All Opinion articles – Page 3
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Opinion
‘Without customer trust, retailers have everything to lose’
Retailers are squinting hard into their crystal balls for inspiration on how consumers will react to continued pressure on their wallets as we head into a critical trading period.
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Opinion
‘Asos hasn’t captured the hearts and wallets of Gen Z and Gen Alpha’
The news this week of more upheaval at Asos, with senior leadership departures following a 12-month revenue decline, is a stark reminder of how challenging it is to remain relevant in today’s ever-changing retail world.
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Opinion
‘Dame Sharon White deserves our respect and admiration’
Another day and another retail headline, this time mainly, criticising Dame Sharon Michele White, the leader at the helm of the John Lewis Partnership (JLP). The remark? A presumptuous “Job half done.”
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Opinion
‘Planning is the elephant in the room in high streets debate’
Effective planning could drive intelligent developments in towns, including the ways that retail can be bolstered, argues entrepreneur Emma Bridgewater
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Opinion
‘Sharon White will be leaving a job half-finished at John Lewis Partnership’
John Lewis Partnership (JLP) chair Dame Sharon White’s decision to stand down at the end of a single term is perhaps not surprising. But it raises questions about the legacy she will leave behind.
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Opinion
‘Retailers must operate as loyalty companies, not businesses with a loyalty scheme’
Loyalty must sit at the centre of a brand’s strategy and positioning – think Starbucks Rewards or Amazon Prime – believe Eagle Eye’s Sarah Jarvis and Tim Mason
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Opinion
‘High streets need grassroots solutions – not a Royal Commission to tell us what we already know’
John Lewis Partnership chair Dame Sharon White has called for a Royal Commission on high streets, but town centre solutions must be locally inspired and driven – and there is plenty of good practice to share, argues expert Graham Soult
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Opinion
‘Tech modernisation should not be about complex integration’
Retailers no longer have to choose between a rock and a hard place when it comes to modernising technology, says AlixPartners’ Brian Kalms
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Opinion
‘Time to address crime or face a US-style retail flight from troubled towns’
Right across the retail spectrum, from value shops to department stores, indies to chains, the blight of crime is increasingly being felt.
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Opinion
‘Wilko’s rescue deal fiasco is a distraction from the real problem’
A new week brings fresh headlines about Wilko’s struggle to find a rescue deal that would save most of its 400 stores and keep its 12,500 staff employed but, as of the time of writing, the hunt for a buyer rumbles on.
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Opinion
‘Successful digital transformation should also mean return on investment’
The current climate presents an opportunity for retailers to leverage the full spectrum of technological advancement, believes Alvarez & Marsal’s Erin Brookes
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Opinion
‘Wilko’s demise doesn’t mean the death of the high street’
The collapse into administration of Wilko has been seen as symbolic of an ongoing ‘death of the high street’ as the town centres in which it mainly operates face the prospect of yet more shuttered stores – some in places where former Debenhams or Topshop stores may still stand empty since they toppled.
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Opinion
‘Purposeful business is not an alternative to shareholder value but the best way to create it’
Retail has a unique role in society and can use its strengths to address some of our most important challenges, believes The Very Group chief finance and transformation officer Ben Fletcher
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Opinion
‘Fashion stands out as signs bode well for retailers this Christmas’
Categories such as fashion look well positioned for success as the golden quarter nears, believes PwC’s Lisa Hooker
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Opinion
‘As the M&S-backed Lionesses march on, the retailer is in contention for the customer cup’
In the week where England’s Lionesses kicked some important goals, so did Marks & Spencer – a partner of the England women’s team.
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Opinion
‘Deflation is coming – retailers must be alive to the risks’
Inflation has been making headlines for more than a year but retailers now need to be alert to the risks of deflation, warns True’s Matt Truman
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Opinion
‘I’ve been tortured by my inability to see why investors have championed new, disruptive models’
While investors may covet the latest shiny new thing and bash retail as ‘last season’, they are missing the virtues that great omnichannel retail increasingly holds, believes Matt Coode of OC&C Strategy Consultants
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Opinion
‘John Lewis’ ambition to marry humans and AI is the retail holy grail’
John Lewis Partnership has become the latest retailer to focus on the potential of AI following a new tie-up with Google.
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Opinion
‘Wilko may look like Woolies 2.0, but it could still have a future’
Wilko may be teetering on the brink of administration, but the retailer is not necessarily destined to go the same way as its general merchandise predecessor, says George MacDonald
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Opinion
‘Rain may mean soggy footfall, but retailers can’t forget the big climate picture’
Day to day, rain has probably been front of mind for retailers as dismal July weather resulted in soggy footfall in many places.