General

It is stating the blindingly obvious that recruitment is a people business and unlike other parts of the retail industry it is not a place that is renowned for embracing technology. Maybe it should be more welcoming of the capabilities of tech especially as the power of AI could help HR and recruitment teams deal…

Being ghosted is a phenomenon that nobody wants to experience but retailers and hospitality companies are doing exactly that to many thousands of people, which is very damaging to their brands. This occurs when people are applying for jobs and the candidate invariably hears nothing back. Even when the applicant is massively qualified for the…

Few of you will likely have heard of Tony Hoggett, who last month announced his departure from the role of head of grocery stores at Amazon. To retail commentators, it was a surprise and suggested the digital behemoth had not really been having the predicted impact on physical food retail, and so Hoggett needed another…

Recruitment continues to suffer from what could be described as an ongoing crisis as technology has made it so easy for candidates to apply for roles that they are swamping employers with unmanageable numbers of applications. One-click routes to applying via online jobs boards has led to a pandemic of incoming applications for retailers and…

It does not look to be the most attractive role in the retail sector but the CEO position at Boohoo is currently the most fought after in the industry. In the blue corner we have Mike Ashley, founder of Frasers Group, who wants to install himself as chief of the online fashion retailer and in…

Retailers can learn lots about delivering great personal service from the hospitality industry – here’s a personal tale… When walking down Charlotte Street with my daughter heading for a dinner booking a bright shirt came into view and then a smiling face that I immediately recognised as David Moore sat outside his restaurant Pied à…

In 2007, when I was given a tour around the St Pancras station redevelopment by its co-owner, London & Continental Railways, the place was still very much a work in progress, with builders and heavy machinery scattered across the sprawling site working towards hitting the impending opening deadline. With a hefty 8,000 square metres of…

Wandering around the reopened Waitrose store in Finchley, north London, on the preview night, it was clear that the food-to-go element had been turbo-charged and the plan is to feed some of the new innovations in this store into the rest of the retailer’s estate. Waitrose joins a growing band of retailers looking to grab…

Retailers have been grappling with the challenge of operating across multiple channels since the emergence of the internet but today they have another level of complexity layered on top as they seek to adopt more circular economy approaches. Much has been made about the levels of PR bluster and greenwashing within the sector that has…

Alibaba.com is bringing Olympians and commerce together through its partnership with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) that offers e-commerce training and mentorship opportunities to former athletes and sports people. This is the fourth time Alibaba.com has been a partner in the Athlete365 Business Accelerator program that aims to equip current and former professional athletes with…

Click & Collect has been around since 2000 when it was invented at Argos as a result of the retailer being in the unusual position of knowing with great accuracy the inventory it had in its stockroom because of its unique hybrid catalogue/stores business model.  However, it was not until at least a decade after…

Pareto is an Italian restaurant that has refined its menu so that it now only sells the best selling 20% of its dishes. It has completely abandoned the other 80% of options that made up the cumbersome lesser-selling long tail. Actually, I’ve just made this up, and Pareto is, in fact, a principle that most…

Wandering around the smart Belgravia area of London on Father’s Day involved passing some of my favourite pubs including the Fox & Hounds, Nag’s Head and The Grenadier, which I have frequented over many years. One common theme among them is that they are all pretty small, and their cosiness is an attractive characteristic that…

Uber has unveiled fresh features in its app which will allow Uber delivery drivers to pick client orders in store for the first time in the UK. Other new in-app developments also include the ability for customers to edit orders right up until checkout and an aide for couriers which alerts them if they have…

Before setting off, I had thought that mid-afternoon on a Sunday might be a bit of a risky time to visit It’s Bagels in Primrose Hill, north London. My fears were well founded because we were met with a locked door and hand-written wording on the glasswork stating: “sold out!!” I’m sure buying a bagel…

Retail Insider is pleased to launch the ‘Retail Disruptors & Innovators 2024 Top 30’ report in partnership with the Retail Technology Show. The Retail Disruptors & Innovators report is an annual report which champions progressive individuals from across the sector, who are fundamentally impacting the constantly changing retail landscape. From industry veterans to rising stars…

