All Opinion articles
Most recent first.
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OpinionNavigating tariffs: a survival guide for UK retailers
A week on from President Trump’s “liberation day”, Ben Cooke, partner at international law firm Addleshaw Goddard, breaks down the impact of new US tariffs on UK and EU goods, exports, supply chains and US customer demand, and sets out actions for retailers to take
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OpinionAre you ready for tariff-driven tat? Prepare for a tidal wave of cheap imports
Retailers need to be ready in case President Trump’s tariffs prompt a flood of shoddy marketplace goods into the UK, cautions features editor Ellis Hawthorne
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Opinion‘Longstanding assumptions are being challenged as retailers navigate new reality’
Tough trading conditions mean that many retailers now recognise the need to strike a better balance between breadth of product and services and profitability, observes Alvarez & Marsal’s managing director Erin Brookes
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Opinion‘Being able to pivot fast has helped N Brown to stay ahead of the curve’
Home shopping group N Brown’s chief operating officer Nuno Miller reveals how adopting an agile operating model has benefitted the business
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Opinion‘The Co-op’s values may set it apart, but it’s value that’s front of mind for shoppers’
The Co-op’s launch of an Aldi price matching scheme should reassure customers on price-competitiveness, believes Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald
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Opinion‘You won’t capture a tech-savvy generation by fixing your internal finance platform’
Invest in tech that engages consumers in ways they haven’t yet imagined – and do it where it matters most to them, argues AlixPartners’ Brian Kalms
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Opinion‘On Covid’s five-year anniversary, remember the retail staff who worked day in, day out’
During lockdown, retail employees kept the UK going, putting themselves at risk of the virus while most of us were being told to stay at home. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson and shopworkers’ union boss Paddy Lillis pay tribute to them and make a plea for respect
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Opinion‘Supermarket share price rout is testament to Asda’s turnaround potential’
Asda is no spent force, but rival grocers’ share price clobbering sparked by the fear of price wars looks overdone, believes George MacDonald
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Opinion‘Return on capital employed is the one KPI every board needs’
Too many ignore a metric that crucially reveals whether a management team is building a better business for its owners, not just a bigger one, argues True’s Matt Truman
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Opinion‘Will 2025 be remembered as a year of retail leadership change?’
It’s been five years since the pandemic hit, and retail has had a torrid time. Having steered businesses through tough times a significant number of leaders may choose this year to move on, believes headhunter Tony Gregg
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Opinion‘Boots faces uncertain time as new owners prepare to take control’
Boots is doing well, but the sale of parent Walgreens Boots Alliance raises questions about the future ownership of the UK High street institution, says Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald. A sale or IPO of Boots may follow. And what role might dealmaker Stefano Pessina play?
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Opinion‘Backpedaling on diversity and inclusion would be a huge mistake’
As International Women’s Day is marked this week, commitment to diversity and inclusion is on the wane among some big-name businesses. But less diverse companies will ultimately be less successful, argues Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie
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Opinion‘Retailers need to know what advertising buyers really want from retail media’
Publicis Media chief commerce officer Steve Ricketts looks at opportunities and challenges for retail media networks in attracting bigger shares of advertising budgets
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Opinion‘Crime and policing bill is milestone in efforts to create safer retail environment’
Parliament’s recent efforts to tackle abuse against retailers are necessary and long overdue, argues Retail Trust CEO Chris Brook-Carter
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Opinion‘The future of struggling Poundland is likely to be revealed next week’
In the current trading environment, value specialist Poundland should be flying. It’s not.
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Opinion‘Keeping it real is essential when venturing into social commerce such as TikTok Shop’
Lidl has become the first grocer to sell through TikTok Shop. Its approach is a good example of how retailers can best use the platform, says Kantar’s senior client director Daniel Fanshawe
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Opinion‘Why does the UK find it so hard to create and sustain luxury fashion brands to match France and Italy?’
Should Burberry place so much emphasis on its famous trench coat, and why is its flagship store so disappointing, wonders fashion analyst Maureen Hinton
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Opinion‘You could be forgiven for thinking that a new cost-of-living crunch is upon us’
Hard-pressed consumers, like retailers, face unwelcome cost increases in the next few months and that has implications for spending, says Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald
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Opinion‘When it comes to Gen Z, businesses need to work with, not against, the zeitgeist’
The constant drip-feeding of exasperation-loaded Gen Z column inches detract businesses from keeping pace, argues Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie
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Opinion‘Shiny object syndrome risks killing AI’s true value’
The retailers with AI strategies that are purpose-driven will stand out, says Dunnhumby’s Sandra Stanley
