General

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 &…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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)…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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?…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 –…

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…

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…

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…