The changes Boots is making within its photo business, which were revealed by Retail Week today, would not have come as a surprise to many.
The retailer is closing 220 of its in-store photo labs following a slump in demand for traditional developing services, at the expense of up to 400 jobs.
Put simply, Boots could not escape the fact that consumer habits have shifted dramatically.
Most shoppers now use Boots’ in-store photo kiosks, printing photos directly from their smartphones, tablets or USB sticks, rather than developing rolls of film.
It’s a swing that has left Boots photo labs operating below capacity.
In a tough and turbulent retail market, Boots has taken a tough decision, but one that makes total sense for the business.
After the restructures revealed by the likes of John Lewis, Tesco and Waitrose in the last few weeks, the retail sector’s move towards a culture of fewer but better jobs seems to be quickly gathering pace.
Elsewhere today, there’s news of sales spikes at Zalando and MySale, price increases within the grocery sector and our executive editor George MacDonald has his say on Sir Philip Green’s £363m contribution to the BHS pension scheme.
Quote of the day
“It is clear that the significant underlying cost pressures, which have been building over the last year, are beginning to filter through into shop prices.”
– BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson
Today in numbers
0.4%
The rise in food prices recorded by the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index in February.
101%
The jump in Zalando’s adjusted EBIT (to €216m) during the year to December 31, 2016.
Tomorrow’s agenda
Wickes owner Travis Perkins unveils its full-year results.
Luke Tugby, head of content
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