This year thus far has not been as bad, for many, as had been feared and indeed there are some who have proved resilient.

This year thus far has not been as bad, for many, as had been feared and indeed there are some who have proved resilient. And things are moving from where they were last year. Big high street names are proving slick at getting in among the indies – think the Topman General Store in Shoreditch – and there appears to be
a movement towards telling it how it is.

For the latter tendency, look no further than Monmouth Street. It’s where Hotel Chocolat has set up a store that takes storytelling to its logical conclusion by leading the shopper on a trip from cocoa bean to hot chocolate drink.  

Further afield, Mexico City, the world’s second-largest conurbation, is a place where department store retailing is worth taking a look at and where food shopping is about keeping things local. Retail Week visited and found that as well as being a large, vibrant market, the Mexican capital could provide UK retailers with
a few pointers about keeping offers relevant.

You do not, of course, have to go that far afield to find things worth looking at and, as we all try to economise, now seemed an appropriate moment to look at how DIY interiors are shaping up as it is an obvious way to save money for householders. For retailers looking to keep the capex budget under control, the LED or not LED lighting battleground continues to be fought over – we look at the pros and cons. 

Finally, and when you’ve had enough of looking at shops, it’s probably time for an Americano, Earl Grey or perhaps a skinny latte. Retailers have not been slow to put cafes into their stores, but some have proved more adept at it than others. We have a round-up of what’s being done by some of the more innovative retailers when it comes to the matter of a hot beverage.

Meanwhile, the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee are just around the corner and you can bet that visual merchandising plans for both were set in stone some time ago… but that’s for the time.