Welcome to the latest sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column takes a look at the most recent strides made within the resale sector – one of the most…

Retail Insider is delighted to be back hosting another quality event for senior retailers involving high-level guest speakers, a private store tour, and a wine tasting at a smart venue in London. We are very pleased to have Jo Jenkins, CEO of White Stuff, and Moses Rashid, founder of The Edit LDN, as our guest…

Our editor Glynn Davis was recently interviewed by founder and director of the Retail Technology Show (RTS) Matt Bradley who threw some questions at him for five minutes about retail, the show’s highlights and trends to watch out for among others. Have a look at the video of Glynn’s interview on LinkedIn here. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7179060166233882624/ Retail…

Welcome to the latest sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively so. This month’s column takes a look at how the purchase of second-hand goods is becoming not just a mainstream activity…

Welcome to the latest sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column takes a look at fast fashion’s precarious position – how long does the category really have left in…

Asda is adding 110 more convenience stores this month alone that will enable it to make further inroads into the grab-and-go food category and it is not alone as all the major supermarkets and symbol groups like Spar are experimenting with their food-to-go models. They recognise that we are now in an era that is…

Welcome to the latest sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively so. This month’s column takes a look at what is possible for brands looking to get into the business of repair…

The Delaunay restaurant in London’s Aldwych was buzzing when my family pushed opened its solid doors to celebrate Martinstag on 11 November with a dinner of goose, dumplings and red cabbage. We were immediately hit with the welcoming vibrancy of the room and atmospheric (beauty-enhancing) lighting, helped by the traditional St Martin lanterns adorning the…

It was a Friday evening and on a whim I’d ordered a pizza but after a long wait and a chase-up phone call two hours had elapsed and I’d finally given up and gone to bed after some unplanned toast for dinner. At 11:30pm I was awoken by a pizza delivery guy suggesting: “It’s only…

Welcome to the latest sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column takes a look at how a Dutch auction-style company operating in South America is attempting to transform the…

Welcome to the latest sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column takes a look at the apparel resale market and the DPP (Digital Product Passports) technology that has the…

At the Tesco Christmas preview yesterday the watchwords were fun/joy/wow – and from the armchair pet treat thrower to the show stopping beef joint entitled Thor’s Hammer (don’t try throwing that one though – it doesn’t come back) the ranges got us firmly in the festive mood. The standout gifting theme this year is definitely…

News that the former glamorous London restaurant Le Caprice is to reopen on its original site with previous owner renowned restaurateur Jeremy King has made plenty of headlines and highlighted the myriad glitterati that regularly dined there in the 1980s and 1990s including Princess Diana. In these reports it is clear the real star of…

As a long term resident of London who has been writing about retail along with food & drink for over 20 years I can largely navigate my way around the city by shop and pub. It’s not often that I’m presented with a highly recommended venue that I’ve not heard of before so it was…

Every couple of years, my family enjoys a short stay at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, where we enjoy the sort of old-school ambience and service that is something of a rarity at UK coastal hotels. It is no surprise that an episode (The Body in the Library) of Miss Marple was filmed at the…

Welcome to the sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column takes look at the resale market and where the focus needs to be for brand owners to boost the…

Returning to Florence recently for a short break with my post-GCSE daughter involved a much-anticipated revisit to Il Santo Bevitore, where we had previously dined in 2016. It seems perennially rammed from the moment its doors swing open at 7.30pm, and although many of the diners seem to be tourists, the food more than sufficiently…

Back in mid-2008, food-to-go chain Eat was something of a pioneer as it had installed contactless card readers at each of its tills within its Moorgate branch as a bit of a test. It was looking to roll-out the equipment to more of its units because it had hit the pre-arranged number of contactless transactions…

Rather sadly, my local WHSmith recently closed its doors for the last time in a move that is not particularly unusual, because the company has had a tough time on the high street over recent years and is reducing its presence in such locations. Meanwhile, its travel stores are on fire. At its recent half-year…

Welcome to the sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column takes look at how the rental model is moving beyond cars, tuxedos and ball gowns to encompassing a wide…

