With almost a third of employees planning to quit the sector, are retailers underestimating the importance of employee experience?

War, extreme weather, power cuts, looting, connectivity issues… anyone would think South African retailers had a lot to contend with. And they’d be right.

A view from our client, Retailability, on how retailers can escape the clutches of inflation and counter revenue erosion.

After two years of reacting to unprecedented events, retailers need to regain control of their agendas.

The last couple of years has seen the supply chain hit hard, with challenges piling up. 

Sustainable consumerism isn't going away, and retail brands need to truly walk the walk.  It should come as no surprise that the concept of sustainability has been driven primarily by the consumer with more than a third being willing to pay more for sustainable products.

Although I’m sure all of us would love to look inside a crystal ball to see what the year ahead has in store for us, retailers should look to use 2022 to prepare themselves for the fact that change is just as inevitable as it is unpredictable.

The retail industry is challenged by labour shortages across the board, from delivery drivers to warehouse staff, from store staff to IT specialists. And it’s a challenge faced everywhere from the UK to the US and Australia. But what can retailers realistically do to address the issue?

When Ebenezer Scrooge was stuck in his ways, he had the benefit of timely visits from the ghosts of the past, present and future to teach him how to change his ways. As we move into 2022, we come bearing a candid look at the past, present, and future for retailers too. Sitting comfortably?

Making retail easier. Quite a neat new strapline if you ask us. But leaving marketing speak behind, what does that really mean? In this blog, Retail Directions’ MD, Andrew Gorecki, discusses the thinking behind our new strapline, considering why retail has become so complicated and how retailers can overcome complexity to make their lives easier.

This Black Friday event will be the second since the pandemic, and quite what it will bring – online and instore - is unknown. One thing is certain though – retailers really do need to be ready for anything.