Carl Harris

💡 💡 🛒 With constant evolution and bold innovations, Nisa Retail retailer kaual patel is pushing the boundaries at Nisa Local Torridon Road store and people are loving it. ⏭ Dive into this exclusive store's very interesting story at Retail Corner. And share yours too. #Retailcorner #UKconvenience #UKretail #retail #convenience #innovations https://lnkd.in/gSVC_5UT

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As a retail expert I discussed whether John Lewis & Partners can reverse its fortunes with Drapers news editor Elizabeth Howlett: There's a long road ahead, however, with current turnaround efforts expected to take until 2027/28 to bear fruit. John Lewis's interim results, released on 14 September 2023, painted a bleak financial picture for the retailer as operating profit declined by 6% year on year to £277.1m for the 26 weeks ended 29 July. Its losses narrowed by 14% year on year to £57.3m in the period. “The question is whether John Lewis is going the same direction as Allders, Arcadia Group, Debenhams and House of Fraser,” said Andrew Pepper, partner at business advisory RESOLVE.  (I was Administrator of Allders and advised the lenders on House of Fraser. I see lots of similarities.) “They will look at their property portfolio and look at their most successful premises and their least and explore if there is a way to right size its portfolio to be smaller on footprint, but more profitable.”   Pepper also pointed out that strong staff loyalty has some disadvantages. The partnership currently has a score of 3.8 out of 5 on open company review platform Glassdoor, with 70% of the 4,451 anonymous reviews from current and former employees recommending the company to others, with many citing good wages and employee benefits. While this has been a huge benefit to John Lewis over the years, as it has likely meant lower staff turnover and a good employer brand reputation, it could also mean larger redundancy packages. “John Lewis [and Waitrose] is a lovely place to work, so they likely had good redundancy terms and had people who had worked there for 20 years. Unlike other retailers, the movement of staff through [John Lewis] likely isn't that much,” explained Pepper. “By implication that means you have lots of people working there for 10-20 years, and the [redundancy] cost will be disproportionately higher.” Read more via Drapers, below. https://lnkd.in/eD5JPxHx #ForwardWithReSolve #privateequity #debtfinancing #thebodyshop #restructuring #administration Turnaround Management Association (TMA UK) Institute of Directors (IoD) R3 Association of Business Recovery Professionals Richard Obank Retail Trust #turnaround UK Government Investments (UKGI) Foot Anstey LLP M&G plc Barings BlackRock Russell Jarvis Evelyn Partners Philip Kirkpatrick Kirkland & Ellis Close Brothers Arbuthnot Latham Bank Leumi בנק לאומי UK PNC Metro Bank (UK) Santander HSBC RESOLVE Maddox Legal Limited CMS UK Shawbrook Bank ABN AMRO Commercial Finance Praetura Commercial Finance Arnold Vos Retail Realisation Rothschild & Co #venturecapital Bantry Bay Andrew Buchanan Buchanan #retail British Land Mike Thompson MBE @CVC Capital Partners #ForwardWithReSolve #retailnews #turnaround

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This is a prime example of why you will not see these types of displays in Pak N Save. As Sherrelle knows from experience the price is the most important piece from the customer point of view hence why we prioritise it. The “New Look” & “Same Great Taste” messaging just calls out to consumers “keep walking, nothings changed, if you didn’t like me before you still won’t”. Can just imagine the huge amount of money that has been spent on this globally that could have been invested into the price point instead over a longer period than just a week long promotion of LED displays destined for the rubbish heap. Considering the amount of backlash this retailer received when they announced they would be re-branding and the 400 million dollar price tag that accompanied it was deemed abhorrent yet the similarities of this relaunch to that example seem to have been overlooked? Fully understand the role of a marketing department but need to ensure that the end consumer sees the same value and understands why the product now appears in brighter packaging and it’s not just the old lipstick on a pig scenario.

