Retail Week
Charlotte Hardie
Charlotte Hardie is features editor of Retail Week.
She writes about all retail sectors, overseeing the longer features in the magazine’s general analysis and in business sections. She is also responsible for most of the supplements that run throughout the year, and is editorial lead for the magazine’s annual Rising Star awards.
She has been features editor since 2006, and within that time had a year off for maternity leave.
Before joining Retail Week she wrote about the health and education sectors.
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Retail property development: Changing for the better
1-May-2012
As every week goes by, it seems yet another story emerges of retailers consolidating their store portfolios. -
Analysis: WHSmith gets interesting with Kobo drive
19-Apr-2012
It’s not often that WHSmith takes you by surprise. Year in year out, group chief executive Kate Swann’s story has been about maintaining a usually healthy overall profit by running an exceptionally tight ship. But alongside today’s financials came an announcement that shows intriguing multichannel innovation from a retailer not renowned for creative thinking. -
The Kingfisher family tree
18-Apr-2012
The retail empire that emerged in the early 1980s has produced some of retail’s best-known names. Who are they and why was it such a hotbed of talent? -
Daily deal sites: Can Groupon and LivingSocial help retail sales?
10-Apr-2012
The popularity of daily deals websites has soared since they hit the UK just a few years ago, but multiples are still shy of the benefits. Charlotte Hardie finds out if they are missing a trick. -
Retailers must innovate to compete, says Kingfisher boss
14-Mar-2012
Retailers need to improve innovation in order to remain competitive, Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire told delegates at The Cloud Retail Week Conference today. -
Multichannel directors: Driving a retail revolution
12-Mar-2012
The rise of multichannel signals a seismic shift in retailing, and the directors leading the change are ever more prominent. -
Less is more for UK retail
28-Feb-2012
Charlotte Hardie is features editor of Retail Week. She writes about all retail sectors, overseeing the longer features in the magazine’s general analysis and in business sections. -
On the road to success
20-Feb-2012
It’s taken a while, but retailers are finally making big strides in improving delivery services. Charlotte Hardie considers the change in consumer demands, and outlines some of the recent innovations. -
The year of the supply chain professional
20-Feb-2012
Charlotte Hardie is features editor of Retail Week. She writes about all retail sectors, overseeing the longer features in the magazine’s general analysis and in business sections. -
How do men shop?
17-Feb-2012
When it comes to harnessing customer spend, retailers’ focus is typically on women. What can retailers do to better tap into the male shopping psyche, asks Charlotte Hardie. -
It’s a wrap: Christmas performance revealed
February 3 2012
Christmas is over and many retailers’ hangovers were often less painful than anticipated, but was it really better than expected? Charlotte Hardie reports. -
Build-a-Bear Workshop: The bear necessities
13-Jan-2012
Launched 14 years ago, Build-a-Bear Workshop still enjoys healthy success. By Charlotte Hardie. -
Beating a UK retreat
January 13 2012
As Best Buy officially pulls out of the UK this weekend, Charlotte Hardie considers why it and many other international big shots have failed in their bid to conquer the UK. -
01. January
December 16 2011
It was the start of a difficult year. -
02. February
December 16 2011
Mary Portas’ undercover Secret Shopper customer service programme resulted in an official complaint. -
03. March
December 16 2011
Tesco’s attempts to go head-to-head with Asda’s Price Guarantee backfired after it was forced to issue a flood of refunds. -
04. April
December 16 2011
April provided ample evidence of the structural changes hitting retailers throughout 2011. -
05. May
December 16 2011
The polarisation of the retail market was a key theme in May. -
06. June
December 16 2011
Sign upSource: Michael Walter/TroikaJohn Lewis, Westfield Stratford City -
07. July
December 16 2011
The gloom of June’s multiple administrations was compounded in the first week of July. -
08. August
December 16 2011
It was a dark month for retail, against a violent and costly backdrop of the riots. -
09. September
December 16 2011
Amazon hit the headlines when Retail Week revealed that it too was to have a physical presence in the UK with the launch of order collection lockers. -
10. October
December 16 2011
Among the headline-grabbing stories of the month was the news that Selfridges had struck a deal with Primark. -
11. November
December 16 2011
It was a defining month for the electricals market. -
12. December
December 16 2011
Mary Portas finally revealed her 28 recommendations to revive the high street. -
2011: The year in retail
December 16 2011
It’s been a roller-coaster year for retail, with many having to pull out all the stops to battle tough trading. Rebecca Thomson and Charlotte Hardie look back over the highs and lows. -
Where will shoppers spend this Christmas?
