined the world is in the midst of a…
Read MoreRetail Insider launches its ‘Transforming Retail 2020 Awards’
Retail Insider, the influential retail blog edited by award-winning journalist Glynn Davis, is calling for entries to its awards dedicated to digital and technological innovation. The Retail Insider ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards 2020, now in its fourth year, has under the current circumstances been pared down in terms of the number of categories and the kind of…
Read MoreTeen Panel part three: sustainability
This is the third and final part of our series talking to a group of young teenagers about their views and habits around shopping, leisure and technology. The theme this week is sustainability and corporate and consumer responsibility as we tried to find out how it affects their brand and company perception, and what practical…
Read MoreCovid-19 lessons from the Americans
You can call it ‘click & collect by car’ or contactless collection if you wish but it’s pretty much the same thing as what the Americans call curb-side collection and it is gaining some traction in the UK as a measure against Covid-19. Whereas the traditional click & collect, involving pick-up in stores, was developed…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A: Ivan Mazour, CEO and Founder, Ometria
Ivan Mazour, CEO and Founder, Ometria 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? In our modern world, we struggle for time, and are overloaded in every direction with information. The opportunity we have is to change the way retail marketers practice, and enable them to give back their customers time, rather than take…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Beaverbrooks
Name: Beaverbrooks The Place: UK-based with a multitude of stores around the country. The Story: It’s been selling bling for 100 years but the story of family-run jewellers Beaverbooks is very much one for the here and now. How so? Beaverbrooks could have written the mantra we all live by now. Stay Home Save Lives?…
Read MoreZoom Cocktail Hour with Retail Futurist Howard Saunders
Retail Insider is pleased to announce it is hosting its first Zoom-fuelled Cocktail Hour with special guest Retail Futurist Howard Saunders on Thursday May 21 at 5pm. Nobody really wants to be where we are right now so we are very pleased to call on the insights and humour (a fine cocktail) of Mr S…
Read MoreWarehouses becoming more attractive
Supply chains are the hidden part of retail that shoppers have historically had no interest in whatsoever but this has changed during the Corona virus as shortages of items on supermarket shelves have put the supply chain on the front page. Large numbers of people buying an increased number of specific items has had a…
Read MoreSustainable focus: The rise of the curated edit…
Welcome to this monthly column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. Today we discuss the different sustainable edits available in the market place and their chances of success brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box The number of fashion…
Read MoreOnline differentiates winners and losers
When one of the UK’s most proficient and respected retailers decided to shut down its online operation it was a bit of a shock because the channel was expected to offset some of the sales it was losing through the enforced closure of its stores as a result of the Coronavirus. Fashion bellwether Next came…
Read MoreAdapting to present circumstances will secure the future
During this lockdown period I was very pleased to order my first home delivery from my favourite fish and chip shop, which had suddenly partnered with Just Eat, thereby providing further evidence of how even the humblest of businesses are adapting amid the Coronavirus pandemic. A similar adaptive mindset has been taken up by B&Q…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A: Tony Buffin, CEO, Holland & Barrett
Retail Insider is pleased to bring you a Q&A with Tony Buffin, CEO, Holland & Barrett, that was conducted before Coronavirus. 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? Digital growth and digital interaction with our customers is really important and this extends through product differentiation, range extension, and product customisation. We also want…
Read MoreTeen Panel Part Two: Technology
At Retail Insider’s recently convened Teen Panel a handful of tech-savvy 13-year olds told us about their consumption habits, their views on sustainability and how they live with the technology that they have all grown up with. In the second part of our series on the results we look at the devices and platforms they…
Read MoreWe’re in a world of U-turns
A reversal of tactics is typically known as a U-turn and in politics it is regarded as a very bad move as it signifies flawed initial thinking. It is not generally regarded as quite as bad in the world of business because a change of direction can obviously be a sensible thing financially if it…
Read MoreFortnight can be a long time in retail
It’s difficult to imagine that there has ever been a time when the retail industry has faced as many twists and turns as it has over the last two weeks. A mere fortnight ago things were relatively normal in retail-land as its inhabitants cast glances at a virus propagating overseas. But since then the world…
Read MoreContact-less
Drive-thrus haven’t played a particularly big part in my life – perhaps because I’ve never owned a car even though I passed my driving test decades ago – but it’s clear they have become increasingly popular in the UK since they crossed the pond. Drive-thrus are a mainstay of automobile-loving, fast food-guzzling American society. Their…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Nike