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First-quarter full-price sales at British high street retailer Next increased 5.7% year on year, "slightly exceeding" the expected 5% growth. However, it has warned that second-quarter sales are expected to fall by 0.3% year on year. Find out more below. #next #highstreet #retailer #retailsales #fashionnews

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Impact of Cost of living on customers spending behaviours With prices rising, customers are continuing to manage their spend by pulling back on non-essentials. Many retailers are feeling the pressure, particularly those that appeal to younger shoppers, who are the hardest hit. Please reach out if you need a deeper understanding of your customers behaviour within the wider market. Simon Johnson, John Affleck, Tom Pinnell, Utsav Nag, Louise Carter Full report: https://lnkd.in/gpwRU5-n Summary of findings: https://lnkd.in/g6DAxkFb

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Is loyalty pricing affecting consumer behaviour, and is this having an impact on how supermarkets compete with each other? This is one of the areas the CMA is currently investigating. I believe that next up they will be investigating if the Earth is round (controversial I know). They also want to know if any group of shoppers are disadvantaged by this type of promotional activity. Hmmm, let me investigate that (quick search of the internet), 'All members of the scheme must have a valid UK address and be aged 18 years or over', that'll be a 'no' then! The Retailers call them Loyalty cards in the vain hope that Customers might be loyal, the reality though is somewhat different. We have all the 'loyalty' apps on our phone & just pull it out every time we go in one of the stores. That includes pretty much every single Retailer on the high street, it also includes the place where I buy my bagels & the local coffee shop round the corner (they have two sites)! When Tesco launched Club Card Exclusives back in 2020 then the deals were better than standard deals. To be involved in a Club Card promotion you had to offer a deal better than anything else available. Where are we today? The same promotions are offered across every loyalty scheme. Of course there are some deals that are better than others, promotions that are exclusive to one Retailer. This is no different to when I was a Buyer 10 years ago!! Retailers have always looked for something different to make them stand out. But, as we know, there is no such thing a new idea in retail. When was the last time you walked into a Retailer & thought 'wow, I've never seen that before'? Everything in the UK has been done before, there is nothing new. We are no longer the market that Retailers come to learn. I was speaking with a market specialist the other week at the The Health & Beauty Association Conference & she was taking clients to Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia not UK stores. When shoppers get to the till most of them have the app so they get the discount. I believe that over Christmas Tesco said that 95% of transactions used Club Card! Including loyalty schemes in the G33 is a natural step as it is what the Customer sees. If a Customer does not want to give away their data then they do have an option, Aldi. They could do with a few more Customers at the moment! #theretailmind #groceryretail

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Euros and summer discounts push July retail sales higher "British retailers saw sales tick slightly higher last month after a boost from the Euro 2024 football tournament and summer discounting, according to official figures. High street retailers said sales of football shirts, electronics such as TVs, and alcoholic drinks were all stronger amid England’s journey to the Euros final. Total retail sales volumes, which measure the quantity bought, increased by 0.5% in July, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It was, however, slightly below predictions, with a consensus of economists forecasting a 0.7% increase for the month." by TheIndustry.fashion & TheIndustry.beauty Office for National Statistics Liz McKeown Kris Hamer British Retail Consortium Tom Youldon McKinsey & Company #retailnews #retailsurge #retailtrends

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Retail sales in the UK blew past expectations in August, climbing to their highest level since July 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Sales were up one per cent compared to the previous month, beating analysts’ predictions of a 0.4 per cent rise. The increase builds on July’s return to growth, which saw a 0.5 per cent rebound after previous declines. Despite encouraging retail figures, the collapse in consumer confidence for September has raised alarm bells across the UK economy. According to GfK’s consumer confidence measure, sentiment plummeted to -20 from -13 in August, the lowest level since March. Perhaps the prospect of a tough budget on October 30, which could include tax increases, is further unsettling the public. https://lnkd.in/ewn7VuNv

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Retail sales during October deliver ‘disappointing’ result Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “After a painful Budget for retailers, the hope is it will be less painful for households in the immediate term and consumer appetite will pick up in time for the Black Friday sales and festive season. Retailers must now grapple with over £5bn of new costs announced by the Chancellor, including in Employer National Insurance, Business Rates and the uplift in the National Living Wage. Managing this will hold back investment and growth in the short term, while further squeezing already-low margins and risking inflation.” Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure, KPMG, said: “While October’s growth didn’t continue at the levels seen for the retail sector in September, retailers will feel that there is mitigation and that they can pick up the pace again in November." https://lnkd.in/eX5TxuN6 #retail #sales #retailsales #brc

