Comments for The Voice Of Global Retail http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:35:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 Comment on Location, location, location by rustarazo, ricardo http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2009/10/15/location-location-location/#comment-147 rustarazo, ricardo Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:46:02 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=162#comment-147 Congratulations for your thougths about cities, retailers and planners. Congratulations for your thougths about cities, retailers and planners.

]]> Comment on The value of trust by JC Goldenstein http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2009/03/19/the-value-of-trust/#comment-66 JC Goldenstein Thu, 14 May 2009 14:27:06 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=103#comment-66 If you want to broaden the discussion, look at Charlie Green four components of trust: reliability, credibility, proximity and lack of self orientation. http://trustedadvisor.com/cgreen.articles/38/Trust-in-Business--The-Core-Concepts If you want to broaden the discussion, look at Charlie Green four components of trust: reliability, credibility, proximity and lack of self orientation.

http://trustedadvisor.com/cgreen.articles/38/Trust-in-Business–The-Core-Concepts

]]> Comment on The fear of online by JC Goldenstein http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2009/04/20/the-fear-of-online/#comment-65 JC Goldenstein Thu, 14 May 2009 14:14:52 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=121#comment-65 Ian hi you're right about online being the future of publishing but many publishers have legacy management and systems, but not much of an urgency to change. They prefer to lobby Washington to get bailed out like the financial services and car companies. For interesting insights from someone who "got it" see www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-testifies-about-t_b_198385.html. BTW do you think the future of conferences like yours will include a blend of pre-conference forum discussions, twitting during the event and post conference online networking? Best, JC Ian hi you’re right about online being the future of publishing but many publishers have legacy management and systems, but not much of an urgency to change. They prefer to lobby Washington to get bailed out like the financial services and car companies. For interesting insights from someone who “got it” see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-testifies-about-t_b_198385.html. BTW do you think the future of conferences like yours will include a blend of pre-conference forum discussions, twitting during the event and post conference online networking? Best, JC

]]> Comment on The fear of online by Rick Boretsky http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2009/04/20/the-fear-of-online/#comment-51 Rick Boretsky Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:00:22 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=121#comment-51 Interesting post. I think many specific types of 'brick & mortar' stores can be in trouble - i.e. bookstores, Music/DVD stores. Maybe eventually similar fate will follow for other specialty shops - grocery (as you suggest), electronics, appliances, sporting goods, shoes, and maybe even apparel. As e-commerce sites become more 'social' the need to go to a store becomes less & less. That being said, brick & mortar stores need to provide multi-channel along with a great shopping experience, and then I think they can compete, and maybe even thrive, against e-tailers. I recently wrote a blog that describes this scenario and what brick & mortar retailers can do - www.rickboretsky.com/?p=203 Interesting post. I think many specific types of ‘brick & mortar’ stores can be in trouble - i.e. bookstores, Music/DVD stores. Maybe eventually similar fate will follow for other specialty shops - grocery (as you suggest), electronics, appliances, sporting goods, shoes, and maybe even apparel. As e-commerce sites become more ’social’ the need to go to a store becomes less & less. That being said, brick & mortar stores need to provide multi-channel along with a great shopping experience, and then I think they can compete, and maybe even thrive, against e-tailers. I recently wrote a blog that describes this scenario and what brick & mortar retailers can do - http://www.rickboretsky.com/?p=203

]]> Comment on The medium and the message by Yasir http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2009/02/27/the-medium-and-the-message/#comment-39 Yasir Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:45:18 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=87#comment-39 Nice article, thank you. Actually you’re article was exactly what I was discussing little time ago, as in middle east, we found out by doing a marketing research that Middle Eastern market is striving for new media technologies, due to the regions circumstances and consumers behavior, this is the main need in the local markets, through this, we developed the technology here and launched different services like playing video games over TV and real time mobile applications and everyone seems to buy it or subscribe into it, as they find it entertaining and above all : New. Nice article, thank you.

Actually you’re article was exactly what I was discussing little time ago, as in middle east, we found out by doing a marketing research that Middle Eastern market is striving for new media technologies, due to the regions circumstances and consumers behavior, this is the main need in the local markets, through this, we developed the technology here and launched different services like playing video games over TV and real time mobile applications and everyone seems to buy it or subscribe into it, as they find it entertaining and above all : New.

