All articles by Nick Hughes
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Analysis
Productivity: Artificial intelligence to the rescue
From customer service robots to online chatbots, artificial intelligence is playing a crucial role in driving productivity gains. Retail Week investigates this game-changing phenomenon.
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News
Move of the week: Tony Baines retires from Aldi
In grocery circles, the name Tony Baines is synonymous with Aldi UK.
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Analysis
The Brexit effect: How will global retail supply chains be impacted?
With the UK’s out vote inevitably impacting retailers, Nick Hughes investigates the wide-reaching implications for the global supply chain.
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Analysis
Analysis: The role of store associates in the digital age
Retail Week and Manhattan Associates investigate the role of technology in the evolving retailer-customer relationship in a new report.
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Analysis
Consumer 2016: Adapting to the big consumer trends in retail
Big changes in the way people shop will have a major effect on how consumers splash their cash in 2016. So how will consumers spend their money?
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Analysis
Analysis: Start preparing for the logistical minefield around seasonal peaks
Trading peaks such as Black Friday and Christmas put a strain on fulfilment strategies. Here is how retailers can prepare.
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Analysis
Collar Club is the latest start-up to enter the subscription-service market
Consumers are turning to subscription retailers for products and services. Nick Hughes speaks to the founder of Collar Club about the trend.
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News
Retail Week Live: Bringing retail’s biggest names and innovations together
Retail Week Live will feature the biggest names in retail and a start-up campus showcasing the latest thinking in retail technology.
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Analysis
Analysis: Cautious optimism in uncertain times for the retail sector
Retail 2015, produced by Retail Week in association with Kurt Salmon, reveals what industry chiefs really think about prospects for 2015.
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Analysis
Emerging Leaders Forum: Nurturing tomorrow’s trailblazers
Promoting from within benefits retailers and employees alike - Retail Week’s Emerging Leaders Forum helps develop upcoming retail talent.
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Analysis
Analysis: Big four grocers slim down for new year’s battle
Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco are all cutting roles and reshuffling their top teams as they seek to turn around performance.
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Analysis
Analysis: Christmas trading figures show the great retail divide
The festive season’s results inevitably have winners and losers, but this year’s OC&C Christmas Trading Index shows the gulf between them.
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Analysis
Analysis: Trago Mills and fifty years of a Cornish firebrand
Long before pound shops were growing on the high street, a Cornish entrepreneur was pioneering a new form of discount retailing.
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Analysis
Retail Week Live: Dixons Carphone boss to review the changing retail scene
Change will be the central theme of the opening speech by Carphone Warehouse boss Sebastian James at this year’s Retail Week Live event.
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Analysis
Analysis: How delivery chaos took the shine off Christmas
Retailers were caught out by high delivery demand over Christmas as Black Friday and Cyber Monday put strain on fulfilment systems.
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Analysis
CES report: Smart technology coming of age for retailers
Technology unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show points to a connected future that has implications for retailers and consumers alike.
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Analysis
Start-up of the week: Online video streaming provider Whisbi
Start-ups in retail technology are growing quickly and Retail Week is highlighting some of the best. This week Whisbi is in the spotlight.
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Analysis
Analysis: What is the future of energy generation for retailers?
Whether using food waste to power supermarkets or installing wind turbines on roofs, retailers are taking new approaches to energy generation.
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Analysis
Analysis: How is supply chain security affected by world events?
How will recent world events such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and sanctions on Russia effect the security of global supply chains?
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Analysis
Analysis: Connect with your customers at the Customer Experience conference
The Retail Week Customer Experience conference will explore how retailers can connect with their digitally savvy customers.