Opinion – Page 5
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Opinion‘Hoping for a retail leadership role? Here are some things you should know’
To understand the DNA of a successful chief executive it pays to listen to a wide range of voices, and getting to the top today takes more than personal ambition. Headhunter Spencer Stuart’s Sally Elliott shares some observations for those keen to make the grade
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Opinion‘Will UK consumer confidence follow in the same direction as the US?’
Consumers are concerned about their finances and geopolitics. PwC retail specialist Lisa Hooker considers whether the UK may nevertheless prove resilient
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Opinion‘After M&S’ cyber attack, these are the security questions retailers must ask themselves’
It’s a question of when, not if, there are more attempts to breach retailers’ cybersecurity. AlixPartners experts Brian Kalms and Edd Hardy look at how businesses can best protect themselves
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Opinion‘Can a new entrant controlled by a global giant disrupt UK grocery?’
The soft launch of Joybuy represents a play by Chinese powerhouse JD.com to snap up share of the food retail market, but established grocers won’t be quaking in their boots just yet, says George MacDonald
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Opinion‘De minimis advantage – the elephant in the room for Shein, pre-IPO?’
UK retailers would benefit from the abolition of de minimis rules, which have given Shein’s business model an advantage, believes fashion analyst Maureen Hinton
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Opinion‘This grocery ‘price war’ is less battle, more ballet’
The price war narrative misses the mark. What’s actually happening is a repositioning from blunt price matching to smart price signalling, observes OC&C’s Matt Coode
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Opinion‘Job security jitters may rise — and constrain consumer spend’
Consumer sentiment has been helped by a strong labour market, but nervousness on the jobs front means weak demand for discretionary goods may build, cautions Shore Capital director Clive Black
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Opinion‘Why do some retail brands endure while others fade away?’
Staying relevant comes down to balancing core values with innovation, believes headhunter Clarity’s managing partner Fran Minogue
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Opinion‘Traders from outside the UK may take advantage of our rules to sell displaced US stock’
As tariffs dominate the headlines, action is needed to stop stock ‘dumping’ in the UK says BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson
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Opinion‘Tariffs could be a death knell for countless supply chain jobs and businesses’
The impact of president Trump’s tariffs will be felt by workers in garment production, on farms, in general merchandise factories and beyond. Sensible retailers should help their supply chain partners navigate the challenges, says Ethical Trading Initiative executive director Giles Bolton
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OpinionNavigating tariffs: a survival guide for UK retailers
A week on from President Trump’s “liberation day”, Ben Cooke, partner at international law firm Addleshaw Goddard, breaks down the impact of new US tariffs on UK and EU goods, exports, supply chains and US customer demand, and sets out actions for retailers to take
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Opinion'Are you ready for tariff-driven tat? Prepare for a tidal wave of cheap imports'
Retailers need to be ready in case President Trump’s tariffs prompt a flood of shoddy marketplace goods into the UK, cautions features editor Ellis Hawthorne
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Opinion‘Longstanding assumptions are being challenged as retailers navigate new reality’
Tough trading conditions mean that many retailers now recognise the need to strike a better balance between breadth of product and services and profitability, observes Alvarez & Marsal’s managing director Erin Brookes
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Opinion‘Being able to pivot fast has helped N Brown to stay ahead of the curve’
Home shopping group N Brown’s chief operating officer Nuno Miller reveals how adopting an agile operating model has benefitted the business
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Opinion‘The Co-op’s values may set it apart, but it’s value that’s front of mind for shoppers’
The Co-op’s launch of an Aldi price matching scheme should reassure customers on price-competitiveness, believes Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald
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Opinion‘You won’t capture a tech-savvy generation by fixing your internal finance platform’
Invest in tech that engages consumers in ways they haven’t yet imagined – and do it where it matters most to them, argues AlixPartners’ Brian Kalms
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Opinion‘On Covid’s five-year anniversary, remember the retail staff who worked day in, day out’
During lockdown, retail employees kept the UK going, putting themselves at risk of the virus while most of us were being told to stay at home. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson and shopworkers’ union boss Paddy Lillis pay tribute to them and make a plea for respect
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Opinion‘Supermarket share price rout is testament to Asda’s turnaround potential’
Asda is no spent force, but rival grocers’ share price clobbering sparked by the fear of price wars looks overdone, believes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Return on capital employed is the one KPI every board needs’
Too many ignore a metric that crucially reveals whether a management team is building a better business for its owners, not just a bigger one, argues True’s Matt Truman
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Opinion‘Will 2025 be remembered as a year of retail leadership change?’
It’s been five years since the pandemic hit, and retail has had a torrid time. Having steered businesses through tough times a significant number of leaders may choose this year to move on, believes headhunter Tony Gregg