Retail Week
Katie Kilgallen
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Cool in a crisis
31-Jul-2008
When Baugur bought Iceland three years ago it was on the brink and the retailer’s staff were far from happy. Katie Kilgallen finds out how drastic HR intervention helped transform the business. -
Let the festivities begin
24-Jul-2008
Christmas will be here before we know it and retailers are gearing up to make the most of what is normally their most profitable time of year. But with a recession looming, what can retailers do to ensure they don’t get left out in the cold, asks Katie Kilgallen. -
Waste not, want not
18-Jul-2008
Electricals retailers have found WEEE compliance far from straightforward. Katie Kilgallen asks how they are coping a year on and whether the Government has got the regulations right -
Good sourcing will keep shoppers coming back
18-Jul-2008
I’m pleased to say that the warm sunny days we had in May lifted our figures. And, after a couple of weeks off, I’m now ready to face what we have left of the summer season, which will hopefully bring more people to town and into the store. -
People first
18-Jul-2008
In tough times, it can be tempting for retailers to revert to outdated top-down management as they squeeze costs. But losing sight of staff is the worst thing they could do, says Katie Kilgallen -
Ground control: How Marks & Spencer ensures fair trade really is fair
11-Jul-2008
It’s easy to talk a good game on conditions in the supply chain, but how can you ensure it works in practice? Katie Kilgallen finds out how Marks & Spencer ensures fair trade really is fair -
Iceland founder hits out at soaring shop crime
11-Jul-2008
“We are plagued with a tidal wave of shoplifting. 50 per cent of the time it turns violent. Our store managers are physically attacked, spat at, assaulted – it’s out of control.” -
Aim to please
4-Jul-2008
The latest Customer Satisfaction Index shows that retail is doing something right. But, as the harsh climate demands excellence, which retailers are standing out for service? Katie Kilgallen reports -
Raise your site
4-Jul-2008
Some retailers are reaping the benefits of e-recruitment, but many others struggle to master its operational and accessibility basics. Fine-tuning the technology is crucial, finds Katie Kilgallen -
The chain gang
27-Jun-2008
Rival retailers have begun to share lorries to help the environment and reduce costs. And joint distribution centres could be the next step. But logistical practicalities and the competitive nature of the industry are proving to be obstacles to innovation. Katie Kilgallen investigates -
Be eco-logical
27-Jun-2008
Many UK retailers can now count themselves among those leading the way on today’s environmental and ethical issues. -
What it says on the tin
27-Jun-2008
A huge amount of effort is going into the development of a carbon label standard. But could such information on products be more misleading than enlightening? Katie Kilgallen reports -
B&Q and Morrisons are first retailers to be awarded Carbon Trust Standard
24-Jun-2008
B&Q and Morrison’s are the two retailers among the first 12 companies to be awarded the new Carbon Trust Standard for tackling climate change. -
Seller beware
20-Jun-2008
It is being billed by some as the biggest shake-up of marketing laws for 40 years and can carry the penalty of imprisonment. Katie Kilgallen asks if retailers are ready for the new consumer protection regulations -
From the ground up: Wyevale reforms recruitment
19-Jun-2008
Wyevale’s staff just weren’t retail-focused when Jim Hodkinson arrived after the 2006 buy-out. He tells Katie Kilgallen how recruitment has been overhauled to get the business in shape -
Save your energy
6-Jun-2008
As the increasing price of gas and electricity compounds the slowdown, how can retailers minimise the impact of mounting energy costs on their business? Katie Kilgallen investigates -
All rise for the king of carpets
5-Jun-2008
Lord Harris’s nomination for World Entrepreneur of the Year proves just how far the tycoon has come since inheriting three London carpet stores. Katie Kilgallen meets him at the awards in Monte Carlo -
People person
5-Jun-2008
New Look veteran Ann Chan is so passionate about focusing on staff that she switched disciplines to head HR. Katie Kilgallen finds out how she is defining, and driving forward, a new cultural vision -
Supermarkets dominate poll of UK’s greenest brands
4-Jun-2008