Retail Insider was pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural Disruptors & Innovators in Retail Top 30 report produced in partnership with the Retail Technology Show last week. For those people who have not yet seen the 30 visionaries celebrated in the report then it is accessible here. This new annual report seeks out the…

Welcome to the sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column takes look at that perennial problem for retailers – returns. Making this service stack-up financially and more sustainable has…

Retail Insider is pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural Disruptors & Innovators in Retail Top 30 report produced in partnership with the Retail Technology Show. The 30 visionaries celebrated in the report are highlighted for the change they are driving within the retail sector. Topping the publication’s first list is James McMaster, CEO…

It feels like we are awash with mentors, gurus, specialists, consultants and myriad other experts proffering their knowledge of varying levels of quality and relevance. It can, therefore, be difficult to cut through to the real insights so help is needed sorting the proverbial wheat from the chaff. Help is at hand for finding this…

Retailers are facing myriad challenges including the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, sustainability, and handling the increased complexity that comes with operating across multiple channels, which requires difficult decision-making around the adoption of technology solutions and managing the supply chain. Against this backdrop the forthcoming IRX & eDX exhibition and conference at the NEC in Birmingham on…

Welcome to the sustainability column that takes a look at what retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. Much of the ongoing focus will be on fashion but not exclusively. This month’s column explores some of the issues around resale that need to be considered if this potentially crucial part of the…

Retail Insider held its latest event with the theme of sustainability involving guest speaker Charlotte Morley, founder & CEO of The Little Loop, at Hedonism Wines in London’s Mayfair followed by a lesson in chocolate tasting and tutored tasting of sustainable wines. The event sponsored by K3 involved senior executives from Charlotte Tilbury, Heal’s, John…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column is about click & collect – it’s not rocket science but done correctly it might just be the better environmental and economic solution that some big players…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column highlights the new market of slick fashion. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. It may seem that the current mood music is very much…

Last week Retail Insider attended the launch of a four-day pop-up shop in London’s Soho for upmarket, roasted crisp brand Simply Roasted. The company – not content with entering the ridiculously over-crowded snacking market last year – introduced a very novel concept as its latest marketing channel. We’ve had lots of pick-and-mix sweets. We’ve eaten…

There have been many unexpected repercussions of covid-19 but it’s difficult to know how wereached the point whereby the Primark store on London’s Oxford Street now contains a SausageRoll swing located within a ‘Tasty by Greggs’ café. Amid the fast fashion goods the in-store dinerserves up the food company’s iconic rolls alongside pizza and a…

When standing in-line at the service counter of my local Pret A Manger waiting for my typical morning order of a cappuccino recently, it struck me how often I seem to be the only person requesting a bog-standard coffee. There are a cornucopia of options now being requested with various milk types, syrup flavours, decaf…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column highlights the very real dangers of greenwashing for both the companies involved and consumers. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. Earlier this year the…

We are delighted to announce the launch of the Retail Insider ‘Digital Retail Innovations report 2022’ (sponsored by Trust Systems). This year a small company in the vanguard of apps tackling food waste has ranked highest of all – a reflection of the importance and intrinsic value that innovations in sustainability now enjoy. So congratulations…

The Name: Biscuiteers The Place: Well, the Biscuit Boutique and Icing Cafés are in Notting Hill and Belgravia and the main icing factory is Wimbledon so I think we will say its heart is in London although online is the main and original sales channel so technically everywhere. The Story: If you had to pick…

On the near term horizon is the Wired Smarter conference that takes a look beyond the short term and brings together a mix of speakers that will provide some answers as to where we might be heading in the future. This year’s event, on October 11, in London, begins with the inventor of the internet,…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses onwhat fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column highlights how the old-fashioned concept of ‘make do and mend’ isfinding new relevance on the High Street. Brought to you by Retail Insiderwith Clipper and Give Back Box. We reckon high…

Inamo restaurant in Covent Garden is about to launch its new touchscreen tables that will not only enable customers to order from a vibrant interactive menu, but also offer up an array of games including space invaders, air hockey and pool that can be played individually, or among the various members around the table. This…