6-Dec-2011
Are your shops still eerily quiet in the run-up to Christmas? Then consider this; one in five shoppers intends to buy presents after December 25th in order to get the best possible bargain. -
A winter walkaround
December 2 2011
With little over three weeks to go, Charlotte Hardie and Simon Puryer take at trip to the West End to look at how retailers are faring in the festive countdown. -
The move out of town
29-Nov-2011
Bright spots may be hard to find in the retail sector at the moment, but those involved in retail parks can claim that this is one of them -
After the riots: Retail rebuilds
November 18 2011
It’s three months since the riots. Charlotte Hardie investigates how retailers have restored normality, and finds there’s still much to do. -
Glimpses of positivity despite shares slide
November 18 2011
Stores shares were down slightly compared with the previous week, when they had advanced following the dramatic events and reams of interim results from major retailers. -
The Burton Group family tree
November 11 2011
Its alumni list reads like a who’s who of retail. So why was Sir Ralph Halpern’s former retail powerhouse the perfect training ground for so many of retail’s future stars, asks Charlotte Hardie. -
Making a world of difference
October 28 2011
Airport duty free retailing is quicker and less predictable than the average retail supply chain. Charlotte Hardie finds out how World Duty Free copes with security checks, flight delays and even the odd volcano. -
Supply chain: At the heart of retail
October 28 2011
SuperGroup’s supply chain-induced woes have been a timely reminder of just how much financial success hinges on a smooth supply chain operation. -
Which 100 brands are providing the best customer experience?
14-Oct-2011
Amazon’s done it again. In a survey of more than 7,000 shoppers, the online giant has topped the list of the best brands for overall customer experience. -
Emerging retailers: Still flying high?
13-Oct-2011
Two years ago, 10 of the top emerging retailers gathered for a Retail Week photo shoot at the top of London’s Gherkin. Today, Charlotte Hardie revisits them to find out how they have fared amid the trials and tribulations of the continued downturn. -
Price wars are fine, but what about the suppliers?
11-Oct-2011
Another day, another price war. Or so it feels. Great news for shoppers on a budget, terrible news for suppliers. -
The online battle for traffic
October 7 2011
Which websites have lost or gained the most visitors in the past year? Charlotte Hardie considers the usefulness of unique visitor numbers analysis -
Acting on impulse
8-Sep-2011
What constitutes impulse shopping? Is it just as prevalent at a time when budgets are tight? Charlotte Hardie finds out how retailers can boost the number of products bought on a whim -
The new era of retail marketing
3-Aug-2011
A retail marketing team’s job today is nothing like that of even five years ago. -
Retail red tape to be cut but no change on Sunday trading
28-Jul-2011
Six-hour rule stays but retail review plans to simplify consumer rights and age-restriction regulations -
Retail Week On The Road: Wales and the Southwest
25-Jul-2011
We visit Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Bristol. -
Talking about their generation
8-Jul-2011
What do young people think about retail? How do they decide where and how they shop? Charlotte Hardie talks to them and reveals what you need to know about the next generation -
At the margins
31-May-2011
At every turn, retailers are staring at rising costs. With deflation a thing of the past, how can they manage their margins and remain profitable? Charlotte Hardie considers the challenges ahead. -
How do you solve a problem like Ireland?
