All Opinion articles
Most recent first.
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Opinion‘How is Rachel Reeves going to achieve her promise to M&S workers?’
On a visit to a Marks & Spencer store, the chancellor pledged that more of workers’ pay will go into their pockets, but everything done so far appears to be having the opposite effect, observes Maureen Hinton
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Opinion‘Amazon’s AI-driven job cuts will send a shiver through retail head offices’
The retail giant won’t be the last to axe roles – and white collar positions will be under threat, believes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘As Christmas nears, the picture is bumpy but not bleak’
Retailers should be prepared for unpredictability ahead, but be ready for a strong finish, observes PwC’s Lisa Hooker
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Opinion‘My Inditex ordeal reflects a problem – modern retail burns with friction’
In a world of technology, data, rapid delivery and single views of stock, Charlotte Hardie fears retailers are in danger of forgetting about the no-brainer of customer service
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Opinion‘Shein’s pivot to bricks-and-mortar retail marks a turning point’
Shein’s decision to open permanent physical outlets in France shows that digital brands now recognise bricks-and-mortar as essential to future growth. But legacy retailers used to running stores shouldn’t be complacent, maintains Optimum Retailing’s Sam Vise
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Opinion‘Who’d begrudge Archie Norman more years at the top of Marks & Spencer?’
The extension of Archie Norman’s tenure as chair of the famous retailer may not be the governance norm but few will be bothered by that, believes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘How retailers can stop customers leaving empty-handed’
Billions of sales are lost to abandoned baskets, poor experiences, and unmet expectations. That doesn’t have to be the case, believes retail expert and author Martin Newman
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Opinion‘B&M shouldn’t throw baby out with bathwater as it downgrades store standards’
The back to basics strategy being enacted by B&M’s new chief executive makes sense but these days that must include store standards, believes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Why not make a third less profit, Tesco?’
A call for Tesco to make less money isn’t the answer to food price inflation but would mean less investment in Britain, a more insecure food system, and lower tax receipts, maintains Shore Capital’s Clive Black
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Opinion‘The Labour Party Conference offered moments of political clarity and economic ambiguity’
The Labour conference in Liverpool shows that some of retail’s demands are breaking through to government, writes Helen Dickinson. But it also reveals that Labour’s priorities lie in fighting off the rise of Reform, not focusing on business
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Opinion‘Despite AI solutions revolutionising efficiency, retail will always be about people’
As the Fashion Retail Academy celebrates its 20th anniverary, Charlotte Hardie considers what the next 20 years could bring, particularly the impact of AI on the industry and its people
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OpinionThe hidden pay-off of Amazon Fresh data and the future of in-store shopping
Amazon has a track record of turning apparent missteps into long-term advantages. It would be wrong to see the closure of Fresh stores as a straightforward failure, believes PSE Consulting’s Chris Jones
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Opinion‘The uncomfortable truth is AI will cause significant job destruction’
Communication and truth-telling, both to colleagues and the wider population, will become a central task of boards and governments in the coming years, believes True’s Matt Truman
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Opinion‘Retailers must continue to make noise about unsustainable cost burdens’
Government-imposed financial pressures are inflicting pain on the heart of the retail industry – its people, believes Charlotte Hardie
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Opinion‘In a flat-growth market, technology isn’t just an enabler – it differentiates winners and losers’
The uncomfortable truth is that customers’ technology expectations of retailers are set by the best, not the average, maintains AlixPartners’ Brian Kalms
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Opinion‘Marks & Spencer is gearing up to make peak go with a bang’
After the cyber attack on M&S in the spring, it looks as if the retailer is ready to go all-out to be a Christmas winner, believes George MacDonald
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OpinionWhat the 2026 business rates revaluation means for major chains
Forthcoming changes represent a structural shift for big retailers, and they need to be prepared, observes Ryan’s tax services specialist Alex Probyn
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Opinion‘New business secretary’s Body Shop background may be good news for retail’
As the next Budget looms, retailers need all the friends they can get in government, but last week’s reshuffle means they need to build new relationships, observes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Retail doesn’t need more stores – it needs better ones’
Too many retailers still treat online and offline as competing channels but together they create a richer customer relationship, argues Trinny London managing director Mark Smith
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Opinion‘Topshop tie-up is a sign that John Lewis has a new spring in its step’
John Lewis’ deal to become the high street partner of fashion comeback kid Topshop is a coup for the department store group and epitomises new energy and a renewed sense of direction, believes George MacDonald