When checking in online for a flight this summer, I realised the carry-on baggage allowance I’d been expecting with the ticket I’d bought had been changed from the pre-covid-19 levels of a small suitcase to more like handbag-sized proportions. We could call this ‘shrinkflation’, as it reduces the size of what you used to receive…

It’s tough to find a positive economic story anywhere in the world right now but one does seem toexist – in the form of Norway and its capital city Oslo. The Scandinavian location is enjoyingsomething of a boom time as a destination for a growing number of overseas and domestictourists attracted by its healthy environment…

Last month was the twentieth anniversary of Argos trialing interactive self-service kiosks in 15 ofits stores to enable shoppers to avoid the queues. They were pretty clunky, with interfaces thatwere far from intuitive, and they did not prove to be a breakout success for the retailer. Theycertainly did not suggest that hospitality operators should jump…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column highlights the maturing rental market in the UK. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. Many of the sustainable innovations we cover in this column…

Cycling into the City from my home in north London recently, it suddenly struck me how many foodservice businesses seem to have installed hatches and counters for takeaway orders and for serving customers seated outdoors. From French Crepes and Forks & Green on West Green Road to Mira Food Store and De Beauvoir Deli Co…

Following the recent publication of his book ‘Putting the Heart Back into Business: How to placepeople, planet and purpose at the core of what you do’, Retail Insider put some questions to AndrewThornton, co- founder of Heart in Business and former MD of Thornton’s Budgens. In a nutshell, can you describe what putting the heart…

Retail Insider held its latest event with guest speaker Simon Forster, former MD of Selfridge’s, at Hedonism Wines in London’s Mayfair followed by a tutored tasting of wines. The event sponsored by Stylumia involved senior executives from Heal’s, White Stuff, Moss Bros, LVMH and Holland & Barratt hearing about Simon’s time at Selfridge’s including how…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column highlights the changing value of ‘defective’ clothes and Love Island’s shift to loving eBay. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. The new series of…

When the internet emerged in the late 1990s, it had an almost immediate impact on the retail sector as it became an obvious alternative channel for sales. The problem was it sat uncomfortably with the existing store-based model, and there were worries that it was cannibalising revenues from this traditional channel. Needless to say, senior…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column highlights the cost of being an eco-saint and how retailers might encourage others into the fold. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. It’s a…

The Name: The Skateroom The Place: Headquartered in Belgium but rocking all over the world… The Story: Get me my deck, it’s time to do some slappy grinds. What? Take me to the half pipe – it’s time to do some primo slides. What?  Now watch this backside grab. That doesn’t sound good: Skateboarding innit.…

At the height of the lockdowns, the only thing I encountered on the streets in the early evenings in my part of north London were swarms of scooters and cyclists delivering take-away meals for the cooped-up masses. When things opened up, I confidently predicted the boom in deliveries would subside to pre-covid-19 levels, and the…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column highlights just how much is going on in the resale sector right now. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. Barely a week goes by…

The Name: BEEN London The Place: East London and proud of it. The Story: Sometimes you just need to take your hat off to someone. And today that someone is Genia Mineeva – founder of BEEN London and general all round good egg. Well, this is glowing. Tell me more. She runs a sustainably-designed bag…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column profiles an innovative new disruptor dealing in the unglamorous but potentially very damaging side of fashion – cleaning. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box.…

When Dollar Tree in the US has to increase its prices to more than a dollar for the first time in its 34-year history and Ikea announces it is to increase its prices by an average of 9% across all its stores in 2022, then you know inflation is running amok. Just to ram home…

The Name: Anya Hindmarch’s The Village The Place: Pont Street, Kensington, London. Alright global stores too but the bit we are interested in here is strictly SW1. The Story: Anya Hindmarch. First a woman. Absolutely: Then a brand. Definitely: Now a village. Umm: Oh yes, she is now also a Village. And she told Retail…

The Name: Gousto The Place: Shepherd’s Bush. Really? Well that’s the HQ. But its services are of course available throughout the British Isles – it’s online. The Story: It seems reading through earlier interviews that at first co-founder Timo Boldt thought about opening a shop a decade or so ago to sell his made-to-measure recipe…