]]> Comment on The value of trust by shop http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2009/03/19/the-value-of-trust/#comment-38 shop Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:28:55 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=103#comment-38 It was an excellent conference, certainly thought provoking - Gordon Campbell in particular hit home the fact that the UK is not operating in a vacuum. Whatever happens in the UK manufacturing and retailing environment - whether we mention the dirty 'R' word or not - in a sense we're at the mercy of the wider global economy. There's a bit of a united we stand, divided we fall thing going on in that respect. Dr Campbell also urged delegates to be environmentally aware, insisting that businesses have little choice but adopt 'greener' policies if we're to avert a genuine ecological catastrophe...maybe a bit boring to hear for some people, but it's something we just can't get around anymore. What the Debenhams boss and Justin King were saying about leadership is undoubtedly true. The most successful businesses I know have extraordinary individuals at their helm, who not only inspire great loyalty but manage to motivate their staff and customers alike. Honesty and transparency are part of this for sure - good staff often have a level of insight into a business that might quite surprise their bosses! Certainly a great leader will empower individuals within their business as much as they can - when people are allowed to get involved they are so much more engaged and effective. It sounds as if the World Retail Congress has some great sessions lined up on the subject of leadership, I'd be interested to see what comes out of that. Here's a link to Spring Fair's Retail Week Conference blog: http://tinyurl.com/cwzbhw It was an excellent conference, certainly thought provoking - Gordon Campbell in particular hit home the fact that the UK is not operating in a vacuum. Whatever happens in the UK manufacturing and retailing environment - whether we mention the dirty ‘R’ word or not - in a sense we’re at the mercy of the wider global economy. There’s a bit of a united we stand, divided we fall thing going on in that respect.

Dr Campbell also urged delegates to be environmentally aware, insisting that businesses have little choice but adopt ‘greener’ policies if we’re to avert a genuine ecological catastrophe…maybe a bit boring to hear for some people, but it’s something we just can’t get around anymore.

What the Debenhams boss and Justin King were saying about leadership is undoubtedly true. The most successful businesses I know have extraordinary individuals at their helm, who not only inspire great loyalty but manage to motivate their staff and customers alike. Honesty and transparency are part of this for sure - good staff often have a level of insight into a business that might quite surprise their bosses! Certainly a great leader will empower individuals within their business as much as they can - when people are allowed to get involved they are so much more engaged and effective.

It sounds as if the World Retail Congress has some great sessions lined up on the subject of leadership, I’d be interested to see what comes out of that.

Here’s a link to Spring Fair’s Retail Week Conference blog:
http://tinyurl.com/cwzbhw

]]> Comment on Rising to challenge by Renato Muller http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2008/10/06/rising-to-challenge/#comment-4 Renato Muller Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:25:12 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=11#comment-4 Tough times ahead, this is just the beginning. It seems the economic downfall will be steeper and longer than we all wish it to be, so it's time to face the fact there's a whole new environment coming on. Good for discounters, bad for retailers who have not been able to deliver real value to consumers. At least for the next year, maybe 18 months, consumers will spend less and will be more focused on maximizing their budget. Meaning an acceleration of the US scenario of supercenters, discounters and warehouse clubs going fine while department stores, apparel, restaurants and luxury struggle. In Brazil, to say something about my home market, the first effect is going to be on consumer confidence. It's likely consumers will not rush to stores with the same eagerness we saw in H1, but overall retail figures will be still very positive. In August, sales rose 9.8% year-on-year, already below the two-digit standard of this year, and there shall be some slowdown in Q4, probably making FY sales growth reach the 8%-9% range. Still a very good result. Next year, however, will be another story. Credit crunch will hit hard, consumer confidence will drop and it'll be a difficult period. Time to go back to the basics. To segments as vehicles and DIY, it's going to be a hangover time, as the party will be over for them. Less credit available, lower growth. Consumers will need to readjust their budgets to cope with higher interest rates and less generous credit conditions, so their purchasing behavior is likely to become more value-driven. Tough times ahead, this is just the beginning. It seems the economic downfall will be steeper and longer than we all wish it to be, so it’s time to face the fact there’s a whole new environment coming on. Good for discounters, bad for retailers who have not been able to deliver real value to consumers.
At least for the next year, maybe 18 months, consumers will spend less and will be more focused on maximizing their budget. Meaning an acceleration of the US scenario of supercenters, discounters and warehouse clubs going fine while department stores, apparel, restaurants and luxury struggle.
In Brazil, to say something about my home market, the first effect is going to be on consumer confidence. It’s likely consumers will not rush to stores with the same eagerness we saw in H1, but overall retail figures will be still very positive. In August, sales rose 9.8% year-on-year, already below the two-digit standard of this year, and there shall be some slowdown in Q4, probably making FY sales growth reach the 8%-9% range. Still a very good result.
Next year, however, will be another story. Credit crunch will hit hard, consumer confidence will drop and it’ll be a difficult period. Time to go back to the basics. To segments as vehicles and DIY, it’s going to be a hangover time, as the party will be over for them. Less credit available, lower growth. Consumers will need to readjust their budgets to cope with higher interest rates and less generous credit conditions, so their purchasing behavior is likely to become more value-driven.