Name: Nike aka The Swoosh The Place: Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, but surely one of the most globally recognisable brands anywhere on the face of the earth. The Story: This is the story of obsessive design. Focused on one product. And how constant and unrelenting iteration of that same product can eventually lead to a…
Read MoreEyes on the bigger prize
When Amazon launched its Prime subscription service in 2005, many thought founder Jeff Bezos had lost the plot because of a potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars through offering unlimited shipping for a modest $79 (£63) a year. The move delivered a welcome recurring revenue stream but the big question among many –…
Read MoreSustainable focus: First Mile Part Two
Welcome to this monthly column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. Today part two of the interview with First Mile founder Bruce Bratley – brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box Right now First Mile founder Bruce Bratley…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A: Kevin Cornils, Managing Director International, Peloton
This is one in an ongoing series of profiles with individuals that are featured in the annual ‘Retail Insider Movers & Shakers in Retail Top 100‘ – this month Managing Director International of media and fitness company Peloton – Kevin Cornils. Brought to you by Retail Insider and K3 1.What is the greatest opportunity for…
Read MoreThe rise and rise of the meal kit
A trip into almost any UK supermarket these days will alert the observant shopper to the proliferation in meal kits and two- and three-step cooking packets. It seems as if just about everyone is getting in on the kit act which handily combines the illusion of cooking from scratch with the personalisation element that so…
Read MoreTechnology set to power the re-commerce revolution
Teen Panel part one: Shops
A great deal has been written about Millennials and latterly Gen Z with regard to the way they interact with their social media and devices and how they shop. But due to their age little regard is paid to the consumers of tomorrow until they reach 18 and suddenly have the capacity to pay with…
Read MoreSustainable focus: First Mile
Welcome to this monthly column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what retail is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month a two-part interview with the founder of First Mile Bruce Bratley – brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box Recycling is an unglamorous but necessary element…
Read MoreRetail Insider Breakfast with Chris Dee, director of food and home at Harrods
Retail Insider held its first Breakfast Event of 2020 with Chris Dee, director of food and home at Harrods, who discussed the significant transformation journey that the company has been on over the past couple of years. Chris gave some insights into how the company has completely overhauled its food halls, toys and technology departments,…
Read MoreRetail Insider Breakfast with Chris Dee, director of food and home at Harrods
Retail Insider held its first Breakfast Event of 2020 with Chris Dee, director of food and home at Harrods, who discussed the significant transformation journey that the company has been on over the past couple of years. Chris gave some insights into how the company has completely overhauled its food halls, toys and technology departments,…
Read MoreLine management
Upmarket leather goods-maker Goyard has a compact store in Mayfair’s Mount Street that always has a queue outside snaking down the road. This isn’t simply down to the store’s popularity with global fashionistas, it’s also due to Goyard’s policy that only allows the same number of people into its store as there are employees on…
Read MoreSustainability focus: RePack
Welcome to our section of the site which focuses on the sustainable side of retail. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From palm oil to fur farms, fast fashion to one-use plastic, excess packaging to food waste…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Patagonia
Working on the casual Dockers brand
Khaki specialist Dockers led the revolution in dress-down Fridays in the late 1980’s and is now positioning itself as the daily workwear brand of choice among thirtysomethings who no longer wear a suit any day of the week. After distributing its casual wear manual to HR departments after the financial crisis of 1987 Levi’s-owned Dockers…
Read MoreValentine fun…
Here at Retail Insider we are always interested in the ways retailers get the most out of our seasonal celebrations – and none is more interesting than Valentine’s Day which has been twisted round more tenuous tie-ins than most other annual festivities. If you had told us yesterday that cook in the pot noodles could…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A: Hugo Adams, CEO, Frugi
Enhancing the physical proposition
Sustainable Fashion: HURR
Future retailers cook up a storm at Borough Market
Sustainability Challenges
Delivering decisions
Low- to no-chance
Sustainability focus: DS Smith
Young hearts … pay later
Got the T shirt
Lombok launches Swyft – sofa in a box concept
Downsizing
Innovative Retailer: Harrods
Dunelm looks to pop-ups to educate its aspirational customers on décor
Movers & Shakers Q&A: Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO, Olio
Sustainable Fashion: ComeSwapAndShop
Pie and Peas
Merry Christmas to all our readers!
