All articles by Charlotte Hardie
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InterviewAS Watson CEO Malina Ngai on the Middle East, the UK market and AI
Speaking at an event in London to celebrate the 185th anniversary of AS Watson, group CEO Malina Ngai spoke about the headwinds facing the global beauty giant, why it continues to invest in the UK and the opportunities of AI.
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OpinionâAs public awareness of the horrors of retail crime increases, so too does the risk of a PR disasterâ
With Sainsburyâs following Waitrose and Morrisons as the latest retail giant to find itself in the news on retail crime for all the wrong reasons, Charlotte Hardie questions whether there is still a disconnect on the issue between head office and the shop floor.
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OpinionâMango comments raise questions about how fashion industry squares challenges around consumptionâ
Fashion, by its very nature, encourages people to buy lots of clothes they probably donât really need, observes Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâThe Co-op needs to fully investigate the allegations against itâ
After accusations of âtoxicâ culture at the Co-op, an unrelated executive departure wasnât a headline it needed this week. An inquiry is necessary, if only to provide reassurance in the retailerâs belief that the allegations are wrong, writes Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâDemise of the retail Saturday job is more significant than it soundsâ
Is the retail industryâs longstanding reputation for fostering the careers of young people at risk of being lost, asks Charlotte Hardie
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InterviewQ&A: The Organic Pharmacy UK general manager on Marks & Spencer tie-up
As Marks & Spencer continues its push into beauty, its latest partnership with premium skincare brand The Organic Pharmacy was revealed last week
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OpinionâThere are powerful signs that the social media tidal wave is ebbingâ
Retailers have poured resources and expertise into social media, but the prime ministerâs announcement this week on a consultation over a ban for under-16s is another sign the mood is turning against such networks. What will happen if that route to customers closes, asks Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâFor the future of the industry, retail needs to look further ahead on leadership successionâ
Chief executives can churn fast and the need to fill a vacancy may come around more quickly than expected. If thereâs a dearth of talent, a business can soon unravel, warns Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâDown about the Budget? Donât worry, retail, at least youâre getting an envoy!â
While todayâs Budget wasnât all doom-and-gloom for the retail sector, the almost completely buried announcement that the government is looking to appoint a new retail tsar raises plenty of questions all on its own, writes Charlotte Hardie.
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OpinionâYouâre their punchbag, for those few minutesâ â the horrific reality of shopworker abuse
As the industryâs busiest period gets into full swing, the Retail Trustâs Letâs Respect Retail campaign couldnât be more timely, says Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâRetailâs future health hinges on finding the right partners to solve industry challengesâ
As retailers seek to transform their businesses and take advantage of new technology, more collaborative thinking is essential. Thatâs why Retail Week has launched Solutions Spotlight, explains Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâMy Inditex ordeal reflects a problem â modern retail burns with frictionâ
In a world of technology, data, rapid delivery and single views of stock, Charlotte Hardie fears retailers are in danger of forgetting about the no-brainer of customer service
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OpinionâDespite AI solutions revolutionising efficiency, retail will always be about peopleâ
As the Fashion Retail Academy celebrates its 20th anniverary, Charlotte Hardie considers what the next 20 years could bring, particularly the impact of AI on the industry and its people
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OpinionâRetailers must continue to make noise about unsustainable cost burdensâ
Government-imposed financial pressures are inflicting pain on the heart of the retail industry â its people, believes Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâIn an omnichannel world, online returns stances looks out of kilter with shopper behaviourâ
Some people exploit the returns system but why should online customers be treated differently from in-store shoppers, asks Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâSurge in weight loss wonder drugs has confused the future of consumptionâ
This week, grocery analysts Kantar signalled a potential link between the use of weight loss medication and a fall in grocery volumes. Charlotte Hardie believes that the drugsâ adoption could have profound implications for retailers
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OpinionâOnline shopping is no longer exciting. Etailers will need to pedal harder to succeedâ
Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie wonders whether the role that online purchasing plays in peopleâs lives has changed forever
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OpinionâIn wake of the M&S attack, letâs keep talking about cyber risk, resilience and solutionsâ
Marks & Spencer boss Stuart Machin revealed this week how much he valued the support and advice of other bosses who had also been targeted by cyber criminals. Such attacks are now all too common now, so letâs ensure the issue remains high on retailâs agenda, says Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie
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OpinionâNo growth strategy, tech investment or innovation can compensate for poor human interactionâ
As the biggest private sector employer in the UK, retailers should be applauded for their stellar efforts in making retail a great place to work and build your career, says Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie.
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OpinionâBackpedaling on diversity and inclusion would be a huge mistakeâ
As International Womenâs Day is marked this week, commitment to diversity and inclusion is on the wane among some big-name businesses. But less diverse companies will ultimately be less successful, argues Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie