Posted by: FSPRetail , 24 June 2009
The Retail News Index (RNI) has risen strongly since its seasonal nadir in January. The RNI, an index based on the balance between positive and negative retail news stories, is now back to levels not seen since 2006, outside the pre-Christmas period. There is a clear seasonal pattern to the RNI which typically rises during the Autumn before falling back. The index for January 2009 was the lowest since January 2005, so the rise this year is particularly marked. read more…
Tags: GEOFF'S VIEW
Posted by: FSPRetail , 16 June 2009
I see David Wild has noted that “Reserve & Collect success drives 90% growth in multi-channel revenue” when announcing the Halfords preliminary results last week. What he means is that Halfords are making a killing out of people who can’t be bothered to go and look around the shop, or, more likely, are savvy enough to know that time spent in a fruitless search around the shop is time lost from more worthwhile pursuits. Halfords have tapped into the very sound idea that people can surf for their goods from the comfort of their own home, then pop in to collect when they’re out and about anyway. This saves on the delivery charge for the customer, but has the benefit that these customers are brought into the store anyway, offering Halfords the opportunity to persuade them to part with more cash whilst they’re there. Looks like a win:win to me. read more…
Tags: RETAILERS, FUTURE OF RETAILING
Posted by: FSPRetail , 05 June 2009
When Morrisons gobbled up Safeway, many of us southerners were a little concerned that the philosophy might not fit down here. I’m not sure how much the philosophy has changed, and how much we’ve been crunched by the lack of credit and are therefore willing to revise our shopping habits, but Morrisons is one of the few just now who are recording increases in their sales. read more…
Tags: RETAILERS
Posted by: FSPRetail , 03 June 2009
Sir Stuart of M&S was quoted in the Guardian at the weekend as saying “Women can get to the top of any single job that they want to in the UK. I mean, what else do you want to do, for God's sake? Women astronauts. Women miners. Women dentists. Women doctors. Women managing directors. What is it you haven't got?” (was this a personal rant or could anyone join in?) read more…
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