{$inpagemarkup}

Search News

Results: 21-30 of 705


Retailers react to disposable vape ban.

5 Feb 2024

The retail sector has been responding to government plans to ban disposable vapes as part of plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping.
Read more…

UK’s indie food retailers to be recognised in the Farm Shop and Deli Retailer Awards 2024.

23 Jan 2024

Bakers, butchers, cheesemongers, delicatessens, fishmongers, greengrocers, village stores and small farm shops from around the UK have been shortlisted in the Farm Shop and Deli Retailer Awards... Read more…

How Independent Retailers Can Stand Out in A Crowded Market

23 Jan 2024

An interesting article has appeared in Forbes reflecting many of the issues that Indie Retail & ActSmart members will be experiencing – the challenges and... Read more…

Eight in Ten Small Businesses Taking Positive Steps to Strengthen Their Enterprises in 2024

22 Jan 2024

Eight in ten small business owners (81%) are planning to develop their companies in 2024, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. The research shows that over a third (33%) are... Read more…

The Times names 12 of the UK’s best independent bookshops — as chosen by its readers.

22 Jan 2024

The Times has named 12 of the UK’s best independent bookshops — as chosen by its readers. Readers highlighted places that combined books with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.... Read more…

Bira Launches Second Annual Campaign for Valentine's Day - #LoveYourHighStreet

22 Jan 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association is championing the high street again this Valentine's Day for the second consecutive year with its #LoveYourHighStreet campaign.
Read more…

Family-run shop in Lanarkshire village scoops community retailer award for second year running.

10 Jan 2024

Nads Store, a family-run shop in Law, Lanarkshire, has been named Community Retailer of the Year at the Scottish Asian and Business Awards ceremony for the second year running.
Read more…

Bira urges vigilance against loan fee fraud following FCA guidance.

10 Jan 2024

In the face of the escalating threat of loan fee fraud, the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is urging its members to heed the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) recent guidance... Read more…

Canal boat record store Rubber Ducky Records is back afloat.

9 Jan 2024

Canal boat record store Rubber Ducky Records is back on the water after it sank last April, ruining over 1,000 vinyl records and a stow of music equipment stored on... Read more…

New research shows UK retail sector powered by entrepreneurs and start-ups

9 Jan 2024

While mass-market players continue to dominate the UK retail industry, research by Geek Retreat shows that 15% of Brits have set up their own business in the past ten years, and of these,... Read more…

Back to news menu

Redesigning Retail

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

A recent article published on Forbes explains why the traditional retail model is no longer sustainable and how big brands are seemingly "turning it on its head".

One of London's oldest department stores, Fenwick, sees it joining the retail space race as it announces plans for renting out around 10% of the department store's floor-space, meaning that around 3,500 square foot of the shop floor will be given over to office space.

Hugo Fenwick said about the new development:

"Although mitigated by significant investment in the brand's own multi-channel platform, it is recognised that Fenwick will need to extend the building to provide a further revenue stream that will cross-subsidise the contribution from the department store."

As well as Fenwick, Marks and Spencer and Debenhams are also reported to have similar plans. This news is unsurprising as retail sales continue to decrease and large units such as department stores are both hard to fill and expensive to run.

Forbes questions whether this reduction in space represents a last desperate throw of the dice for department stores or whether it's an imaginative way to breathe new life into underused and unprofitable space, while being able to maintain a physical presence.

Similar concepts include Starbucks' "third-space" where a coffee shop can double act as a work zone and even a place for business meetings.

The article concludes that while up-and-coming concepts with low overheads such as Netflix and Amazon may appear to be thriving, a physical shop has something that an online retailer cannot have and something that human beings will always crave- presence and physical interaction.

In adapting to appeal to this element of consumer wants and needs, offline retail may have a hope yet.

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.