Categories
Consumer Electricals Fashion Non-food retail Supermarkets

Why Currys is Nick Bubb’s 2024 Pick

Wonderful to have Nick Bubb on the podcast this week. We discuss:

šŸŽ„ Christmas trading results ā€“ winners and losers.
šŸ’» Why electricals retailing is poised for a comeback in 2024.
šŸ“‰ What JD Sportsā€™ and Burberryā€™s profit warnings tell us about the state of retail.
šŸ› What went wrong at John Lewis and whether Peter Ruis can revive the brand.
šŸ‘— Frasersā€™ stake-building strategy ā€“ what is the end game for Asos and Boohoo?
šŸ›’ Supermarket switching and the importance of physical stores in food retail.

TLDL: skip to 26 minutes to hear 3 reasons why Currys is Nickā€™s tip of 2024. Last year, he picked Marks & Spencer so Iā€™d listen up!

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Categories
Consumer Discounting Economy Inflation

A Year of Stagnation

Paul Martin, Global Retail Lead and Head of UK Retail at KPMG is the first Retail Disrupted guest of 2024. In this episode, Paul and Natalie explore:

šŸ”¹ The bifurcation of retail winners and losers.
šŸ”¹ Why consumers will be battening down the hatches in H1.
šŸ”¹ Breaking down the BRC-KPMG December sales data.
šŸ”¹ Promotions, margins, and the importance of stock visibility.
šŸ”¹ Economic outlook and impact of attacks on container ships in the Red Sea.
šŸ”¹ Opportunities for retailers in 2024 and beyond.


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Categories
High Streets Supermarkets Technology

The Shoplifting Epidemic

Chris Noice, Communications Director at theĀ Association of Convenience Stores, joins Natalie to discuss Britainā€™s shoplifting epidemic. They explore:

  • The scale of the problem and factors driving the growing wave of shoplifting.
  • What motivates shoplifters and is it a victimless crime?
  • Cops in shops ā€“ will we see more retailers andĀ shopping centresĀ collaborate with the police for in-store police stations?
  • From equipping staff with body cams to hiring undercover security guards ā€“ what more can retailers do to deter theft?
  • Retail staff abuse and the issue of under-reporting.
  • The rise of middle class shoplifting and how automation is exacerbating the problem.
  • Will retailers see more TikTok-inspired mass shoplifting rampages?
  • How can the government take action to curb the rise in shoplifting?

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Categories
AI Consumer Economy ESG Technology

Inflation, ‘Insperiences’, Industry Outlook for 2024

Richard Lim, CEO ofĀ Retail Economics, joins Natalie for a wide-ranging discussion on:

  • The health of the UK consumer and why 2024 will be a year of two halves.
  • Richardā€™s inflation theory (listen to find out!)
  • Combating cost pressures in 2024 ā€“ business rates, labour costs and more.
  • November data releases ā€“ interpreting theĀ BRC retail salesĀ andĀ Barclaycard consumer spending dataĀ ā€“ from ā€˜insperiencesā€™ to ā€˜revenge spendingā€™
  • Digital transformation progress and where next for the industry.
  • Separating hype from reality ā€“ why generative AI is not ā€˜the next metaverseā€™ (in buzzword bingo).
  • ESG ā€“ managing conflicting consumer demands for convenience and sustainability.

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Categories
Amazon Consumer ESG Returns

In Conversation with Amazon UK Boss John Boumphrey

Recording live from the retailerā€™s new Second Chance store in London, Amazon UK Country Manager John BoumphreyĀ joins Natalie on the podcast to discuss:

  • How is Amazon extending the life of returned goods through its Second Chance programme?
  • How can the wider industry overcome the returns challenge?
  • Futureproofing ā€“ with more disruption on the horizon, how does Amazon ensure it stays relevant to customers?
  • Consumer outlook ā€“ does JB expect consumers to remain relatively resilient as we move into 2024?
  • From drones to generative AI: what technologies and innovations should we be watching?

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Categories
Consumer Fashion

‘Positively Dissatisfied’ M&S, Trailblazer Next, Black Friday Predictions

Retail expert Maureen Hinton joins Natalie to discuss retailer resilience. Which fashion retailers are defying the economic climate and what is the secret to their success? Maureen also shares her views on the state of the consumer and whether the Black Friday deals will sizzle or fizzle.

Connect with Maureen on Twitter/X and LinkedIn

Learn more about our work at theĀ KPMG/Retail Next Retail Think Tank

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Categories
Discounting Retail trends Returns

It’s Going To Be a Bumper Black Friday

Love it or loathe it, Black Friday has become a permanent fixture on the UK retail calendar.

Carrying black Friday paperbags

In this episode, Natalie shares her predictions and general observations around Black Friday 2023. Youā€™ll learn:

  • Why Natalie is expecting a strong turnout this year.
  • Black Friday creep ā€“ why retailers like John Lewis are going earlier than ever before.
  • Whether the growing skepticism around Black Friday will impact shoppersā€™ willingness to participate.
  • Why blanket discounts are out and targeted promotions are in.
  • What the ONS and BRC data tells us about Black Friday 2023.

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Categories
AI Technology

AI: The Word of 2023

Collins Dictionary has announced that ā€˜AIā€™ is the Word of Year for 2023. Miya Knights, Retail Consultant and Publisher ofĀ Retail Technology Magazine, joins Natalie to discuss the wide-ranging implications of artificial intelligence. They break down the learnings from last weekā€™s first ever AI Safety Summit, held at Bletchley Park, exploring both short-term and longer-term risks posed by the technology.

They then move into a conversation about AIā€™s impact on the retail sector and how it will transform the way we shop, exploring the many opportunities for retailersĀ  ā€“ from driving back-end efficiencies to utilising AI-powered shopping assistants to deliver more tailored customer experiences.

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Categories
Consumer High Streets Store closures

Wilko’s Revival, Asos’ Identity Crisis, Bellwether Next Getting It Right

Itā€™s a bumper episode of #RetailDisruptedĀ this week with retail consultant and high street championĀ Graham Soult. We discuss:

šŸ”¹ 5m: Business rates
šŸ”¹ 10m: Store closures ā€“ is there more rightsizing to do or has the industry now recalibrated?
šŸ”¹ 14m: Wilkoā€™s demise and rebirth: what went wrong and how will the new stores be different?
šŸ”¹ 21m: Back from the brink: how to revive defunct brands
šŸ”¹ 28m: Mixed fashion fortunes: Is Asos still relevant and whatā€™s the secret to Nextā€™s resilience?
šŸ”¹ 37m: New Channel 5 Lidl documentary
šŸ”¹ 40m: Future of the high street

Ā 

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Categories
Consumer Fashion Marketing

Victoria’s Secret Is Bringing Sexy Back

In retail today, you need to have a laser-clear understanding of your brand and what it stands for.

But what if what you stand for is no longer culturally relevant? Can you shed your skin and completely reinvent yourself? Can you buy your way out of cultural insignificance?

The lingerie brandĀ Victoriaā€™s Secret tried to do exactly that and it hasnā€™t worked out so well. Theyā€™re now ready to ditch their feminist makeover and re-embrace ā€œsex appealā€. On todayā€™s podcast, weā€™re going to be exploring what went wrong at Victoriaā€™s Secret, how they tried to fix it, and whether they can go back to their roots in a post-#MeToo world.

TLDL: Victoria Secretā€™s newfound conscience and subsequent brand overhaul whiffed of inauthenticity. Too much, too soonā€¦ alienating both those in favour (who perhaps questioned the integrity of such a radical makeover) and those not.

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