May 13 2011
Everyone knows that Ireland’s retail scene is a disaster. But how should you tackle it? As some UK retailers scale back their Irish portfolios, Charlotte Hardie assesses the various options -
Tying the retail knot
April 28 2011
Wills and Kate tie the knot tomorrow, and in keeping with the fervour we take a look back at some of the most notable marriages of retail businesses over the years. Have these unions stood the test of time or did they decide to go their separate ways? Charlotte Hardie finds out. -
Can you crack America?
18-Apr-2011
It is the world’s largest retail market, but UK store chains struggle in the US. With international expansion a boardroom priority, Charlotte Hardie considers the traps retailers should avoid to succeed in America. -
The changing face of eBay
April 1 2011
One year on since the launch of its fashion Outlet, eBay has emerged as an unlikely ally in offloading end-of-line and clearance stock. Charlotte Hardie reports -
Multichannel gets more complicated
31-Mar-2011
Just as retailers really start to understand what multichannel means to their business and how to capitalise on that, it gets more complicated -
Rose: The man with the plan
March 18 2011
Under Sir Stuart Rose’s leadership, Marks & Spencer has developed one of the most comprehensive CSR programmes of any retailer. Charlotte Hardie examines the achievements of Plan A so far. -
Not just a campaign
March 18 2011
The perception of Marks & Spencer has been transformed in the seven years that Sir Stuart was at the helm. Its Your M&S advertising campaign was central to that, says Charlotte Hardie -
Archie Norman: Healthy businesses should close stores
16-Mar-2011
Retailers should look to close around four stores per year even when sales are healthy, former Asda CEO told Retail Week delegates. “In healthy times retailers don’t close stores they accumulate the walking dead,” he said. -
Morrisons’ Pennycook: Retail innovation critical to survival
16-Mar-2011
Innovation will be crucial if retailers are to thrive in tough times, Morrisons’ FD Richard Pennycook told delegates at the Retail Week Conference. -
Focusing on core proposition critical to survival
16-Mar-2011
Clarity on what your business means to customers has never been more important, Retail Week conference delegates heard. -
Boots boss Hornby: Customer service critical to save high street
16-Mar-2011
A double dip recession looks unlikely, but colleague and customer engagement will be critical if retailers are to maintain high street spend, delegates at the Retail Week Conference heard. -
Can you cut it?
March 11 2011
Cutting staff budgets can be tricky, but can retailers save cash without compromising customer service, asks Charlotte Hardie -
The Dixons family tree
February 18th 2011
Lord Kalms created an academy for high flyers at Dixons. Charlotte Hardie traces the company’s family tree and speaks to its founder about how it became a finishing school for the retail elite -
Supply chain up against more challenges
February 18th 2011
Life is not going to be easy for many retail professionals this year, but supply chain teams are among those going into overdrive. -
Time for retail to come in from the cold
3-Feb-2011
After three snowy, sales-depleting winters in a row, are the icy temperatures here to stay in the UK and can retailers do anything to lessen the impact of the weather? Charlotte Hardie reports -
Sourcing from Bangladesh: Out of the comfort zone
31-Jan-2011
It’s cheaper, but sourcing from Bangladesh brings with it a whole host of logistical challenges. Just how much of a supply opportunity is there in this corner of Asia? Charlotte Hardie reports -
The ultimate retail board
27-Jan-2011
What mix of personalities and skills make up the perfect board, asks Charlotte Hardie -
The power of the network
24-Jan-2011
There are a few online sites that are seriously important to retailers. So what are they and why do they affect your business? -
Retail resolutions for 2011
6-Jan-2011
All the signs are that 2011 will be a tough year for retail, so how can businesses prepare? Charlotte Hardie and Rebecca Thomson report -
Jingle all the way
December 10 2010
Festive ad season is here again, but with budgets tighter than ever has this year’s campaign money been well spent? Charlotte Hardie finds out -
Get online returns right
December 3 2010
Retailers need to be at the top of their game when handling returns to offer piece of mind to online shoppers. Charlotte Hardie reports -
Lands' End: Living the American dream
November 19 2010
US retailer Lands’ End has come out of the shadows to reveal its expansion plans and a new target customer. -
Will the Emerald Isle sparkle again?
