Are We Now a Nation of Shoppers Rather Than Shopkeepers?
For generations, Britain was proud to call itself a nation of shopkeepers. We built high streets that were the beating heart of communities. We celebrated local business owners who knew our names, remembered our preferences, and often extended us credit when the purse strings...
Stop Buying Cheap – Start Buying Right: How to Choose Suppliers That Deliver
There’s a growing epidemic in business: the rise of the self-appointed expert.
They pop up everywhere — in retail consultancy, website design, marketing, HR — all with glossy websites, slick pitches, and promises that sound almost too good to be true. Spoiler alert: they...
Silent Selling: How Shop Layout, Scent and Design Influence Customer Behaviour (and Sales)
Last week I joined BBC Hereford Radio to chat all things customer psychology—and why physical retail still has a powerful part to play in a digital-first world. Yes, ecommerce is convenient. Yes, digital gets the clicks. But your bricks? That’s where the magic happens....
10 Things Smart Retailers Are Doing Differently in 2025
(And Why the Rest Are Playing Catch-Up)
Retail isn’t dead. But outdated thinking? That’s on life support.
We’re halfway through 2025, and the gap between thriving retailers and those just about surviving has never been clearer. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about footfall,...
Can AI Sell It Better? What Retailers Need to Know
The robots are coming. But don’t panic — they’re not taking over your store, your stockroom, or your strategy (yet). What they are doing is making waves in marketing.
From eerily personalised emails to predictive product suggestions that seem to read your mind, artificial...
The CX Advantage: How eLockers Transform Retail Customer Experience
We live and breathe solutions that benefit retailers and their customers. That’s why a recent conversation about something as seemingly simple as eLockers caught my attention. Because when you look beneath the surface, these smart self-service solutions have the potential to...
Reinventing the High Street: Why Retail Consultants Are More Vital Than Ever
Let’s face it, the UK high street has had a rough ride. From online competition and shifting consumer habits to rising costs and economic curveballs, it’s a landscape that’s constantly evolving. But here’s the truth: evolution on the high street isn’t new. It’s always been...
Revitalising the High Street: Consumer Confidence, Behavioural Shifts, Retail Property Transformation
For more than 15 years, I’ve been closely watching and engaging with the evolving dynamics of the high street—how consumer behaviours shift, how town centres adapt, and how retail spaces are reimagined to meet the needs of modern society.
Cyber Attacks and Consumer Confidence: What Happens When Trust is Shaken
In the digital age, few events send shockwaves through a business quite like a cyber attack. For retailers where customer trust, seamless transactions and brand reputation are everything the impact can be swift, significant and far–reaching, even while details are still...
People, Place, Purpose: Why Businesses Built on Values Stand the Test of Time
Following my recent presentation to the Co-op – In Conversation: People, Place, Purpose – I’ve been reflecting even more deeply on what makes a business truly sustainable in the long term. In today’s retail and hospitality landscape, it’s no secret that we’re all navigating...