Analysis

Why the profit warning from ASOS has added to the retail gloom

Retailers are hoping for a busy New Year period following a very tough year of trading. Much of the current…

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The shift towards conscious consumerism

The UK’s ethical retail sector has grown by more than £40bn since 2008, with households spending an average of £1,263…

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Why are retail spaces shrinking across England and Wales?

Across the UK, retailers are struggling to survive. This is down to several factors: years of austerity and low wage…

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Tackling the serial returner – time to ban them?

I think like most online and brick and mortar stores, we’ve noticed an increasing challenge with serial returners. We sell…

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Innovation in retail: who’s your money on?

No business is immune from the potentially fatal consequences of relying on ‘business as usual’. The recent fates of household…

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The future’s bright, the future’s automation?

Last month high street stalwart Marks & Spencer (M&S) announced plans to overhaul its customer services department with an AI…

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The new Debenhams branding might be ‘joyous’ – but is the in-store experience?

This is a pivotal moment for department stores. The ongoing House of Fraser (HoF) crisis has shown the perils of…

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How Wesfarmers’ takeover strategy almost sent Homebase ‘down under’

There are few home comforts for Homebase right now. The DIY chain confirmed on August 31 that it will close…

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How accessible are shopping centres in the UK?

In 2016, the UK’s population peaked at 65.6 million. Reportedly, 18% of the population were aged 65 and over. With…

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Reality Check: Would you pay by Instagram?

In the near future, direct payments will be possible via the image-sharing service Instagram. With this announcement the app, first…

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