Retail

Articles, guides and news on retailing topics for UK small businesses, whether traditional brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce platforms, or omni-channel. Topics covered include the key elements of successful retailing such as inventory management, pricing strategies, customer service, store design, and marketing.

News

Shoppers frustrated by stock shortages in runup to Christmas

Stock shortages on the high street are driving customers to look elsewhere and shop online, research finds.

News

Riot impact on retail revealed

Retailers lost more than 7,500 hours of trading and 11,000 members of their staff were affected by the violence caused by riots two weeks ago.

News

BRC seeks protection for retailers following riots

The British Retail Consortium is seeking urgent reassurances that a range of critical issues thrown up by disorder in London and other UK cities are being addressed.

News

Retailers predict mobile commerce surge

Almost nine in ten retailers believe mobile commerce will impact shopping in the next two years, yet less than one in five have a mobile strategy in place, finds a survey.

News

No longer a nation of shopkeepers

A regional divide in shop vacancy levels has exposed the weak state of retail markets in the north.

News

Retailers score from World Cup sales

Excitement over the World Cup and better weather boosted high street sales last month.

Finding and selling to customers

How to maximise Christmas sales

Analysts are predicting another bleak Christmas on the high street, while online sales continue to grow. Here we speak to entrepreneurs and experts about the best way to maximise Yuletide sales.

News

UK retail sales increase

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reveal retail sales in the UK increased in the first month of the year.

News

Cigarette display ban ‘could hit small firms’

The ban on displaying cigarettes in shops could hit small businesses as they account for 20 per cent of sales in convenience stores.

Small Business Insurance

Trade credit insurance hurting retailers

Retailers being refused trade credit insurance is leading to problems in the industry, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warns.

News

Greater competition between UK supermarkets

The Competition Commission has now published its report on the grocery sector and is calling for greater competition between UK supermarkets.

Business management

Josie Beckett: Rising Star

From a market stall in Spitalfields to supplying Top Shop and internet-based retailer ASOS, Josie Beckett talks about the unexpected success of her label Whereareyounow?