Festive Hacks 4: Personalised digital gifting – yes please!
Festive Hacks 3: The no-hassle ethical shopping platform in time for Christmas
The best and worst of technology
The lure of coffee: EllaMia
Christmas Hack 2: The half Christmas Tree
Movers & Shakers Q & A: James Davidson, co-founder and CEO of Tails.com
Innovative Retailer: Tupperware
Festive hacks 1: The beer box that turns into a charity parcel
Sustainable fashion: Can re-commerce replace fast fashion?
Why they won a Transforming Retail Award: Unpackaged
At your leisure
High Street newcomer: Nature Republic
Why they won a Transforming Retail Award: Made.com
Christmas Trends: London Christmas Tree Rental
Lessons for the High Street: Lombok
Why they won a Transforming Retail Award: Zynstra
Sustainability focus: Sky Ocean Rescue cafe
Facing up to technology
Launch of Retail Insider ‘Leisure & Hospitality Benchmark Report 2019’ with Roger Wade, founder of Boxpark, and Charlie McVeigh, founder of Bunker Projects
Movers & Shakers Q&A: Phill Burton, COO, Bloom & Wild
Christmas Trends: Hotel Chocolat
Why they won a Transforming Retail Award 2019: Specsavers
Why they won a Transforming Retail Award 2019: John Lewis/Waitrose
Digital Retail Innovations Q&A – ShopAppy
On the market
Why they won a Transforming Retail Award 2019: Entrupy
Innovative Retailer: Body Shop
Lessons for the High Street: Whiskers & Cream
Retail Insider event with Manju Malhotra, co-COO of Harvey Nichols
Christmas trends: Aldi
Why they won a Transforming Retail Award 2019: McDonald’s Dynamic Yield
‘Transforming Retail’ Awards 2019 – Winners announced
Prime seats
Sustainable Fashion: People Tree
Retail Insider event with Jo Jenkins, CEO of White Stuff, and Alex Murray, digital director, Lidl UK
Movers & Shakers report 2019 launched
Uniqlo discards fast fashion label with sustainability launch
Growing pains
Shortly after Starbucks entered the UK market through the acquisition of Seattle Coffee Company back in 1998 it rapidly opened a raft of stores in London before it realised it might have been rather gung-ho with its property selection criteria and it retreated from some of those initial unsuitable and probably over-priced units. From that…
Read MoreSustainability focus: Deliveries
Welcome to our section of the site which focuses on the sustainable side of retail. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From palm oil to fur farms, fast fashion to one-use plastic, excess packaging to food waste…
Read MoreShortlist announced for the Retail Insider ‘Transforming Retail Awards 2019’.