Retail’s Big Show, organised by the National Retail Federation (NRF), which took place again in New York City this month, was somewhat different to previous years for obvious reasons but thankfully it also had many similarities too. This annual industry jamboree attracts retailers and technology providers from across the globe to showcase the latest technology…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column asks if rationing how much your customers can buy could ever be a good idea. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. If you have…

Ground-breaking technology has changed the world over recent decades and next it is the turn of consumer goods to undergo a revolution and make a significantly positive impact on people’s lives. This is the view of Ernesto Schmitt, co-founder of The Craftory, whose venture capital firm is investing in companies that make these consumer goods,…

Ground-breaking technology has changed the world over recent decades and next it is the turn of consumer goods to undergo a revolution and make a significantly positive impact on people’s lives. This is the view of Ernesto Schmitt, co-founder of The Craftory, whose venture capital firm is investing in companies that make these consumer goods,…

Welcome to the latest column within our broader sustainability section, which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column asks if recycling textiles will ever be the magic bullet people think it is. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. Whenever there is a…

A recent visit to The Greyhound Pub & Dining Room in Beaconsfield was notable not only for the great quality and value of the set lunch I enjoyed, but also the enthusiasm of the pub’s owner for his burgeoning kitchen garden.  Daniel Crump led me out the back of the grade-II listed 17th century former…

The Name: Lick The Place: Currently an online business that is riding the wave of Covid DIY-ers butmight yet dip its toe into buying bricks and mortar. The Story: Cast your mind back to the carefree days before Covid. Can’t remember them: Try – there was a time before masks. If you say so: Back…

Some years ago the organisation of a birthday drink at The Lamb pub on Lamb’s Conduit Street in London for a group of around 10 friends was a carefree process simply involving me telling them to turn up at the allotted time. I’ve a feeling that replicating the event today would be less easygoing and…

Who doesn’t like to feel special and significant and remembered? No-one, that’s who. And this is very much the premise of the innovative marketing company Inkpact, which was set up in 2015 by Charlotte Pearce who had a moment of epiphany at a conference when she discovered someone bemoaning the lack of progress they were…

After more than a year of using the Pret coffee subscription I recently paused it for a month. This was not because I questioned its worth at £20 per month for pretty much unlimited barista-made drinks, but quite the opposite. It had become so integral to my coffee-drinking that I’d been making lifestyle decisions around…

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…

Back in 2002 when shoe-repairing and key-cutting retailer Timpson employed its first ex-offender, it was deemed a somewhat risky move and certainly deeply unfashionable, which is precisely why the rest of the industry was reluctant to follow suit. It transpired that such hires were incredibly grateful for being given a second chance and therefore proved…

Retail Insider held its latest event with guest speaker Sean Ghouse, retail director of Fortnum & Mason, at Hedonism Wines in London’s Mayfair followed by a tutored tasting of wines. The event sponsored by Talkdesk involved senior executives from Tesco, John Lewis & Partners, Rank Group, Carnival Group and Amazon hearing how F&M had focused…

Technology has been something of a lifesaver for many companies over the past 18 months or so, but there is an underlying problem that lurks behind the scenes which could prove to be detrimental to the future success of hospitality companies. During the pandemic there has been a surge in the adoption of digital-based solutions…

We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us how they felt about winning their category. So here is our Q & A with David Hawkings, SVP EMEA at antuit.ai on its plans for the future. How do you feel about winning this Award? Retail Insider is a leading media channel…

Retail Insider is delighted to launch the 2021 edition of the Movers & Shakers in retail Top 80 report, sponsored by WonderLane, which champions the most digitally progressive people in the retail industry who are bringing real change to the landscape of retail. This year’s report continues with the objective of all our other editions in the preceding…

When hints by government departments of potential fuel shortages hit the news, the natural result was drivers descending on garages to fill their tanks. The inevitable outcome was many forecourts having to quickly put up the shutters when they ran out of supplies. What did not happen was any increase in prices in accordance with…

