Roger Binks’ Post

In my edit of this weeks retail headlines there is a dominance of 'people' related updates - new hires, upskilling and ways-of-working all play their part.    Here's what caught my eye:    Morrisons chief customer officer exits after just 3 months Kingfisher plc hires ex-Tesco finance boss as new CFO Marks and Spencer appoints Ikea's deputy UK boss as new stores director YOOX NET-A-PORTER shuts down China production Michael Kors eyes further price hikes as UK sales dive Superdry poaches Halfords IT boss as turnaround begins Luxury furniture retailer Oka plots CVA Decathlon UK plunges into loss as it invests £10m in transformation Tesco installs anti-theft smoke machines at high-risk stores Clintons new owner admits business is 'worse than expected' Asda market share to fall as Aldi closes the gap Uber Eats couriers to pick, pack and pay for customer orders in supermarkets SHEIN uses AI to speed up fashion production Russell & Bromley Ltd hires Accessorize design boss as first creative director M&S drops ban on alpaca wool Clarks puts 150 jobs at risk as it plunges to a loss Co-op predicts Brits will enjoy cricket salads in 30 years time Amazon to invest £23m in upskilling UK staff MANGO to open biggest northeast store at Gateshead's #Metrocentre #Labour opposes demands to tackle UK tax loophole used by Shein Sainsbury's sells banking arm to NatWest ASOS.com warn staff virtual meetings have 'detrimental' impact Labour leader Keir Starmer vows to protect shopworkers against abuse ❓ TK MAXX transforms Wembley store to TS Maxx for Taylor Swift Eras gigs Space NK offloads US wholesale arm #LoveIsland to open first ever pop-up shop next week Scandi outdoor brand Peak Performance to open first UK store boohoo and Card Factory hit with shareholder backlash   My story of the week: I'm no Swifty but the TK Maxx story was a master stroke. Taylors impact is reported to be worth about £300m to the UK economy - she's getting my vote!  #marketing #shoppingcentres #retail #cmo #ceo #brand

WHSmith’s Strategic Expansion Toys R Us Concessions: WHSmith is expanding its partnership with Toys R Us by adding 30 more shop-in-shops by August, following the success of the initial nine concessions. High Street Presence: The expansion marks Toys R Us’s continued presence on the high street after a five-year hiatus, with a wide range of popular toy brands on offer. Financial Performance: WHSmith reports a slight increase in first-half profits to £46m, despite a dip in high street earnings from £24m to £22m23. Retail Strategy: The move aligns with WHSmith’s strategy to maximize returns from store space amidst changing consumer behaviors and the evolving retail landscape.

Can we save Smith & Caughey's? A call for you to share your ideas! I'm deeply saddened to read the news just now that the iconic Smith & Caughey's is announcing plans to close https://lnkd.in/gS3ZeGqk Having lived in the UK for 10 years, I returned to New Zealand with hopes that Smith & Caughey's might have evolved to be NZ's version of Liberty's smooshed up with Selfridges – beloved institutions with a rich history and loyal following. Unfortunately, it hasn't quite reached those heights, but it could! I don't want to see Smith & Caughey's close. What if we came together as a LinkedIn community to help build a new vision for the board to consider? What changes would you make to keep this incredible brand alive? - Relocate? Move out of the city centre and close the Newmarket store. Focus on one key store in a high foot traffic area? - Streamline range : Reduce the range of products and concentrate on the best-selling lines? - Inject new life: Introduce offerings to revitalise the brand? What would you do to reinvigorate this piece of NZ retail history? Share your thoughts and let's see if we can create a compelling vision to save Smith & Caughey's. #RetailRevival #SmithAndCaugheys #NewZealand #Retail

Lidl GB Outlines Plans For Hundreds Of New Stores 30th April 2024 As it marks 30 years since the opening of its first store in the UK, Lidl has announced plans to open hundreds of new outlets across the country. Lidl-StoreThis follows a year of investment in its infrastructure to strengthen its operations to support its expansion plans, including the opening of Lidl’s largest warehouse in the world in Luton. The discounter has also been enhancing its existing estate. This included the completion of an extension to its Welsh distribution centre in Bridgend, along with progress on expanding its Belvedere warehouse, which will result in its size and capacity being doubled once the project is complete. Meanwhile, Lidl has also introduced enhancements to its store estate, including the rollout of electronic shelf labels. The discounter, which has consistently been the fastest growing bricks & mortar supermarket for the past seven months, stated that it was now doubling down on its store opening programme to continue growing its market share. In the coming months, Lidl will open new stores across the country, including Bristol, Birmingham, and Berwick in Scotland. In London, where it is now the third-largest supermarket, Lidl will be opening new stores in Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton and Canning Town. The discounter has today published its latest list of desired locations for potential new stores. This includes cities such as Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, and London, and towns from Woking and Wadebridge to Dumfries and Didcot. Richard Taylor, Lidl GB Chief Development Officer, said: “We have also been the fastest-growing bricks & mortar supermarket for the past seven months in a row. With an exceptional store network and our laser focus on operational excellence, we’re welcoming more customers through our doors than ever before, which positions us perfectly for continued expansion. “As we celebrate our 30th year, our commitment to ensuring that all households across the country have access to high quality produce at affordable prices is stronger than ever. We’re planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential. This is why we’re continuing to invest in new locations whilst exploring innovative routes to expansion.” NamNews Implications: *. Lidl are patently on a roll… …‘fastest growing brick & mortar retailer’… …determined to grow share by investing in geographical coverage. *. Thereby begging the question: ‘Are suppliers making sufficient effort in finding ways of accessing this incremental potential?’

