Opinion – Page 349
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Opinion
It’s up to us to turn it around
Instead of waiting for the Government to restore consumer confidence, why not take charge?
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Opinion
Store manager’s diary: Quality and value will ride out the downturn
You don’t need me to remind you that it’s not an easy time out there at the moment – particularly in furniture. The sector is going through a period of consolidation, but Ikea will be there at the end and our offer of good design combined with low prices is ...
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Opinion
A steady income helps
Don’t be surprised if the meaning of the word service changes dramatically in the next few years. Right now, in retail terms, it still refers to the concept of being assisted by a member of staff, probably in a store or call centre.
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Opinion
Landlords should do more
Last week’s front page story on the quarterly rents debate provoked a fuller inbox than pretty much any issue we’ve highlighted in my three years on Retail Week.
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Opinion
The value of value
You have to wonder about the place of design when you visit a branch of Aldi, Lidl or Netto.
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Opinion
Discounters have a chance to turn shoppers for good
Shoppers are voting with their feet and figures released this week show that consumer spend in discount supermarkets has reached record levels.
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Opinion
The Retail Week – July 25, 2008
The retail market may be volatile at the moment, but this doesn’t explain the extraordinary ups and downs in the official retail sales figures produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
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Opinion
Landlords live in the dark ages
Imagine if your bank asked you to pay your November mortgage payment next week. Or if you weren’t allowed on the train to work on Monday because your ticket wasn’t valid for the last week of October.
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Opinion
What goes up will come down
It was the week of the dead cat bounce, with some of the sector’s scrawniest-valued moggies being the biggest beneficiaries.
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Opinion
Being green is right, even in the downturn
Should business continue to invest in CSR in the present economic climate?
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Opinion
Keep it short, sharp and simple
In the present gloomy climate, good promotional activity will keep the wolves from the door.
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Opinion
What's Next?
Next could surprise the City when it updates on its second quarter performance next week.
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Opinion
On good Phorm
At BT’s AGM last week, the telecoms giant confirmed that it would be pushing on with its trials of Phorm.
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Opinion
A united voice
The sleepy world of retail property doesn’t often take centre stage on the front of The Sunday Times business section.
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Opinion
Green alert
Seems a pity to rake over last week’s green theme once more, but passing a branch of surf-cum-outdoorwear retailer Howies it was hard not to stare at the eco-message that it was putting out.
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Opinion
Co-op should focus on what it does best
The long-awaited Co-op-Somerfield deal was finally completed this week with little pomp and ceremony.
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Opinion
Cracking generation Y is the Holy Grail
In his recent article, “Is electricals leaving consumers behind?” (Retail Week, July 4) Paul Smiddy observed that “the gap between manufacturers’ technology and consumers’ ability to grasp it appears to be widening”, with the qualification, “perhaps it’s an age thing”.
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Opinion
Lord Kirkham: The past is still relevant today
Now, just like 30 years ago, it is trim, innovative businesses that are thriving in hard times
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Opinion
The Retail Week – July 18, 2008
Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire has pulled off a real coup with the final additions to his top team charged with turning around the DIY giant.
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Opinion
A marriage of convenience
On the face of it, Co-op and Somerfield is the most unlikely pairing since Lembit Opik shacked up with a Cheeky Girl.