After its most-recent fundraising, digital payments company Stripe achieved a value of an incredible $95bn, as it follows in the wake of the likes of Uber, Deliveroo, Darktrace, Square, Airbnb and Palantir in hitting eye-watering valuations before even considering resorting to the public markets to access late-stage funding. The ability to secure financing from private…

Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column asks if the magic box phenomena could be harnessed to unsold stock. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. Everyone loves a gift box don’t they?…

The Name: Mercato Metropolitano The Place: Despite sounding Italian and being founded by an Italian in Italy and generally smelling Italian all over there is surprisingly not an outlet of the sustainable artisan market concept anywhere in Italy at all. The Story: Less surprising maybe is the success which the urban markets have had in…

We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us how they felt about winning their category. So here is our Q & A with Secret Sales on their plans for the future. How do you feel about winning this award? We are thrilled to have won the prestigious Editor’s Special…

Retail Insider is proud to have launched its Digital Innovations Report 2021 (sponsored by Webloyalty) with an event involving a group discussion on innovation led by Steve Robinson, founder of Omnicommerce. Guests from high street retailers, online operators as well as members of the report’s Advisory Panel heard Steve kick-off a conversation about how retailers…

For many people, the belief has been that a free-range chicken costing at least £10 is priced too highly, whereas in reality, the argument should probably be that it’s the £3 broiler that is underpriced. Our thinking has arguably been polluted by the availability of ever cheaper food prices – irrespective of animal welfare and…

We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us how they felt about winning their category. So here is our Q & A with Ribble on their plans for the future featuring David Stacey, Commercial Director and Matthew Lawson Chief Digital Operator.  How do you feel about winning this Award? Matt: Over…

It is with great pleasure that we can announce the launch of the latest ‘Retail Insider Digital Retail Innovations’ report for 2021 (sponsored by Webloyalty). If Covid-19 was the major driver of innovation in 2020 then 2021 was the year when retailers welcomed people back into shops and hospitality but tried to make everything as easy…

We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us how they felt about winning their category. So here is our Q & A with Thriftify on their plans for the future. How do you feel about winning this Award? It feels very empowering to be recognised as a leader in…

You won’t have to grease their palms, shorter hours longer arms, rise just watch them rise, the rise of the robots,” sang The Stranglers back in 1978, when robots looked like metallic-covered humans in films, and the prospect of them impacting our everyday lives was very much the world of sci-fi fantasy. Fast forward to…

We asked all our winners in this year’s Transforming Retail Awards to tell us how they felt about winning their category. So here is our Q & A with Trove on their plans for the future. How do you feel about winning this Award? It is really rewarding to see Trove recognized as a leader…

When growing up in a village just outside Doncaster in Yorkshire it was always very exciting to hear of any new high-quality restaurants opening up in the surrounding area, and my family and I would always make a beeline for them. It felt like we were getting a little slice of London’s dynamic food scene…

Fashion businesses are successfully adapting their models in myriad ways as Covid-19 has accelerated the industry’s key underlying trends including the increased embrace of digital channels, the rise of sustainability, and a greater focus on the supply chain. These were some of the major themes discussed at a ‘Fuelling Innovation in Fashion’ roundtable hosted at…

The winners of the Retail Insider ‘Transforming Retail Awards 2021 have been announced during an online ceremony on Zoom – with Patrick Berghaeger from award sponsors Talkdesk unveiling the winning entries. The Awards always aims at highlighting some of the most exciting innovations to happen in the retail sector over the past year and there…

1.     What attracted you and Talkdesk to being involved with these Awards? Having worked with Glynn to sponsor these events in the past, I knew our paths would cross again. Sponsoring these events always brought fruitful conversations with fellow technologists, allowing sponsors to network and connect without imposing attendees with a strong sales pitch, which puts…

The chickens appear to be coming home to roost. Sadly, they don’t seem to have been roosting at Nando’s, McDonald’s and other foodservice companies, where shortages of the birds have at times prompted the temporary closure of certain units and resulted in menu changes. It’s not only the chickens that have been problematic though, because…

Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column wonders if the youngsters need to be brought in to achieve real change in fashion. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. A large amount of…

