Flannels is lighting up its Oxford Street flagship with a thousand smiles this Black Friday as part of the Retail Trust’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign.
The Frasers Group-owned business is among several retailers, shopping centres and landmark sites calling for respect for retail staff in the run-up to Christmas amid rising levels of abuse on the shop floor.
A thousand faces will light up big screens all over the UK, including Piccadilly Lights and Westfield shopping centres to confront the abuse facing the country’s retail workers.
Screens featuring the Retail Trust’s smiles of respect will appear in 24 shopping centres nationwide, including Bluewater and Metrocentre, until Christmas. The campaign is also supported by Holland & Barrett, H&M, Bp, Landsec and Frasers Group’s retail media network Elevate.
It comes after research from the Retail Trust found that 77% of shop staff have experienced intimidating behaviour in the last year, and 23% reported they were physically assaulted.
Close to half of store employees (43%) said they were being abused or attacked every week, a rise of 10% on 2024’s figures.
Retail Trust chief executive Chris Brook-Carter said: “Thoughtless, unkind and aggressive behaviour has become ‘part of the job’ for too many shop workers today. It’s on all of us to help bring humanity back to the high street this Christmas, starting with acts as simple as a thank you, a greeting, and a smile.
“The smiles being shared across the country represent the Retail Trust’s call for dignity and decency. We know that the smallest acts of respect still make a huge difference to people who are facing daily hostility at work and this is our moment to prove that and to change behaviour.”
Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue owner Theo Paphitis added: “The retail industry is one of the most supportive around, as shown by the warmth for, and engagement with, this year’s important ‘Let’s Respect Retail’ campaign.
“Our store colleagues are out there helping our customers day in, day out and respect is the very least we should ask for as we serve our communities. Visit stores, smile and engage positively with our colleagues and this becomes a win-win for all.”
For more information and to find out how to support the Let’s Respect Retail campaign, visit retailtrust.org.uk/respect. #respectretail.
The Trust offers resources and free training to help your colleagues cope with challenging situations, as well as support to those who are victims of store abuse and crime.
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