November 19 2010
With EU pressure to accept a bailout, Ireland’s economy is a mess. Will its retailers recover, asks Charlotte Hardie and Greg Lawless -
A lot of hot air?
November 12 2010
Many retailers are still struggling with reducing packaging for online orders. Charlotte Hardie puts some big names to the eco delivery test -
How to turn online sales into a profit
November 5 2010
Selling online is one thing, making money from it is quite another. Charlotte Hardie reveals how to convert clicks into profit -
Retailers must make their own luck in 2010
March 12, 2010
There won’t be a double-dip recession, Retail Week Conference delegates heard, but this year will be bumpy. -
RWC2010: Tesco aims to make F+F biggest global fashion brand
3-Mar-2010
Tesco wants its Florence + Fred clothing range to be the biggest global fashion brand within five years, Tesco chief executive of clothing Terry Green told Retail Week Conference delegates. -
RWC2010: Rose raises prospect of very different M&S under Bolland
3-Mar-2010
Marc Bolland is “absolutely the right man” to become chief executive of Marks & Spencer, executive chairman Stuart Rose insisted, hinting that the retailer may be poised for a period of radical change. -
RWC2010: Tough trading conditions to continue, Stewart Binnie warns
3-Mar-2010
Retailers should brace themselves for a further VAT increase within the next year, Aurora Fashions non-executive president Stewart Binnie has warned Retail Week Conference delegates. -
A chain that won’t break
September 25, 2009
After several years of investment and hard work, Sainsbury’s supply chain has overcome its availability problems. Charlotte Hardie reports -
The supply chain depends ultimately on people
September 25, 2009
Despite the retail supply chain depending on myriad systems, vehicles and machinery, running an efficient operation depends ultimately on people. -
50 retail websites you have to visit
September 18, 2009
Whether pure play or multichannel, online retailers have mushroomed and grown in sophistication. But who do the online retail experts rate as the best in class? Retail Week finds out. -
The sky’s the limit: Tomorrow’s retail stars
September 11, 2009
Far from sounding the death knell, many smaller niche brands are thriving in the downturn. Charlotte Hardie meets 10 of the UK’s bright stars to find out how they’ve bucked the trend -
Does David Cameron think retail?
August 21, 2009
Many retailers are disillusioned with Labour rule in the downturn but would a Conservative government led by David Cameron really be the answer to their woes? -
Musgrave: Convenience in the community
August 21, 2009
Two years spent overhauling Musgrave’s British arm means it can now rise to the challenge of the big four, Phil Smith tells Charlotte Hardie -
Older workers invaluable to retail
August 14, 2009
Not everyone has welcomed the Government’s plans to review the standard retirement age, but older workers are invaluable to retail. Here, Charlotte Hardie talks to some of the industry’s mature stars -
A retailer’s complete guide to swine flu
August 7, 2009
You’re either sick with it or sick of the mention of it, but swine flu could have a serious impact on retail operations. Enough sensationalism, says Charlotte Hardie – how can retailers tackle it? -
Using customer print and online magazines
August 7, 2009
Building a two-way relationship with shoppers is the holy grail for marketers in the downturn. Charlotte Hardie considers how retailers are using customer magazines in print and now online -
Will they know it’s Christmas?