Retail Insider is delighted to reveal the shortlist for its annual ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards of 2019. The aim of the awards is to showcase the very best examples of innovation across the sector as decided by our independent panel of judges. The shortlist below highlights what a leader in innovation the retail sector really is and…
Read MoreSustainable fashion: Make do and mend for the 21st century with The Restory
Welcome to a monthly column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what fashion is doing to address the issues in its industry brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box Ask most people whether they might consider darning a hole in their favourite socks and the answer is probably a resounding no. Ask…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Stitch Fix
Name: Stitch Fix The Place: Well it was in the US but hurrah – it’s recently launched in the UK. The Story: This company is not unique, it has competitors in the US (Trunk Club for example) and the UK (Thread for example) and yet this is still the one to beat. It’s…
Read MoreRetail Insider ‘Digital Champions 2019’ Report Launch
Retail Insider is pleased to launch a new publication the Retail Insider Digital Champions Report 2019(sponsored by Software AG) that highlights some of the retailers, and individuals within them, that have taken the decision to be proactive in this new digitally-led world of retail. A batch of retailers have been selected who we believe are…
Read MoreLessons for the High Street: Trending Store at Westfield with Nextatlas
Welcome to our series of articles on retailers that are operating in ways that provide some interesting and valuable lessons to the wider industry. Name: Trending Store from Nextatlas Location: Westfield Shopping Centre, London W12 In a nutshell: This concept pop-up, which has just finished its run in Westfield, aimed to only sell the top…
Read MoreHot to trot
One of the most enjoyable aspects of travelling around the UK for me is visiting villages, towns and cities and popping into independent bakers to sample their specialities. Most communities still proudly produce local delicacies to a loyal clientele but one store I don’t hunt for when I travel is Greggs. Greggs’ chief executive Roger…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers in Retail – Matt Moulding, CEO and Executive Chairman, The Hut Group
Matthew Moulding, co-founder of The Hut Group Where did it all begin? Matt Moulding was born in 1972 in Lancashire and studied industrial economics at Nottingham. His upbringing was quite turbulent and, as he told the Financial Times in 2010, taught him the value of money. Having been set back on the educational track by…
Read MoreSustainable fashion: Clothes rental could square the fast fashion circle
Welcome to a monthly column within our broader sustainability section which is going to focus on what fashion is doing to address the issues in its industry. Retailers making clothes available to rent might be the only way to square the fast fashion circle – brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box This…
Read MoreCustomers are no longer always right
One of the retail industry’s long-established maxims is that the customer is always right. But maybe this is no longer the case. In a relatively simple world it was something that retailers could largely comply with but now that things have become a whole lot more complicated it might be the case that they are…
Read MoreSustainable fashion: Boutique by Shelter
Welcome to a monthly column within our broader sustainability section which is going to focus on what fashion is doing to address the issues in its industry. Boutique by Shelter – brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box We all think we know the deal with charity shops. Lots of them on…
Read MoreMaking time for meals
When I took a job with a US financial institution it involved making regular phone calls to its European offices during what was often a very long day with little time for lunch breaks, as the Americans wanted their pound of flesh. One day I called the Geneva office at 1pm to be answered by…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Bottletop
Name: Bottletop The Place: Regent Street, London The Story: Ring pulls from cans turned into luxury bags. What’s not to like? Sorry, did you say ring pulls? I did. Did you say luxury bags? I did. In the same sentence? I did. OK, just checking: The germ of an idea, which began in 2002 as…
Read MoreLessons for the High Street: Natoora
Welcome to our brand new series of articles on retailers that are operating in ways that provide some interesting and valuable lessons to the wider industry. Name: Natoora Location: Four units across London in Chiswick, Fulham Road, Sloane Square and Bermondsey. In a nutshell: In 2004 Franco Fubini founded Natoora in the UK – at…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Retuna