7-Eleven with nearly 600 NY stores is closing 272 of these stores as the legacy companies bloodbath continues. Anyone care? Nope. Like all legacy companies and business's they brought it on themselves https://lnkd.in/ekK9Apgp And probably same in all other US States and worldwide. So if 7-Eleven closing 272 of it's around 600 New York stores that is 45%. As globally they have as of 2024 around 84,500 stores https://lnkd.in/eY8BryRq does that mean they will be closing 45% of 84500 stores which is a whopping 38025 store closures? Is 7-Eleven doomed? Probably! For nearly 40 years I have seen lots and lots of companies and business's get into a terrible mess and shut down or find some dopey mug to acquire their mess. #RIP to all bad+toxic legacy companies & business's full of bad+toxic people. The world will Not miss you. We need a new start. I am a very-experienced high-performance smart real-brilliant non-toxic good-character great-quality best-of-the-best person that in close to 40 years has seen it all so contact me for real help. #cfo #ceo #cio #coo #economy #finance #executive #news

ICSC 🏬 July Store Expansion Highlights 🏬 Retailers and restaurants made significant moves in July, expanding their footprints and launching new formats. Here are the key updates: UNIQLO: The Japanese apparel brand is opening four new stores in Canada, targeting Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and Langley, aiming for 200 locations in North America by 2027. Chick-fil-A Restaurants-fil-A: The beloved chicken chain plans to increase its presence in Puerto Rico, expanding from 5 to 20-25 restaurants by 2030. Humana at Walmart: CenterWell, part of Humana Inc., is set to open senior-focused primary care centers at 23 Walmart Supercenter locations across Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and Texas. BIRKENSTOCK: The iconic sandal brand opened a new two-story store in Paris and plans additional stores across major European cities. Cilantro Taco Grill: This fast-casual chain has secured agreements for 110 new locations, with a significant focus on Florida. Ace Hardware Corporation: Celebrating a milestone with 5,000 U.S. stores, marked by the opening of Fixit Ace Hardware in Roswell, GA. Qdoba Restaurant Corporation: Announcing a 30-unit expansion deal in the Carolinas with Thrive Restaurant Group, aiming for completion by 2028. The Wendy's Company: The quick-serve giant is set to enter the Republic of Ireland and Romania, part of a broader plan to expand across Europe. MANGO: Launched its teen-focused store concept internationally, with the first store opening in London. IKEA: Opening a new location in the iconic 570 Fifth Avenue in NYC, part of a prime retail and office tower. These expansions highlight the diverse strategies and ambitions of brands in the global market. #RetailExpansion #StoreOpening #RetailNews #GlobalRetail #BusinessGrowth #ICSC

Retail expansion opportunities are on the rise in the U.S., with several major retailers planning to add new locations. Major retailers such as Aldi and Kohl’s are planning to add new locations, presenting potential leasing opportunities for agents to fill vacancies. Amidst this expansion, some retailers are trimming their footprint, as seen with Dollar Tree Inc. shutting down about 600 Family Dollar stores.   How can ID Plans help you navigate these dynamic opportunities? Find out today at idplans.com. #retail #commercialrealestate #propertymanagement #proptech

Aldi UK and Lidl GB are pushing ahead with a series of store openings ahead of Christmas, as part of their wider expansion plans. https://lnkd.in/epf4_nsD #retailnews #grocery

This article makes me very happy! I talk a lot about the shift of the high street based on the demise of the department store, and as a former department store buyer, I couldn’t be more excited that independent department stores are focussing on more contemporary strategies to boost sales & to thrive & flourish: 🧒Consumer- centric engagement 🏪Experiential collaborations with brands ✅ Sustainable Visual Merchandising techniques 👗Brand curation with unique exclusivity 🧑🦰Personalisation within in-store services 💻Omni channel synergy - fulfilling online expectations Thanks Drapers for giving us some positivity in Retail to shout about!! #retailexperience #retailbrands #brandexperience

#ModernExpo_retailnews Lidl plans to open "hundreds" of new stores across the UK to expand its customer base. The German discount supermarket is looking to expand in Bristol, Birmingham, Berwick, Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton, and Canning Town in London over the next few months. Lidl has published a list of desired locations for new sites to increase its presence in cities like Edinburgh, Leeds, and Liverpool, as well as towns including Woking, Wadebridge, Dumfries, and Didcot. This news comes as the grocer marks 30 years in the UK and follows a year of significant infrastructure investment, including opening its largest global warehouse in Luton. Lidl has specified that it is looking for sites in "prominent locations" with "easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow." The supermarket chain is seeking unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and over 100 dedicated car parking spaces. Lidl's flexible approach will consider freehold, leasehold, or extended leasehold opportunities, making it easier to find new locations. #ModernExpo #wearemodern #wecreateretailnew #GoModern