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Frasers Group confirmed today (24 June) that it has agreed to buy luxury etailer Coggles from THG, amid an announcement of a multi-year partnership between the two businesses. Read more here. #fashion #fashionnews #retail #retailnews #THG #FrasersGroup #Coggles

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Victoria Ward has written an interesting article here about the difference between a Merchandise Strategy and a Merchandise Plan and why retailers need both to succeed https://lnkd.in/eR5dPH9U

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The secret is out! Get into store and online NOW to explore the nation’s BEST VALUE homewares. Spoiler alert, it’s not IKEA, John Lewis, M&S or Habitat… 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/eDwwqfxY …and if you’re looking for further inspiration take a look at our awesome blog: 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/eFKYnYJU #amazingvalue #anywhere

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FLOURISH RETAIL CONSULTANCY: made to measure for your product business ❤️ Did you know, our consultancy services give you direct support from one of our specialist merchandisers so you can grow your business with confidence 🙌 Together, we’ll look at what can be done to help your business work more efficiently, drive sales and generate more profit. Rather than giving you generic advice, consultancy lets you and your business benefit from our decades of experience working with big retailers. We’ll apply everything we know to make things work brilliantly for you 🫵 ☎️ Book a FREE discovery call today! https://lnkd.in/eUeZFs6k Could merchandising be a key area that could help you grow your product business? #consultancy #retailconsultancy #merchandiser #merchandising #smallbusiness #flourishretail #fashionmerchandising #growyourbiz #growyourbusiness #profit #boostyourprofit #thesmallbusinesshandbook #discoverycall #freecall

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⭐ It's that time of the week again... the latest retail news in the Golden Quarter! ⭐ • The latest ONS data shows retail sales volume rose 0.3% in September. 📈💷 • John Lewis & Partners Exec Director has big plans to double the department stores fashion business and will refurb the estate within the next decade. 👖👗 • SEPHORA continues its expansion in the UK. The next location revealed to be in Liverpool One opening 2025. They close 2024 with 7 stores in 5 regions. 💄💅 • FOOTASYLUM has doubled pre-tax profit and strengthens its leadership team hiring former exec from UA and ex-Reebok product exec. The business also secured a £35m funding package from HSBC to fuel further expansion. 👟🏦 • Despite a drop in pre-tax profit TK MAXX (the UK arm of The TJX Companies, Inc.) sees sales edge over £4billion for the first time. 🤑 • Tesco and The Entertainer work in partnership to roll out 850 toy shops within Tesco stores. This partnership puts The Entertainer having more points of sale than any other toy retailer, just in time for Christmas. 🧒🚂 • Following a successful trial, Poundland & Dealz will roll out a rewards app as part of a £20million investment to create better value for its members. 📲 🤝 Zachary Daniels 🎄

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We tour the stores, so you don’t have to! 🛒 Wondering what made an impact in retail over the last month? 💥 From eye-catching Aperol and Birra Moretti displays to Morrisons expanding its sustainability efforts, our August Retail Roundup has all the highlights. Download our latest report for a detailed look at the UK grocery and retail scene, and get fresh insight and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. https://lnkd.in/eZ6MbPGY #ShopperMarketing #RetailMarketing #FMCG #Retail #Report