Leading food retailers occupy five of the top six places in a poll to find the UK’s greenest brands, according to the 2008 ImagePower Green Brands survey. -
Tesco attacked by US union
4-Jun-2008
Tesco is being targeted by one of the US’s largest unions, which today launched a campaign on the grocer’s home soil to highlight its staunch anti-union stance in the US. -
Seamless transition
30-May-2008
As Graduate Fashion Week approaches, Katie Kilgallen finds out what more retailers could be doing to help fashion students launch their careers -
Learning curve
23-May-2008
Plans to raise the school leaving age to 18 will have huge implications for retailers that employ teenage staff, says Katie Kilgallen, and they need to start preparing for the changes now -
Code cracker: Lack of post code system hampers home shopping in Ireland
16-May-2008
Home shopping and internet retailing have failed to achieve their potential in Ireland. And there is one very good reason why: aside from Greece, Ireland is the only European member state that does not have an established postal code system, which means that offering a home delivery service is proving an extremely complex and often expensive challenge. -
Come together
15-May-2008
Retailers are introducing greener supply chains, but they are still not thinking innovatively enough. They need to change how they work with suppliers, says Katie Kilgallen -
Helping hands
15-May-2008
How can you get the most out of hiring a consultant? It’s all about knowing what you want to achieve, being willing to change and not losing sight of who is in charge. By Katie Kilgallen -
On top of the green agenda
2-May-2008
The sustainability issues facing retailers are certainly complex, but the industry is making progress. Katie Kilgallen joins some of the UK’s top CSR chiefs to lay down the blueprint for the future -
A tale of two nations
1-May-2008
As the slowdown starts to take its toll, a more complex picture of which areas are suffering most is beginning to emerge. Katie Kilgallen investigates the geographical divide -
A star is born
1-May-2008
With just three weeks to go before the nominations close for this year’s Rising Stars Awards, Katie Kilgallen finds out how last year’s winners have prospered -
Retailers sign environmental pledge
30-Apr-2008
Top-flight retailers have come together to launch the first industry-wide climate change commitments. -
Tesco introduces carbon footprint label
29-Apr-2008
Tesco has launched a carbon footprint label on 20 of its own-brand products to inform consumers about the environmental impact of products. -
Finding light in dark times
17-Apr-2008
Retail is getting tougher in the developed world and this year’s World Retail Congress discussed the challenges facing retailers. Tim Danaher and Katie Kilgallen report from Barcelona -
Making a comeback
17-Apr-2008
Going back to a job after a long spell of leave can be daunting for both employers and employees. But, with the right support network in place, it needn’t be. Katie Daubney and Katie Kilgallen report -
Retailers should pay more than lip service to sustainability
10-Apr-2008
Retailers need to make big changes and take tangible and measurable action now to make their businesses sustainable, according to a panel speaking at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona. -
The whole world in our hands
10-Apr-2008
If you think you’ve got your green strategy wrapped up with carbon and packaging, think again. As Katie Kilgallen discovers, there is a whole host of other issues rising up the eco-agenda -
Green: evolution is key to survival
10-Apr-2008
Speaking at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona, Arcadia and Bhs chief executive Sir Philip Green warned that the tough economic conditions would expose who the good and bad retailers are. -
The rebalancing has begun
10-Apr-2008
We are seeing the start of a rebalancing of the global economy that will have a huge impact on the global retail market. -
A guide to Energy Performance Certificates
4-Apr-2008
Likened to the controversial Home Information Packs, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for commercial properties will very soon be a legal requirement for any properties coming onto the market. -
John Lewis like-for-likes swell at Easter
4-Apr-2008
John Lewis department stores achieved bumper sales lifts this Easter compared with last year. -
What does the downturn mean for retailers?