]]> Comment on Rising to challenge by Ira Kalish http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2008/10/06/rising-to-challenge/#comment-3 Ira Kalish Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:34:36 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=11#comment-3 I agree that retailers are facing a difficult period. In fact, it could get much worse before it gets better. At this writing, global credit markets have frozen and no action by governments has been effective in restoring the confidence necessary for banks to lend. In this situation, banks may not honor letters of credit from other banks. This means a shutdown in global trade. Small businesses cannot finance inventory. This could mean massive unemployment. This situation will remain until governments take massive action which could even entail bank nationalization. What can retailers expect? Extreme weakness until economic recovery. There will have to be a shakeout of retailers. Traditionally during recessions, weak retailers are often acquired by stonger ones. Yet with credit markets closed, we could see more retailers simply fail and disappear. What will be the characteristics of those that survive and prosper? They will be clearly differentiated from competitors, have a strong value proposition, offer a superior store experience, and have clean balance sheets. Achieving these goals will require an innovative spirit and a willingness to quickly dump formerly successful strategies and assets. I agree that retailers are facing a difficult period. In fact, it could get much worse before it gets better. At this writing, global credit markets have frozen and no action by governments has been effective in restoring the confidence necessary for banks to lend. In this situation, banks may not honor letters of credit from other banks. This means a shutdown in global trade. Small businesses cannot finance inventory. This could mean massive unemployment. This situation will remain until governments take massive action which could even entail bank nationalization.

What can retailers expect? Extreme weakness until economic recovery. There will have to be a shakeout of retailers. Traditionally during recessions, weak retailers are often acquired by stonger ones. Yet with credit markets closed, we could see more retailers simply fail and disappear.

What will be the characteristics of those that survive and prosper? They will be clearly differentiated from competitors, have a strong value proposition, offer a superior store experience, and have clean balance sheets. Achieving these goals will require an innovative spirit and a willingness to quickly dump formerly successful strategies and assets.

]]> Comment on Rising to challenge by Arvind Singhal http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/2008/10/06/rising-to-challenge/#comment-2 Arvind Singhal Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:40:19 +0000 http://blog.emap.com/retailvoice/?p=11#comment-2 I could not agree more with the message that "now is not the time to stop innovating, but to refocus on it". These are, indeed, unprecedented times. It is impossible for anyone at this time to be able to forecast when normalcy would return, and when it does, I am sure that "normalcy" would have been redefined. What seems to be clearer is that consumers across the world will have lesser money to spend than what they had 12 months ago. Even those who will have the same quantum are likely to become more cautious about spending it. Hence, retailers across the globe will have to redefine the benchmarks for "value" in their respective markets, and then go back to be basics to innovate both in product and process to be able to deliver enhanced value to their customers. Even in India, where as recently as on 9th October 2008, the Indian finance minister has gone on record to say that the economy is still expected to grow at 8% in the current fiscal, the consumer confidence is severely dented. More innovative marketing, is therefore, need of the hour and more innovation in formats per se the emerging big opportunity. Arvind Singhal I could not agree more with the message that “now is not the time to stop innovating, but to refocus on it”. These are, indeed, unprecedented times. It is impossible for anyone at this time to be able to forecast when normalcy would return, and when it does, I am sure that “normalcy” would have been redefined.

What seems to be clearer is that consumers across the world will have lesser money to spend than what they had 12 months ago. Even those who will have the same quantum are likely to become more cautious about spending it.

Hence, retailers across the globe will have to redefine the benchmarks for “value” in their respective markets, and then go back to be basics to innovate both in product and process to be able to deliver enhanced value to their customers.

Even in India, where as recently as on 9th October 2008, the Indian finance minister has gone on record to say that the economy is still expected to grow at 8% in the current fiscal, the consumer confidence is severely dented. More innovative marketing, is therefore, need of the hour and more innovation in formats per se the emerging big opportunity.

Arvind Singhal

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