July 31, 2009
This year’s festive countdown is arguably going to be more nail-biting than ever. Charlotte Hardie considers how retailers can make the most of what might be the toughest Christmas for decades -
The inspirations driving retail boardrooms
July 24, 2009
Sportsmen, philosophers and even the odd journalist have all inspired the UK’s retail chief executives. Charlotte Hardie talks to five familiar faces about those who have influenced them as they have scaled their very diverse career ladders -
Retailers can benefit from in-store credit popularity
July 10, 2009
As the recession drags on, the number of shoppers turning to in-store consumer finance is increasing. Charlotte Hardie looks at how retailers can make the most of this trend -
Here today, gone tomorrow: temporary retailers on the increase
June 26, 2009
Temporary retailers are becoming increasingly common on the high street as landlords struggle to fill their units. Charlotte Hardie goes in search of these often enigmatic operators -
Through the keyhole of retailers’ headquarters
June 19, 2009
A glitzy head office is all well and good, but does it add to outside impressions, staff morale or productivity? Charlotte Hardie inspects some of the most and least glamorous to find out -
Retailers and suppliers: An exercise in trust
June 19, 2009
Now more than ever, retailers and suppliers need to work together and be transparent, but a lack of trust is costing them, says Charlotte Hardie -
Media is cheaper but ad spend remains essential
June 12, 2009
One benefit of the recession is that media is cheaper than ever. But, as Charlotte Hardie warns, retailers still need their ad spend to be effective -
Moulding future retail managers
June 12, 2009
Staff training is more vital than ever, a Skillsmart event last week concluded. -
Last day to enter Retail Week Rising Star Awards
11-Jun-2009
Today (June 19) is the last chance for you to submit your entry for the Retail Week Rising Star Awards. -
How retailers can go for gold in 2012
May 29, 2009
It might be three years away and the excitement has yet to get going, but the London Olympics will be a goldmine for retailers. Charlotte Hardie explains why they need to think about it now. -
Retail in Ireland: Why Irish eyes aren’t smiling
May 22, 2009
With sales diving 17 per cent in the first quarter, the Celtic Tiger is now no more than a mewing kitten. Charlotte Hardie reports on the state of the market and finds out how retailers are coping -
Be sure your marketing attracts the tourists
May 15, 2009
Overseas shoppers are making the most of the weak pound, so how can retailers exploit this international influx? Charlotte Hardie reports -
With the recession has come permanent change
May 8, 2009
From consumer habits to store refits, sourcing to credit insurance, the recession has brought profound changes to the retail world that are likely to be permanent. Charlotte Hardie reports -
Retail finance directors: More than just number crunchers
May 1, 2009
No longer just bean counters in ivory towers, the role of the finance chief has evolved, and those who can marry the maths with commercial nous are in high demand. -
Entries being taken for Rising Stars 2009
30-Apr-2009
Retail Week has begun its annual search for talented young professionals in the retail sector with the launch of the Rising Stars 2009. -
Axe looms over all Monsoon shop staff
24-Apr-2009
All Monsoon store staff are facing potential redundancy as the retailer enters into a consultation period with every employee at its shops. -
Selfridges: The making of a British icon
April 24, 2009
Selfridges is celebrating its centenary this year. Charlotte Hardie explains what has made it one of the world’s most iconic stores and why Gordon Selfridge’s legacy will endure -
Life after retail redundancy
April 17, 2009
Losing your job in this climate is a massive blow, but it needn’t be the end of the world. Five individuals from different retail backgrounds discuss their experiences -
Every little helps the nation’s favourite
April 9, 2009
Knocking Tesco can seem like a national sport but it remains top of shoppers’ lists. Charlotte Hardie considers why the UK’s biggest grocer continues to be Britain’s favourite retail brand -
Store managers need a little managing too
April 9, 2009
In the fight to drive sales during a recession, store managers’ development can be overlooked. Charlotte Hardie explains why support is vital -
When suppliers break the chain
April 3, 2009
A supplier going bust has always been a logistical nightmare for retailers, but at the moment it is happening alarmingly often. Charlotte Hardie assesses how to minimise the impact -