27-Mar-2008
If any retailer remains doggedly optimistic about consumer spending, it’s time to think again. As Katie Kilgallen discovers, in an exclusive poll by ICM for Retail Week, the facts speak for themselves. -
Morrisons to open new Southeast distribution centre
20-Mar-2008
Supermarket giant Morrisons is to open a new distribution centre at Sittingbourne in Kent, with the creation of 1,000 jobs. -
Russia’s Eldorado hit with hefty back-tax bill
13-Mar-2008
Russian electricals retailer Eldorado, in which UK retailer DSGi considered investing, faces back-tax claims of up to Rub15 billion (£312 million), which could force it to sell assets. -
The green mile
13-Mar-2008
Just when retailers thought they had worked out how to be more eco-friendly, it turns out local sourcing isn’t always the answer. Katie Kilgallen tackles the complexities of greener sourcing -
Foreign exchange
13-Mar-2008
Local knowledge is an invaluable asset for retailers looking overseas for growth potential. But, as Katie Kilgallen finds out, posting staff abroad can bring a wealth of benefits too -
RWC08: Mayfield to push JLP value
12-Mar-2008
Charlie Mayfield has declared he would hate to be the chairman of the John Lewis Partnership who made the decision to axe the “Never knowingly undersold” strapline. -
Regional retailers: Local heroes
5-Mar-2008
Regional retailers may not be able to compete with the national heavyweights on size, but they have plenty else going for them. Katie Kilgallen takes a look at some of the most successful -
Wyevale sets environmental targets
5-Mar-2008
Garden centre group Wyevale has finalised its environmental strategy, outlining a programme to actively run the business in a sustainable way. -
The high life
28-Feb-2008
The sometimes glamorous world of luxury retail can seem a very different lifestyle to working in high street multiples but, as Katie Kilgallen discovers, there’s plenty to learn from both sides -
Open access
21-Feb-2008
Retailers have made huge strides to improve access to their stores, but there is still more that can be done. Katie Kilgallen takes to the streets of Cambridge with a wheelchair user -
Government should get a grip on responsible message
18-Feb-2008
The Government will not be able to its achieve targets on climate change, health and fair trade without tackling its often confusing relationships with supermarkets, according to a report by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC). -
Talent trainer
14-Feb-2008
Apprenticeships are shedding their outdated image thanks to renewed government focus and support from big-name retailers. Katie Kilgallen finds out why this is good news for retail -
Gainful employment
8-Feb-2008
Big-name retailers are backing Local Employment Partnerships, which give the long-term unemployed a chance with none of the associated risks. Katie Kilgallen assesses the benefits -
Ethical cotton crisis looms as Uzbek ban hits suppliers
7-Feb-2008
Retailers face one of their thorniest dilemmas since ramping up commitments to ethical trading – reconciling human rights with the livelihoods of some of the world’s poorest people. -
Take responsibility
4-Feb-2008
As a retailer, the CSR agenda is something you can’t afford to be ignorant about. Environmental and ethical issues have never been higher on the agendas of both consumers and the media. -
The importance of being earnest
31-Jan-2008
So many retailers are jumping on the eco bandwagon that shoppers are becoming sceptical about the credibility of their promises. Katie Kilgallen says delivering on commitments will be crucial to keep them on side -
A guide to carbon labelling
31-Jan-2008
Climate change and, in particular, carbon footprints, are high on the agendas of Government, businesses and consumers alike. -
Qualified to serve
31-Jan-2008
Retailers from the sector’s giants right down to independents have been involved in drafting the new retail diploma, which aims to help school pupils understand what retail is all about. Katie Kilgallen investigates -
Shopfloor education
10-Jan-2008
Training staff is a constant priority for retailers, but what about training customers? Katie Kilgallen looks at how educating shoppers to use your store effectively can bring big rewards -
ScS orders plummet as credit crunch takes toll
6-Dec-2007
A dismal trading update from ScS Upholstery has increased fears that the credit crunch and interest rate rises are beginning to bite deeply into the performance of big-ticket retailers. -
Christmas ads: Let battle commence
6-Dec-2007
Compelling Christmas ads can make or break a retailer’s festive season. Katie Kilgallen and Saatchi & Saatchi’s Bobby Hui settle in front of the TV to analyse this year’s efforts -