The Name: Tillingham Wines The Place: Nestled in a farmstead on the hills around Rye, Sussex since 2017, and selling domestically both online and through distributors as well as exporting internationally. The Story: Wine. Simple innit? Just buy a few acres, grow the things and then get the expert in to make the stuff. Bottle…

We used to have chief executives but they have been gradually replaced by CEOs and many of the items we bought from retailers previously fell under the umbrella term FMCG but this has almost been superseded by the US equivalent CPG. Whether we like it or not we invariably end up adopting an endless stream…

Retail Insider is delighted to reveal the shortlist for its fifth annual ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards of 2021 kindly supported by Talkdesk. 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: Clodagh Moriarty, digital director at Sainsbury’s;…

For hospitality companies in London, and in some of the UK’s other major conurbations, the potential for future prosperity remains very much in the balance because of, arguably, the most seismic long-term impact of covid-19 – the changing role of the workplace and the acceptance of working from home (WFH). The WFH phenomenon and its…

The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another is one definition of friction as is conflict or animosity caused by a clash of wills, temperaments or opinions. Whichever way you look at it, this is something retailers and hospitality operators are keen to remove from their organisations.  There has been much…

How many people can name any brands of olive oil? Unlike beer, coffee and chocolate there are many household staples including olive oil that are very much taken for granted by consumers and it is only the mass produced, nameless, generic versions that find themselves in shopping baskets. Citizens of Soil are looking to change…

Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column asks how environmental standards in fashion can best be communicated to consumers. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. Last month this column reported on Zalando’s…

Personalisation has very much been under the spotlight during Covid-19 as shoppers have gravitated to online channels and expected an experience that mimics the one enjoyed in-store but it has all too frequently been found wanting. Phil Bacon, senior ERP consultant at Xpedition, says: “Lots of businesses will now be looking at themselves coming through…

Sitting in the grounds of Grantley Hall near Ripon in North Yorkshire enjoying a coffee there is much to distract the eye including the pristine acres of grass adorned with flowers and manicured shrubbery, the bubbling River Skell, and the imposing Grade II-listed Hall itself. But what was most noticeable was the array of employees…

When Tesco introduced its first small format convenience stores some years back, it pinpointed the 100 key items it needed to always have in stock at each of these outlets. The list was an odd mix including the likes of Steradent denture tablets and Carlsberg Special Brew. The criteria was based on them being premium-priced…

The Name: Cuyana The Place: Well, lots of shops obviously. But this particular one iscurrently on an automobile trip round America. The Story: Have you ever wanted to be a rock star and shout “Hello Florida!!” from the front of a huge stage? No: I see. How about “If it’s Tuesday it must be Culver…

Small independent brands like Copperhouse Chocolate are attaching less value to their physical units having focused on other areas of revenue generation during Covid-19 and the various lockdowns. From a unit on Islington’s Chapel Market in North London Copperhouse Chocolate operates a cafe in the front end and has production facilities in the back where…

Greater focus must be placed on reusing unwanted electrical goods rather than on recycling within the UK, which lags behind the rest of Europe partly as a result of the ongoing stigma attached to buying second-hand goods. Cris Stephenson, CEO of Environcom – the UK’s leading independent recycler of e-waste and provider of reuse, says…

Visiting the Tillingham Winery in the rolling countryside on the edge of the East Sussex town of Rye was not only a relief to be out of stuffy London on what was a gloriously hot day but it also gave some insights into what hospitality businesses might well need to embrace in the post-covid-19 world.…

Visiting St John restaurant in the Clerkenwell area of London for the first time in about 15 years was an enjoyable experience, partly because of the familiarity I felt even though I can hardly call myself a regular. From my recollection, very little seemed to have changed over the intervening years apart from the fact…

Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column asks whether sustainable edit will help close the ‘attitude-behaviour’ gap for consumers. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back Box. Earlier this year online fashion platform Zalando…

Sat near the entrance to the New Forest Inn, near Lyndhurst, enjoying an early evening pint of local beer and an expected quiet read of my newspaper, I was continuously interrupted by visitors popping their heads around the door enquiring about a table for dinner and being told the place was fully booked. This process…

