Opinion – Page 175
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OpinionComment: Hotel Chocolat's Angus Thirlwell on retail authenticity
We are fortunate at Hotel Chocolat in having the world’s most seductive food as our subject matter. Chocolate plays on the emotions as well as the taste buds and that’s perhaps why we have so many ultra-committed customers.
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OpinionComment: For Next, imitation may offer more than just flattery
Next, the UK’s second largest clothing retailer, has raised its profit forecast following strong Christmas sales.
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OpinionRetail surgery: Can I do more with SMS text messages?
SMS is a great way for retailers to reach customers. Research has shown that 99.9% of all text messages are read and 95% are read within three minutes.
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OpinionRetail surgery: What are the new consumer contract regulations and what do retailers need to do?
New consumer contract regulations were required to be enacted by the end of 2013, which will reform the law – and impose new requirements – on businesses selling goods.
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OpinionBlog: Marks & Spencer's tale of two Christmases
Marks & Spencer told a tale of two Christmases when it posted seasonal figures today.
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OpinionBlog: What is the importance of customer service?
What is the importance of customer service in creating an experience for shoppers, and the significance of the workforce in this delivery.
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OpinionNick Bubb’s verdict: Marks & Spencer - who’d be a food retailer?
Marc Bolland may have mixed feelings about the unfolding disaster at his old company Morrison’s, but he can be proud of how M&S Food has performed.
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OpinionComment: Grocers have some work to do after 'Excuses Thursday'
There seems to have been an alarming recent trend to label days of the week in retail, a la Sky Sports.
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OpinionComment: Delivery was a key reason for poor Christmas performances
It comes as little surprise that discussion of Debenhams’ and Mothercare’s lacklustre Christmas results have mentioned their online delivery propositions.
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OpinionBlog: Tesco boss Philip Clarke on the grocer's Christmas performance
As seasonal as the sales, the flurry of Christmas trading statements is well underway and we have reported our sales update this morning.
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OpinionComment: Media hires will keep retailers relevant
The retail and media sectors have always been close cousins. But, as the digital revolution continues to disrupt all aspects of the media space, the role of retailers has to change if they are to remain relevant.
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OpinionComment: Next makes money in the middle market
Next was very much in fashion with shoppers over Christmas, when it posted better than expected sales.
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OpinionComment: Retail trends that are not just for Christmas
The concentrated nature of the festive trading period amplifies consumer trends like no other and there are already telling lessons to be drawn for the year ahead.
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OpinionComment: Mothercare lost out to rivals after Christmas gamble
Mothercare has issued a shock profit warning which has seen its share price plummet in this morning’s trading.
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OpinionBlog: Mobile traffic rockets at Christmas
Mobile traffic has been growing at a reliably fast pace for the past few years, but during Christmas it rocketed.
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OpinionBlog: Property industry should take a risk on new breed of online expansionists
Since the advent of online retailing, there has been no shortage of analysts and observers ready to predict that pure players would, literally, set up shop. Yet this forecast has proven largely incorrect so far.
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OpinionComment: What happened to Debenhams at Christmas?
What could have been done to make Christmas happen at the department store retailer?
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OpinionComment: Retail lessons from Next's Christmas update
A standout Christmas performance from Next puts the retailer in line to rival Marks & Spencer’s profitability this year.
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OpinionComment: A new year brings new opportunities for retailers
The New Year is often portrayed as an opportunity for a fresh start. As such, rather than focusing on the retail failures of 2013, why not take a look at the successes of some of last year’s more innovative retailers instead?
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OpinionComment: The Christmas retail story will be margin, not just sales
Christmas updates from Debenhams, House of Fraser and John Lewis told wildly differing stories about seasonal trading.