JD Unveils New Oxford Street Flagship
5-Dec-2007
The John David Group unveiled its revamped Oxford Street flagship store last night. -
JD uneils new flagship
5-Dec-2007
The John David Group unveiled its revamped Oxford Street flagship store last night. -
Violent increase
5-Dec-2007
Shocking figures released by the BRC last month showed a steep increase in physical and verbal attacks on shop workers. Katie Kilgallen asks how retailers can tackle this worrying rise -
Belfast ups fashion stakes as new scheme signs four
4-Dec-2007
French Connection, Fossil, La Senza and Claire’s Accessories are the latest retailers to sign to Multi Development UK’s Victoria Square scheme in Belfast. -
JD profits to soar, but sales growth slowing
4-Dec-2007
JD Sports has revealed it expects profits to exceed market expectations despite a marked slowdown in sales growth over the past seven weeks. -
Traffic-free Oxford Street takes more than £100 million
3-Dec-2007
Retailers in London’s West-end raked in more than £100 million on Saturday, as more than 1 million shoppers took to the streets to celebrate a traffic-free shopping event. -
The age of the consumer
29-Nov-2007
Charlotte Dennis-Jones and Katie Kilgallen look at the key characteristics of shoppers in four age groups and investigate how to earn brand loyalty -
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 -
Stamp of approval
22-Nov-2007
Is it really possible to measure the carbon footprint of a product? And is it actually worth trying? Katie Kilgallen finds out how retailers’ pilot projects are tackling the issue -
Confidence booster
22-Nov-2007
There is no such thing as a natural salesperson and often fear of rejection stops store staff from approaching customers but, as Katie Kilgallen finds out, self-confidence can often be taught -
A passion for fashion
15-Nov-2007
As increasingly high-tech systems help merchandisers mitigate the risks of their job, are software skills becoming more important to the role than old-fashioned intuition? Katie Kilgallen finds out -
Sainsbury's strikes joint venture deal with Land Securities
14-Nov-2007
Sainsbury's has unveiled a joint venture with property giant Land Securities to unlock £113 million worth of freehold assets. -
Open to suggestions
8-Nov-2007
To keep a business dynamic, fresh ideas need to come from all staff, from the shopfloor upwards. Big-name retailers are backing National Enterprise Week to help foster entrepreneurial spirit. Katie Kilgallen reports -
Pets at Home hires advisers for possible float
8-Nov-2007
Pets at Home has named several advisers to guide on its strategic options for the future of the business. -
Clare to sell Dreams stake to fund homewares move
1-Nov-2007
Dreams founder and managing director Mike Clare is in talks with several private equity firms to sell a stake in the store chain to finance the acquisition of a complementary retail business. -
Saving Christmas
1-Nov-2007
Farepak’s collapse last year almost shattered people’s faith in Christmas savings clubs. But, as Katie Kilgallen reports, they are beginning to fight back -
Trading standards
1-Nov-2007
Consumer conscience has ensured that ethical trading has risen fast up retailers’ agendas, but how is it affecting the role of the buyer? Katie Kilgallen investigates -
Trading standards
25-Oct-2007
Consumer conscience has ensured that ethical trading has risen fast up retailers’ agendas, but how is it affecting the role of the buyer? Katie Kilgallen investigates -
In a class of its own
18-Oct-2007
As the Oxford Summer School prepares for its 79th course next year, Katie Kilgallen learns why delegates never forget it -
Sainsbury's to go 100% fair trade on TU t-shirts
15-Oct-2007
Sainsbury’s has vowed to covert all its TU t-shirts to ethically sourced fair-trade cotton by January next year. -
Holidays are here again
11-Oct-2007
The hike in statutory holiday entitlement that comes into effect this month may be well-received by staff, but how will retailers cope with the extra costs? Katie Kilgallen finds out -
Sainsbury's to go 100% fair trade on TU t-shirts
11-Oct-2007
Sainsbury’s has vowed to covert all its TU t-shirts to ethically sourced fair-trade cotton by January next year. -
Social networking: Retailers’ community challenge
27-Sep-2007
The popularity of social networking is soaring and retailers want a slice of the action. Katie Kilgallen assesses the benefits -
Aga poised to sell food-service businesses
7-Sep-2007
Consumer operations to stand alone -
EBay faces French legal fight
16-Aug-2007
EBay is facing a lawsuit that could threaten its existence in France.