Name: ReTuna Aterbruksgalleria The Place: Somewhere unpronounceable in Sweden. Just try for me: Eskilstuna The Story: Have you ever been to a tip? Yes, most recently: your house: No, I mean a rubbish tip. Oh. Yes I have: So you are familiar with the scene: large boxes full of both recyclable and non-recyclable waste. You…
Read MoreWhat next for the UK’s busiest High Streets? Part 2
Six months ago, we surveyed two different high streets: Crouch End Broadway and Wood Green High Road both in the borough of Haringey, North London, to see in what ways they differ and what the emergence of the Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID) might mean for the fortunes of struggling Wood Green. Now we…
Read MoreTrying to solve the sustainability and fashion conundrum
Welcome to our brand new section of the site which is going to focus on the sustainable side of retail. It’s exciting times for anyone involved in this area as technology and retailers try to keep up with customers’ demand for all things ethical. From palm oil to fur farms, fast fashion to one use…
Read MoreDigital Retail Innovations Q&A – SpoonGuru
Following the launch of the Digital Retail Innovations 2018 Report (sponsored by Webloyalty) a series of Q&A’s with the leading figures behind some of the key entries in the report are being published. Here is a Q&A with Markus Stripf co-founder of Spoon Guru, which features in this year’s report for its work with Tesco. 1.…
Read MoreKidulthood: Why retail expenditure is ageing
Important life choices such as leaving the parental home, first house purchases, and marriage are being made are now being made significantly later in life, which is impacting spending patterns and retailers’ fortunes. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) is not usually known for its exciting press releases but there was a lot of pick…
Read MoreMore than shop work: Redemption Roasters
There are some very unique jobs and people employed in retail. In this new series of posts Retail Insider will profile some of the more unusual jobs or innovative employment practices across the sector. We continue the series by talking to Max Dubiel, founder of Redemption Roasters, about training and employing young offenders as bean…
Read MoreMore than shelf stacking: Let’s move on from our retail past
It sometimes seems as if every single month brings with it more predictions of doom and gloom in the UK retail sector. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) seems to record declining levels of retail employment each quarter without fail – in the last three months of 2018 it reported 70,000 less jobs than at the…
Read MoreNRF Review – Some Thoughts From Retail’s Big Show 2019
Retail’s Big Show, also known as NRF, rolled into New York for what is the big annual retail technology jamboree, which this year brought together 37,000 people – including 16,000 retailers from 3,500 different companies. There is no disputing the fact that it is an extremely big show and that as such it arguably has…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: K11 Art Malls
Name: K11 Art Mall The Place: In the far flung mysterious centre of the East, part of the oriental landscape of the land of the rising sun. Or is it setting? Is it China again? Yes. The Story: Prepare yourself for a high-falutin’ tone to this latest Innovative Retailer. Oh really: We are leaving the…
Read MoreDunelm looks to pop-ups to educate its aspirational customers on décor
Retail Insider roadtests the festive sandwich: Part Seven
Retail Insider has been waiting patiently all year to eat the overpriced meat feasts in red packaging otherwise known as the ‘festive’ sandwich. But, as all right-thinking people know, Christmas definitely would not be Christmas without the chance to blow your entire day’s calorie count every lunchtime in December and more and more retailers are…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers Q&A – Zoe Colegrave, head of online and marketing, Fortnum & Mason
Zoe Colegrave, head of online and marketing, Fortnum & Mason 1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business? While there are many, growth in Asia is a current focus. We’ve successfully launched three shop-in-shops in Shinsegae’s department stores in Seoul and our relationship with Lane Crawford goes from strength to strength. This year we’ve re-evaluated…
Read MoreInnovative Retailer: Vivo Barefoot
Name: VivoBarefoot The Place: Online all over the place. And a physical store in London’s Covent Garden. Also via wholesalers. The Story: If you’ve ever fancied plogging… Fancied what? Or tried a swimrun… Tried a what? Or hankered after minimalist shoes… Hankered after what? I’m sorry, is there a problem with my…
Read MoreRetail Insider roadtests the festive sandwich: Part Three
