All Opinion articles – Page 3
Most recent first.
-
Opinion‘What does the government’s Plan for Jobs mean for retail?’
In more ways than one, retail has been on the front line of the Covid-19 crisis. It has been among a handful of sectors that have led efforts to keep the country running, ensuring stores and supply chains of essential goods have remained open.
-
Opinion
‘UK retailers should look to China to support their Covid-19 recovery’
The Covid-19 crisis has had a global impact on consumer spending, shifting short-term purchase patterns and bringing long-term changes to the way we work, socialise and shop.
-
Opinion
Aldi CEO Giles Hurley: ‘Families need grocers’ help more than ever this summer’
Before Covid-19, an estimated 3 million children in the UK were at risk of going hungry over the summer holidays. It is a particularly trying time for many parents who must stretch budgets to cover extra childcare costs and provide meals usually taken care of at school.
-
Opinion
Peter Williams: ‘Covid caution means it will take years for city centres to recover’
In my lifetime we have never experienced anything like the Covid pandemic. In the last few months, we have seen seismic changes in the way that both consumers shop and we, as retailers, work.
-
Opinion
‘Tesco would be reckless to rival Amazon on free deliveries’
It didn’t take long for Amazon’s free grocery delivery revelation to spark a response from one of its mainstream rivals.
-
Opinion
‘After restaurants’ beanfeast, it’s time to launch Shop Out to Help Out’
Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been a huge success, for which the chancellor deserves credit. Retailers should find ways to replicate it.
-
Opinion
‘Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is not just unconventional – it’s unprofessional’
When a stock market announcement comes through from Frasers Group, formerly known as Sports Direct, you never know what to expect. A rant from founder Mike Ashley at landlords , the government or his rivals ? A shiny new acquisition ? The resignation of its auditor ?
-
Opinion
‘Retailers must recession-proof ahead of crunch Christmas’
Data released over the past few days has laid bare the extent of the challenge the UK economy faces over the coming months and years.
-
Opinion
‘UK fashion retail’s choice – lie down and accept decline or come back fighting’
Little more than 20 years ago, Marks Spencer made headlines when profits hit £1bn. Eighty per cent of its £6.7bn turnover came from the clothing business. Only just over a decade ago, Topshop was poised to conquer America – the opening of a flagship store in Soho in ...
-
Opinion
‘Could Amazon’s JC Penney swoop offer a glimpse into its UK plans?’
With Amazon in discussions to buy abandoned department stores in the US to turn into dedicated distribution centres, might the etail giant do the same in the UK – and would it work?
-
Opinion
‘V-shaped recovery masks wildly divergent retail performance’
Not a day seems to have passed recently without a CVA or job losses from one retailer or another as a result of the lower footfall, lower spend and acceleration in shift online caused by the pandemic.
-
Opinion
‘JD-Footasylum case shows how retail mergers have just got tougher’
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last week slapped JD Sports and its largest shareholder with a £300,000 fine for allegedly breaking an order from the watchdog over its acquisition of Footasylum.
-
Opinion
Catriona Marshall: ‘We bounced back with talent, knowledge and loyalty in place’
Former Hobbycraft chief executive Catriona Marshall, who now owns specialist retailer Running Bear, on how the coronavirus pandemic meant creating an online business overnight and the adoption of a new business model
-
Opinion
‘As Amazon plots Go stores, bricks-and-mortar retailers must up their game’
Online giant Amazon has had a good pandemic and effectively put into practice the maxim that crisis can spell opportunity, writes George MacDonald.
-
Opinion
Thierry Garnier: ‘In a crisis, speed, agility and empowerment beat perfection’
B Q owner Kingfisher’s chief executive Thierry Garnier on how the home and DIY retail giant responded to the Covid-19 pandemic, and why ‘done is better than perfect’
-
Opinion
Move of the Week: People director Nikki Humphrey faces a challenge at JLP
Out of the frying pan and into the fire. This is the obvious conclusion to draw from Nikki Humphrey’s decision to leave Virgin Atlantic to become John Lewis Partnership’s new executive director for people.
-
Opinion
‘John Lewis chair White keeps the best and updates the rest’
Meet the new John Lewis, same as the old John Lewis – up to a point, anyway. And up to an important point, which should never be lost.
-
Opinion
‘Don’t believe all the online hype – Next and Majestic show value of stores’
Amid a slew of strategic shifts focused on online growth and store closures, it was refreshing to have some timely reminders of the power of bricks and mortar this week.
-
Opinion
‘The new channel split is one of mission: buying vs shopping’
Why has online retailing not grown more during the Covid crisis? And what does that tell us about its limitations?
-
Opinion
‘Working from home is here to stay and retail must adapt’
As face masks became mandatory for shoppers on Friday, it was a stark reminder that the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over.