Online retail: Why there's no place like home in a downturn
19-Mar-2009
Despite the gloom in the wider market, online continues to grow impressively. Charlotte Hardie surveys the state of the e-tail sector as we enter recession, and how to keep ahead of the game. -
Best Buy confirms no UK debut until 2010
18-Mar-2009
Best Buy chief executive Bob Willett has confirmed the retailer will not make its UK debut until spring 2010 at the earliest. -
Phil Wrigley: price rises 'a bit of an inevitability'
18-Mar-2009
Product price rises will be an inevitable consequence of the deepening recession, said New Look executive chairman Phil Wrigley at the Retail Week conference. -
Northern Ireland retailers benefit as Republic's consumers stream north
27-Feb-2009
Amid the gloom of retailing in the UK one area is bucking the trend. But Northern Ireland’s gain is the Republic’s loss. Charlotte Hardie reports from Belfast on why Northern Irish eyes are smiling. -
Retail’s best-kept secrets
13-Feb-2009
Despite the general air of doom and gloom blighting the high street, some low-profile retailers seem to be doing just fine. Charlotte Hardie reveals a selection of retail’s secret success stories -
Consumer behaviour: All in the mind
6-Feb-2009
Research shows that women are more demanding when they shop and influence up to 80 per cent of purchases. Charlotte Hardie finds out how retailers can cash in by tapping into the female psyche. -
Jessops needs to snap to it
6-Feb-2009
Few were more surprised than the City when Jessops posted robust Christmas trading figures. For many, the sight of the specialist camera retailer edging towards the top of the festive performance league table and sitting happily near Somerfield and Waitrose was nothing short of a miracle. -
Retailers rally against recession as they outperform the index
6-Feb-2009
General retail stocks and food retailers outperformed the All Share index after a better than feared festive reporting season. -
OC&C Christmas Trading Index: Christmas wrapped up
30-Jan-2009
The frantic festive season is over and many retailers are breathing a sigh of relief. Charlotte Hardie examines the key themes in what has been a nerve-wracking few weeks with the help of OC&C’s Christmas Trading Index -
Retail staffing: Power to the People
23-Jan-2009
Backing UK Retail isn’t just about the role the industry plays in the economy – it’s about the part it plays in communities too. Charlotte Hardie asks how store jobs have helped local people -
LK Bennett sets sights on UK and international expansion
23-Jan-2009
LK Bennett executive chairman Robert Bensoussan has laid out plans to double the size of the business within five years. -
LK Bennett sets sights on UK and international expansion
22-Jan-2009
LK Bennett executive chairman Robert Bensoussan has laid out plans to double the size of the business within five years. -
Supply Chain: Reverse psychology
16-Jan-2009
Returns can be a costly burden, yet retailers’ supply chains are often ill-equipped to deal with them. Charlotte Hardie asks where savings can be made as unwanted gifts fly back to stores. -
People: Promote your enthusiasm
9-Jan-2009
The new year hangover will be as long as it is harsh, so how can retailers enthuse staff and inject confidence into the business? Charlotte Hardie explains how positivity is the way forward. -
Christmas on Oxford Street: Tinsel town
11-Dec-2008
Stores must be on top form if they’re to capture dwindling consumer spend. Charlotte Hardie and Itim Consulting’s Simon Puryer take a stroll down Oxford Street to see how they’re doing. -
Ethics: Who cares?
4-Dec-2008
As the recession takes hold, the focus has moved from the ethical agenda to managing costs. But have shoppers really stopped caring? Charlotte Hardie investigates, and asks whether retailers can afford to drop this issue. -
Smaller retailers toast rent triumph
28-Nov-2008
Smaller retailers are celebrating an agreement with landlords that allows them to pay rents monthly without incurring a financial penalty. -
Green will not bid for Moss Bros
27-Nov-2008
Sir Philip Green’s Warbeck Holding Company has said it will not make an offer for Moss Bros. -
VAT reduction just doesn’t cut it
27-Nov-2008
Oh the irony. Even if Alistair Darling’s 2.5 percentage point cut in VAT had prompted consumers to open their purses this week, they would have been snapped firmly shut again only days later when two household retail names went into administration. -
Christmas TV ads: Will christmas ads woo the shoppers?