Last year in difficult circumstances Retail Insider celebrated the tenth issue of the successful Movers & Shakers report. This year with a brand new sponsor, WonderLane, onboard and an excellent panel of judges we are raring to begin the second decade of this popular report. The process for choosing the ranked individuals begins, as always,…

One of the great mysteries in foodservice over the years has been just how uninspiring the cafes have been within the major supermarkets. Despite the fact they are supposedly experts in food they have always delivered a poor dining offer within their own stores. Their long-standing argument seems to have been that everybody hates food…

The Retail Insider 2021 Transforming Retail Awards is now open for entries. Each week we will be profiling one of the categories to see which kind of companies have entered and won over the past four years and to see if we can spot any themes emerging. This week we are looking at the theme…

Retail Insider, in partnership with novomind, held its latest ‘Zoom Cocktail Hour’ with Simon Palethorpe, president, Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard) who gave insights into how Carnival UK has dealt with Covid-19 and is building for the future. With ships stranded around the world, with thousands of passengers and staff aboard, it was a major challenge…

Having completed some chores the other day, I’d planned to grab a coffee while walking back home but then it suddenly dawned on me I could actually go into the pub and have a beer instead. A wave of power and opportunity washed over me – what would I drink, who might I meet in…

The Name: Geek Retreat The Place: Dotted around the UK so far with over 20 stores but another 14 listed as coming soon and with big further expansion plans… The Story: There aren’t really many sectors that seem to be doing too well on the high street at the moment. There are those places that…

Transforming Retail Awards – category profile – Most Promising Newcomer The Retail Insider 2021 Transforming Retail Awards is now open for entries. Each week we will be profiling one of the categories available to see which kind of companies have entered and won over the past four years and to see if we can spot…

The Retail Insider 2021 Transforming Retail Awards is now open for entries. Each week we will be profiling one of the categories available to see which kind of companies have entered and won over the past four years and to see if we can spot any themes emerging. This week we tackle the Best Connected…

Retail has changed so dramatically over recent years and Covid-19 has brought forward so many of the trends that were beginning to take root. It’s not just about digital and the move of more sales online. The changes are so much broader that it’s tough to even define what retail is any more. It’s fair…

The Retail Insider 2021 Transforming Retail Awards is now open for entries. Each week we will be profiling one of the categories available to see which kind of companies have entered and won over the past four years and to see if we can spot any themes emerging. Today we are starting with the award…

Wandering around central London over these past few weeks has reminded me a little of the run-up to the Olympics in 2012 when the capital underwent a major spruce up as investments were made in roadways and other core infrastructure in order to impress the world’s TV viewers and the influx of overseas visitors. During…

Welcome to this column within our broader sustainability section which focuses on what fashion retailing is doing to address the issues in its industry. This month’s column asks whether environmental standards in fashion can be used as levers in executive pay packages to effect change from above. Brought to you by Retail Insider with Clipper and Give Back…

Retail Insider, in partnership with novomind, held its latest ‘Zoom Cocktail Hour’ with Frazer Locke, senior Advertising executive at Amazon, who gave an overview of the company’s exciting advertising business that is becoming an increasingly important part of the organisation. He shared insights into how the advertising proposition fits into the wider Amazon business, detailing…

Retail Insider, the influential retail blog edited by award-winning journalist Glynn Davis, is calling for entries to its 2021 Awards dedicated to digital and technological innovation. Retail Insider is proud to launch its fifth ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards after the successes of recent years. The aim of these awards is to highlight the best examples of innovation…

Retail Insider is pleased to announce that the next Zoom Cocktail Hour event will take place in May and feature Simon Palethorpe, president of Carnival UK as guest speaker. All of our guest speakers tell their own interesting story that will undoubtedly throw some fresh insights and perspectives on the broader retail industry. As well…

The Name: Lifvs The Place: All over rural Sweden The Story: This is a bit niche I can hear you thinking. Innovation in rural Sweden – what’s that go to do with us here in Blighty? I’ll do the questions, thank you: OK. What’s that got to do with us here in Blighty? Well, there…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 –…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…