Opinion – Page 344
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Opinion
Baugur brands have a future
This week it’s been remarkable how retailers that for years have been proud to be portrayed as part of the Baugur empire are now saying they can carry on independently of the investment company.
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Opinion
The real economy is what matters
Now that the problems of the financial system have begun to be addressed, the focus is on the outlook for the real economy. And out there on the high street, in offices and on factory floors – workplaces where changes to confidence, employment and earnings directly affect retail performance – ...
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Opinion
Retailers should expect technology supplier consolidation
Possible retail consolidation following on from the financial meltdown in Iceland is all the sector can talk about this week. But another knock-on effect of the current economic climate is that it could spell a whole new wave of consolidation in the technology sector.
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OpinionNow is the time to plan for tomorrow
When this crisis is over, retail will continue to be a lower growth, lower margin industry
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Opinion
Jacqueline Gold: Have a little faith in Christmas
As long as you clear out any potential turkeys now, the festive season can still be a winner
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Opinion
Monthly rents cease fire?
Last week’s coming together of retailers and landlords over the vexed question of rental payment periods was more of a détente than a clash of the titans.
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Opinion
Comment: How retailers can lighten the mood
It’s quite a challenge to remain optimistic in the present climate, but at least one retailer is working on making shoppers feel better at a highly subconscious level.
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Opinion
Sainsbury's covering all bases
Sainsbury’s delivered second-quarter results that were above expectations this week.
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Opinion
Why the Icelandic turmoil should spook UK retail
The turmoil in Iceland is the biggest, if not the only, retail story to dominate the news this week, sending palpable shivers down the spine of some in the UK stores sector.
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Opinion
Tim Danaher: A week that will transform retail
“May you live in interesting times,” the old Chinese saying goes, but most people in retail would quite happily settle for decidedly less interesting ones right now.
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Opinion
George MacDonald: Marks & Spencer is not finished yet
It’s a measure of how hellish conditions have become that a 6.1 per cent like-for-like sales fall at Marks & Spencer was regarded as not too bad.
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Opinion
John King: The retail diploma needs our support
I began my retail career on a management training programme, working my way up from the shopfloor.
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Opinion
Lord Kirkham: There’s an art to good business
As Damien Hirst’s recent auction showed, thinking outside the box is key to making money
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Opinion
Online conversion key as web sales slow
Neither nose-diving share prices, nor the ongoing debate about whether the UK is yet in recession could deter the great and the good of e-commerce from coming together for a conference in West London yesterday.
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Opinion
A tense time for landlords and retailers
There have been some pretty serious conversations between landlords and retailers in the past week as the arrival of the September quarterly rent day last week brought two issues to a head.
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Opinion
The X factor: how mid-market retailers can get ahead in the push for posh
Last week brought the annual handing out of gongs for the best in UK store design at the 11th Retail Interiors Awards and a glittering event it was, as wine flowed (rather too) freely and the design cognoscenti danced ’til dawn.
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Opinion
Tesco banking on banking
In an ironic about-turn, consumers were this week knocking down the doors of Northern Rock to open savings accounts.
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Opinion
For extra cash, take in a lodger or two
While every retailer is constantly on the lookout for ways of increasing sales and cutting costs, there is a growing number that are generating a whole new stream of revenue from their prime asset: store space.
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Opinion
Bad times bring out the best
Retail staff are most likely to suffer in the downturn and yet many continue to be an inspiration