27-Nov-2008
Retailers are spending huge amounts on Christmas advertising this year, but is it money down the drain? Charlotte Hardie and Saatchi & Saatchi’s Richard Huntington tune in to this year’s festive campaigns. -
Pre-Christmas discounting: Can you cut it?
27-Nov-2008
High street retailers are slashing prices in the Christmas run-up, but is it the answer to their problems, asks Charlotte Hardie -
Kookai appoints Matthieu Dietsch as UK managing director
26-Nov-2008
Fashion retailer Kookai has appointed Matthieu Dietsch as managing director of its UK business. -
Kookai appoints Matthieu Dietsch as UK managing director
26-Nov-2008
Fashion retailer Kookaï has appointed Matthieu Dietsch as managing director of its UK business. -
Online mystery shop: Signed sealed and delivered
20-Nov-2008
In the current climate the battle for online market share is tougher than ever, so how are retailers’ sites performing in the crucial run-up to Christmas? Charlotte Hardie puts a selection to the test. -
Cost cutting: The lean machine
13-Nov-2008
In these cash-strapped times deep and sustainable cost cutting is the name of the game. Charlotte Hardie looks at how retailers can trim the fat without their service suffering. -
Spindler: mutual decision to leave Debenhams
6-Nov-2008
Debenhams managing director Angela Spindler has denied she has been restructured out of the department store retailer, saying her exit at the end of the month was based on a mutual decision. -
DSGi’s Pixmania widens its online product range
6-Nov-2008
DSGi-owned e-tailer Pixmania is increasing its online presence as a general merchandise retailer by expanding the product categories on its UK site. -
US Retail: Trading in a state of crisis
6-Nov-2008
As a new president gears up to take charge in the White House, US retail is experiencing an even tougher time than the UK. Charlotte Hardie reports. -
Recession beaters: Some retailers are prospering in spite of the downturn
31-Oct-2008
Despite what the mass media might suggest, some retailers are prospering in spite of the downturn. Charlotte Hardie looks at some of those that are flying and asks what we can learn from them. -
Ethical Trade: The years of living ethically
23-Oct-2008
As the Ethical Trading Initiative turns 10, Charlotte Hardie looks at a decade of progress in responsible retailing and finds out why it remains vital through the downturn. -
Retailers to benefit from renewable energy savings
17-Oct-2008
Retailers will welcome the Government’s decision yesterday to make the production of renewable energy more affordable for businesses. -
Renewable energy: Fuel for thought
15-Oct-2008
To be reliant on costly fossil fuels is the last thing struggling retailers want, but is renewable energy a feasible solution to soaring bills? -
Christmas checklist: How to avoid a festive flop
14-Oct-2008
With less than 10 weeks to go, retailers are pulling out all the stops to secure those essential Christmas sales. Make sure you aren’t left behind with Retail Week’s Christmas checklist -
Online shopping: Playing the loyalty card
9-Oct-2008
Online shoppers are as loyal to brands as they are to physical stores, so it is important that e-tailers foster a dedicated customer base. Charlotte Hardie asks how they can keep shoppers returning. -
Store Operations: Are shoppers being served?
2-Oct-2008
As the credit crunch sets in, people are changing the way they shop. But are retailers changing how they run stores to reflect this? Charlotte Hardie reports -
Crunch puts the stress on supply
26 September 2008
Every retailer is feeling the pressure at the moment and supply chain teams are no exception. -
Home Delivery: Doorstep challenge
26 September 2008
Failed home deliveries are a headache for the consumer, but the amount it costs the retail industry each year is in the millions. Charlotte Hardie assesses what can be done to lessen the pain -
Supply chain directors: World in their hands
26 September 2008
The ill-informed might assume that a supply chain career is simply about shifting boxes around. But, as any supply chain director would tell them, there’s a lot more to it than that, and developments in the past few years have meant that the role is becoming ever more complex. -
Creative directors: The creative heart of retail
25-Sep-2008
Creative chiefs are far more than just designers – they play a vital role in making retail the dynamic industry it is. Charlotte Hardie brings nine top names together to find out what drives them -
In-store promotions: Let me entertain you
18-Sep-2008
Enough of the misery – it’s time to inject some fun into retail. Charlotte Hardie discovers how savvy retailers are lifting morale and sales with innovative in-store promotions to beat the blues. -
Charity begins on the high street
11-Sep-2008
Working with charities isn’t just part of being a good corporate citizen – done the right way it can motivate staff and generate free PR. -
Voices of experience
4-Sep-2008
This will be the first downturn many retailers have worked through, but there are those who have been here before. Some of retail’s most distinguished names tell Charlotte Hardie in their own words how to deal with a slowdown. -
Brits abroad
28-Aug-2008
The Olympics have reminded us all how great it is to be British, but shoppers around the world love what we stand for. Charlotte Hardie discovers how we can capitalise on their enthusiasm for all things British. -
Do stars still sell?
