Opinion – Page 21
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Opinion‘Booming demand has spurred creation of more resale businesses’
The rising cost of living will power the growth of second-hand products and resale, maintains eBay UK general manager Murray Lambell.
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Opinion‘When do we stop calling Amazon a retailer?’
Amazon’s varied and growing revenue streams mean that selling ‘stuff’ is increasingly incidental to the tech giant’s business proposition, Natalie Berg observes.
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Opinion‘Amid all the turbulence, retail starts the year from a position of relative strength’
Christmas was good for many retailers, but to maintain share or increase growth in a volatile environment, it will be necessary to invest in differentiation, believes PwC industry leader for consumer markets Lisa Hooker
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Opinion'Why Walmart’s InHome delivery scheme may be convenience retail’s final frontier'
Where Walmart goes, other retailers frequently follow and the latest foray by the US powerhouse takes it right into customers’ homes – specifically their kitchens.
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OpinionJo Whitfield: ‘Race to the bottom on price raises fears about sustainability of food production’
Lower prices for shoppers must not mean a squeeze on farming and suppliers, argues Co-op Food chief executive Jo Whitfield
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Opinion‘Was discount format Jack’s a waste of Tesco’s time?’
When Tesco’s first Jack’s store opened in Chatteris in 2018 the Fenland town found itself in the unusual position of being a must-visit retail destination.
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Opinion‘Now is the time for Ocado to deliver on its promise after latest tech revolution’
Last week Ocado’s chief executive Tim Steiner unveiled a host of upgrades for the retailer’s Smart Platform. Nearly a decade after the grocer first styled itself as a tech platform, now is the time for Ocado to walk the walk, says Hugh Radojev.
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Opinion‘The era of Covid-forgiveness is over – retail must put service at the top of the agenda’
Shoppers were willing to put up with lower standards of service while they and the retailers they relied on navigated the health emergency. But now, as conditions normalise, they expect better. Good service will increasingly characterise retail success but a poor experience will be punished, argues Luke Tugby.
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Opinion‘As cost of living climbs, value-for-money battle will make or break retail success’
With consumers across the board feeling the pinch of rising prices, retailers should remember that value for money need not mean cheap, writes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘With the world of retail rapidly changing, employers must move with the times’
The shift to more flexible working and a greater focus on mental wellbeing has made the jobs market more competitive, writes Tony Gregg, but this presents an opportunity, not a threat.
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Opinion‘RIP John Sainsbury – one of Britain’s greatest ever retailers’
Following the death of legendary retailer Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, Shore Capital’s Clive Black pays tribute to a man who changed the grocery and retail landscape
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Opinion‘Maybe it’s Terry Smith who’s lost the plot – Unilever’s sustainability focus is logical, not ludicrous’
The Fundsmith founder has criticised the extent of Unilever’s sustainability agenda, but investors need to get with the programme or be left behind, writes Luke Tugby.
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Opinion‘Retailers achieved the incredible during Covid – imagine what we can do next’
If 2020 was a year of destruction, then 2021 was one of reconstruction and progress. But 2022 will put this to the test, warns BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson
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Opinion‘How green can retailers become and still turn a profit?’
Over the past few years there has been a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour with people becoming more conscious about what they buy and how they shop.
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Opinion‘Five key themes will drive success in fashion and retail in 2022’
Given its exposure to the ebbs and flows of Covid-19, the fashion industry has been a useful bellwether for the wider retail landscape.
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Opinion‘This Christmas may not be normal but it will still be merry, thanks to retailers’ prowess’
Asked about the outlook for Christmas, retailers always like to reply: “It will be on December 25.”
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Opinion‘As Boohoo warns on profits, the disruptors are increasingly looking like the disrupted’
While online powerhouse Boohoo’s ethical credentials have prompted fierce criticism, its operational prowess and consumer appeal have rarely been in question.
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Opinion‘The mismatch between valuations and anticipated performance has never looked so wide’
As we sit at the beginning of December, there are many conflicting industry drivers for retail, which when combined lead to significant ambiguity moving into 2022.
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Opinion‘Omicron and Plan B are a hammer blow for the West End’s Christmas recovery’
After the optimism of November that saw West End footfall rise above pre-pandemic levels for the first time, the steady drizzle of Covid restrictions and warnings has dampened any Christmas spirit, writes Jace Tyrell of New West End Company.
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Opinion‘There is still room not only to survive but thrive in an Amazon-dominated world’
Ask any UK retail exec or investor what keeps them awake at night and sooner or later they will mention Amazon.