Opinion – Page 2
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Opinion‘Retail media’s talent pipeline isn’t keeping up with the pace of change’
If retailers and media buyers don’t fully understand the tools and the context they operate in, a gulf may emerge between what’s possible and what’s delivered, warns Steve Ricketts of Publicis
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Opinion'As Waitrose’s Bailey checks out, he leaves opportunity for his successor'
Waitrose boss James Bailey is leaving next month. He’s steered the grocer through turbulent times and now is the time and his replacement should seize the moment – including more shops – says George MacDonald
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Opinion‘The customer may not always be right, but they must always win’
No retailer ever deliberately puts the customer second, but some make brazen claims about customer-centricity that they fail to come good on. Starting with the customer means taking a few steps back from what you’re selling, argues customer experience expert and former John Lewis director Peter Cross
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Opinion'WHSmith’s American dream takes on nightmarish hue'
A profit warning from WHSmith after the discovery of accounting problems at its US arm came as a huge shock, but comparisons with Tesco at its lowest point may be overdone, believes Retail Week’s George MacDonald
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Opinion‘To employee ownership and beyond! The Entertainer’s toy story shows retail at its best’
The entrepreneurs who built The Entertainer into the UK’s biggest specialist toy retailer are transferring ownership to their employees. What a great advert for values in retail, says George MacDonald
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OpinionFrom assistants to agents: What agentic AI really means for retail
There’s lots of hype, but agentic systems won’t deliver value unless they’re grounded in the realities of how retail works, argues Dunnhumby’s Sandra Stanley
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Opinion‘As it wins approval for restructuring, River Island still faces fundamental questions’
Any restructuring of River Island will only be a small step towards recovery. The retailer needs to find its sense of purpose, believes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Now’s the right time to assess the potential for retail M&A’
The current environment presents a unique opportunity for astute buyers of businesses, maintains PwC’s Lisa Hooker
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Opinion‘It’s time we faced into the reality that people don’t want as much new stuff any more’
Consumers are rethinking what – and how much – they need across all retail categories. OC&C’s Matt Coode suggests ways that retailers might profitably respond to an enduring change in shopping behaviour
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Opinion‘Unemployment fears could weigh on consumers’ minds even more than price rises’
A cautionary comment from fashion powerhouse Next that rising unemployment could be a threat in the months to come will resonate with other retailers, observes Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Fashion sales are in structural decline and that has big implications for retailers’
Fashion volumes have been on a downward trend for some years, observes Alvarez & Marsal’s Erin Brookes, who offers suggestions on how retailers should respond
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Opinion‘Despite the demise of many department stores, the format remains relevant’
A traditional, well-run department store with its range of categories, products and services is a model consumers love, argues retail analyst and consultant Maureen Hinton
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Opinion‘When Walmart bets big on AI, the rest of retail will surely follow’
Two key hires announced this week show that Walmart is putting AI and front and centre of its business. The Bentonville powerhouse has traditionally led the way in retail, so this could signal the shape of things to come, observes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Parking charge rises are ripping the heart out of my city centre’
York is one of the UK’s most popular retail and visitor destinations but parking prices have been ratcheted up so much that sales are sliding. A rethink is needed, argues York High Street Forum chair and retailer Phil Pinder
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Opinion‘Unless Amazon wants to remain a bit-part player in UK grocery, an acquisition would be the likely route’
Amazon’s UK grocery presence amounts to a pimple on an elephant’s backside so, if it wants to grow, a deal would be the obvious option, believes Shore Capital’s Clive Black
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OpinionExplainer: how business rates may change and what it means for retail
As the government considers business rates reform, BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson looks at the implications – and urges retailers to make their voices heard
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Opinion‘As retailers adopt locked-door policies, it’s time to hold government to account on cutting crime’
Locking store doors instead of throwing them open is a shocking indictment of the crime challenge retailers face, says George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Reuse is a solution that addresses Trump tariffs as well as sustainability’
In Plastic Free July, activist and author Amy Larkin urges retailers to think bigger than bags, bans and increasing recycled content
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Opinion‘If cyber criminals strike, you’d better know how to use pen and paper’
There was great news today as suspects were arrested over cyber attacks on retailers. But there’s no doubt such attacks will continue and there were practical cyber crime takeaways for retailers from this week’s select committee hearing, where M&S directors shared their experience
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OpinionBoots boss: ‘Providing more healthcare on high streets can help keep them healthy too’
Boots managing director Anthony Hemmerdinger writes exclusively for Retail Week on why the government’s new 10-year plan for the NHS could help breathe new life into towns and city centres