21-Aug-2008
With marketing budgets feeling the pinch, retailers may be thinking twice about signing celebrities to front their brand. Charlotte Hardie asks when they’re worth it and how they can be put to best use -
Born survivor
14-Aug-2008
A science degree, years in hospitality retailing and a passion for survival skills are all proving useful in Paul Mildenstein’s role at Claire’s Accessories. Charlotte Hardie meets him. -
Blazing a trail in electronics
14-Aug-2008
From its humble beginnings as a battery charging enterprise in Hull, Comet has flourished into a multichannel pioneer. Charlotte Hardie takes a look back on its 75th anniversary. -
New Comet site takesservice-led approach
14-Aug-2008
Comet has overhauled its web site to focus on customer service instead of product deals. -
Tuned in
7-Aug-2008
If you think music in stores is merely background pleasantry, think again. It affects the way shoppers move, think and spend, as Charlotte Hardie discovers. -
Where there’s a wag...
31-Jul-2008
Credit crunch? What credit crunch? For the footballers’ wives of Cheshire money is no object, but they expect a lot from their retailers. Charlotte Hardie pays a visit to WAG heaven. -
Reasons to be cheerful
24-Jul-2008
Feeling miserable? Sick of reading about hard-up shoppers and soaring inflation? Well so are we, so here are three pages of nothing but good news and optimism. There is nothing anyone can do about the global economy, but plenty of opportunities still exist for those that are brave enough. Charlotte Hardie explains why now is the time to embrace the downturn. -
Staff safety on a knife edge
17-Jul-2008
Violent crime has never been higher up the agenda and shopworkers are on the front line. Charlotte Hardie asks what is being done to protect them from knife attacks -
Six promising luxury brands
13-Jun-2008
Making it in the cut-throat world of luxury retail is undoubtedly tough, but six of the most promising brands are being mentored by top names in the sector. By Charlotte Dennis-Jones -
The weirdest jobs in retail
23-May-2008
From professional pet food tasters to the man who makes a living blowing up toasters, Charlotte Dennis-Jones talks to the people with the most unusual jobs in retail -
Irish charm
16-May-2008
A friendly business culture and a free rein have made Rhys Iley’s directorship of Boots Ireland a refreshing change. He tells Charlotte Dennis-Jones what’s different on the Emerald Isle -
Irish question
16-May-2008
Ireland was a late developer in terms of its retail scene and now, happily, it is behind the UK in terms of an economic slowdown. Its retail businesses are still enjoying the good times. -
Tesco: The people’s choice
10-Apr-2008
Tesco has been crowned the nation’s favourite once again in Retail Week’s annual consumer poll. Charlotte Dennis-Jones asks how the grocer continues to hold its customers in thrall -
Women in retail: It’s a man’s world
22-Nov-2007
Many more women than men work in retail, yet barely any of them make it into the top jobs. Charlotte Dennis-Jones and Katie Kilgallen investigate -
How far can we go online?
27-Sep-2007
Although now more than 10 years old, e-tail is still in its infancy. So is the sky the limit, or are we approaching the peak? Charlotte Dennis-Jones looks into the future of e-tailing