Retail Insider has been waiting patiently all year to eat the overpriced meat feasts in red packaging otherwise known as the ‘festive’ sandwich. But, as all right-thinking people know, Christmas definitely would not be Christmas without the chance to blow your entire day’s calorie count every lunchtime in December and more and more retailers are…
Read MoreSustainability makes sense
Airbnb is a phenomenal company that continues to disrupt the hotel industry. It’s a beast of a competitor with about five million listings on its website while 3.5 million people stayed at an Airbnb property on its best night in August this year. This has helped it gain a valuation of more than $30bn but…
Read MoreMaster of One: Bridgewood & Neitzert
Welcome to our brand new series of articles on those retailers who choose to concentrate only on one very specific product or expertise. In a world where so many are jacks of all trades – we meet the masters of one. Name: Bridgewood & Neitzert Location: Stoke Newington Church Street, Hackney. Specialism: The making and…
Read MoreDigital Leisure and Hospitality Innovations Q&A: Karma
Following the launch of our 2018 ‘Digital Leisure and Hospitality Innovations top 20’ report, here is a Q&A with Elsa Bernadotte, co-founder of Karma, which features in this year’s report for its app focused on food waste reduction. 1. How did the original idea come about? A staggering ? of all food produced is thrown…
Read MoreViewpoint: Keeping it real down the market
Whenever I make the journey to Barcelona, which seems to be quite frequent as the city plays host to numerous technology conferences, then a visit to the famous La Boqueria food market is an absolute must. It is held up as the benchmark for what a market should be and which all too often far…
Read MoreRetail Insider ‘Digital Leisure & Hospitality Innovations Top 20’ report launches
Retail Insider this week celebrated the launch of the second ‘Digital Leisure and Hospitality Innovations Top 20 Report’ at a dinner event at central London restaurant Pied A Terre. The report, sponsored by Webloyalty, showcases some of the very best leisure and hospitality digital initiatives of the year and simultaneously highlights a number of industry trends including the…
Read MoreWinners announced for 2018 Transforming Retail Awards
A host of senior retail executives gathered yesterday in central London at Sourced Market to celebrate the second Retail Insider ‘Transforming Retail Awards’ aimed at highlighting some of the most exciting innovations in the retail sector over the past year. The Awards attracted many entries of a very high standard giving the judges a particularly…
Read MoreDigital Retail Innovations Q&A – Slyce
Following the launch of the Digital Retail Innovations 2018 Report (sponsored by Webloyalty) a series of Q&A’s with the leading figures behind some of the key entries in the report are being published. Here is a Q&A with Ted Mann, CEO of Slyce, which features in this year’s report for its work with Tommy Hilfiger and…
Read MoreOnline-only retailers spot opportunity on high street
In recent years many vacant retail units have been taken by food and beverage operators but as this sector has also come under pressure the level of empty units on high streets and in shopping malls is becoming an increasing problem. This situation has arguably been more acute in the US where even New York…
Read MoreMaturing digital newcomers spell greater competition
Mattresses and razors are among the product types that have been focused on by single-line specialist online-only retailers who have each sought to grab a small part of enormous target markets. The likes of Casper with its mattresses and Dollar Shave Club with its razors have been pioneers of such strategies and have led…
Read MoreMicro-shopping trips get bigger
Regardless of whether it is driven by the increasingly time poor characteristic of most people or simply their growing impatience we are moving into the era of the ‘micro shopping’ trip that is defined as taking less than five minutes. The trend is being further fuelled by the emergence of in-store services linked to online…
Read MoreDigital Leisure & Hospitality Innovations Q&A – Nutrifix
Following the launch of the Digital Leisure & Hospitality Innovations 2017 Report (sponsored by Webloyalty) a series of Q&A’s with the leading figures behind some of the key entries in the report are being published. Here is a Q&A with Joel Burgess, co-founder, Nutrifix. How did the original idea come about? I started Nutrifix to “scratch…
Read MoreFive theses about the future direction of grocery retailing
FMCG/retail sector is in a phase of transformation, the likes of which we have not seen before. Business stakeholders drive some of the changes while others are clearly coming from the outside. Business models nimble enough to adapt will thrive, while many others will be caught flatfooted and perish. Here are five theses for the…
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