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Giles Hurley, chief executive for Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “British shoppers are voting with their feet and choosing Aldi as their first-choice supermarket". I do believe that I said on Friday that Aldi's results would contain a small amount of PR spin. Hurley is right, British shoppers are voting with their feet, but in the past 4 months it has been in the opposite direction, to Aldi's competitors! In an interview with Emma Simpson for the BBC Hurley said 'There's always an ebb and flow' when asked if Aldi had lost customers. Aldi are not used to the ebb, they are used to the flow. The last time there was an ebb was 2020 during Covid when Aldi didn't have an online service. We know that Grocery retailing in the UK is all about optics, it's about spinning the positives, even in the face of overwhelming negatives. The wheels haven't completely come off at Aldi but they are very wobbly & I am not sure that just price will cut the mustard. For that reason Aldi are focusing on their premium ranges for this Christmas, Aldi's specially selected range will make up more than 50% of its overall Christmas offering for the first time. This means that they will be looking for customers to trade up, more importantly there will be no Aldi Match on any of their premium ranges! The battleground this Christmas will definitely by the top tier so expect to see a plethora of products Willy Wonka style! I don't want to take away from Aldi's results which are pretty impressive. Profit is at a record £536.7m with an extra £2.2bn of sales. This is an increase of 16% in sales & a 200% increase in profit! To put this into context, JS had sales of £30bn & profit before tax of £701m! Aldi's profit is now 3%, only Tesco have a higher %, so where has it come from? Cost savings? Reduction in investment? Maybe it's come from higher prices? There has to be a reason shoppers are less inclined to shop in Aldi than they were? If the price difference is no longer as significant as it was then Customers will look at alternatives, maybe a Retailer with a loyalty card? Aldi have announced their 'biggest ever store investment programme' today, £800m. Previously they have announced £1.4bn over two years so I do wonder how much of this is new money? Aldi do invest in store refurbishments much more than the traditional multiple retailers but will their ambition of 1500 stores in the UK ever be realised? I doubt it, there isn't the space! Retailer results are about spin, they always have been. I just hope that conversations in Aldi HQ are also not spin & that there is a dose of reality as well. #theretailmind #groceryretail #Aldi

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A great move for Primark and its customers. Whatever size retail business you are, Connected Retail is the way forward. Fully integrated to optimise, payments, stock management, loyalty, returns and customer journey. #omnichannel #retail #connectedretail #embeddedpayments

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I think this is a brilliant move by Sainsburys. Will it cost them money, of course, will it make a difference for Customers, guaranteed. The other thing it does is it gives Tesco a dilemma, do they also make the same move? Sainsburys have 800 of it's Local convenience stores, Tesco have almost 2000 plus over 700 One Stop stores. If Tesco don't match then they look expensive, if they do match then it blows a hole in their P&L. I remember times when I was a Buyer when we would look to 'drain the swamp'. In other words we would take an action that would force our competitors to take actions they might not have wanted to, invest in areas that would cost them more money. If it was an area where we under traded then it was ideal, if it was an area which was above category average margin then even better! First mover advantage rarely happens in retail as there really aren't new ideas! Sometimes a Retailer makes a play that works & the others copy, Loyalty Card members only promotions, Tesco in 2020. Now they are all doing it (except Asda!) Sainsburys are the only one of the major multiples who have truly put food at the heart of what they do, they are going back to what worked many, many years ago (when I was a boy) No other Retailer is doing this like JS, taking space off non-food & giving it to food. According to The Grocer "By rebalancing store layouts and product ranges, Sainsbury’s said it had increased the number of lines in conveniences stores by 7% in total, with an emphasis on “food on the move”. The ’Next Level Sainsbury’s’ strategy aims to deliver further grocery market volume share gains by bringing more of Sainsbury’s food range to more customers, becoming the first choice for food for more people, and continuing to attract more bigger-basket primary shoppers. Simon Roberts said 'We’re determined to be First Choice for Food, ensuring more customers in more of our stores can enjoy more brilliant Sainsbury’s food'. As someone who is serious about food I applaud this & I now shop there more than I did before for this reason. One thing I don't like though is the removal of more checkouts, replaced by self-serve. My local store has taken another load out recently, it's fine at this time of year but what happens at Christmas when you only have 6-8 checkouts in a large store? Chaos is predicted! Winning at retailing you need to make big calls, you can't sit on the fence & watch or you get left behind. Sainsburys are making big calls & are getting more right than wrong, unlike my old employer. Will the checkouts be chaos at Christmas? I won't find out as I will be in Connecticut with my wife's brother. The list of stores I will be visiting is extensive, Stew Leonard's, Wegmans, Grade A, Stop & Shop, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Acme! What a Christmas! #theretailmind #firstmoveadvantage

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