All Opinion articles – Page 319
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OpinionBig screen should boost HMV
The curtain rises on the latest phase of HMV’s reinvention today, with the opening of its first cinema in partnership with Curzon.
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OpinionRetail surgery: Assessing beginners to retail
Since the recession began, we have had a lot of people applying for positions in our stores who have never worked in retail. How can we tell if they would work well in our industry?
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OpinionWill Arcadia's Cinderellas come to the ball?
In what has been an extremely turbulent year for the fashion market, the shining lights in Arcadia’s laudable 13% profit rise were once again Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge.
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OpinionIs multichannel worth the money?
Investment in ecommerce and creating a multichannel customer experience is no longer optional according to the many retailers I’ve seen present at various ecommerce events in the past couple of weeks.
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OpinionSt David’s Day
Put the talk of empty units to one side; Cardiff’s new scheme is good news for retailers and for the city
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OpinionMods, mansion and manor houses
Every year has its store interior clichés. Spend time with a handful of store design consultancies or consultants at the moment and it won’t be long before the phrase “the manor house” is casually dropped into the conversation.
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OpinionCo-op needs to toughen up
The Co-operative Group has achieved a lot since buying Somerfield. But it’s chief executive Peter Marks needs to toughen up to take on the big boys.
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OpinionUse retail’s voice for greater good
Retailers can use their connections with consumers to help good causes, says Jacqueline Gold
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OpinionFloats need proper preparation
A float is not an end in itself but a new beginning, which brings with it a variety of unaccustomed challenges, disciplines and temptations.
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OpinionDSGi has everything to play for
While DSGi chief executive John Browett has been busy renewing and transforming his business, the electricals market is also changing around him and the pace shows no sign of slowing.
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OpinionM&S ‘audition’ leaves questions not answers
If this week’s Marks & Spencer investor day was intended to allow the internal candidates for the chief executive’s job to show their mettle, it was a gamble that backfired spectacularly.
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OpinionKate Bostock’s impact at Marks & Spencer should not be overlooked
When Kate Bostock took to the stage at Marks & Spencer’s investor day cum beauty parade for a new chief executive, she seemed very nervous. However, tough challenges are nothing new to Bostock.
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OpinionB&Q property deal shows the way
B&Q’s rent renegotiation with British Land is a grown-up way for retailers and landlords to face up to the downturn.
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OpinionNew Brunswick: a great place to be
The Brunswick centre on a sunny Saturday in October: there may be better places in the Capital, but they’re probably few and far between.
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OpinionAround the world with Tesco
Tesco is not only gearing up for a UK bounce back, it is gaining good ground internationally. The next year will see it invest most in international markets and it is well set up for growth.
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OpinionTwitter.com/Twelpforce
Best Buy has a reputation for excellent customer service and online savvy that has its UK rivals worried even before its debut here next year. Some of its efforts in social media are examples of both.
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OpinionRetail surgery: Voice recognition systems
Customers complain about the voice recognition system they must use to contact our call centre. We introduced it to improve customer experience – where are we going wrong?
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OpinionPoliticians need to play the long game
“Nice idea, but you’re a dreamer if you think it’ll ever come off.” The words of one Government official to me in a recent meeting.
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OpinionIPOs will face an inquisition
After all the feverish speculation of the past few weeks, there is now little doubt that a raft of retailers is preparing to float in the new year.
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OpinionRivals’ inroads haven’t done Tesco much harm
Sir Terry Leahy may be many things, but he isn’t known for being a ray of sunshine in the industry. So it was interesting to see him cutting a more bullish figure about recovery prospects this week than others like Sir Stuart Rose and Simon Wolfson have been.