How do varying Sunday trading regulations impact retail footfall throughout the week?
Sunday trading is a concept that seems to have divided Europe. Considered by many as a day of rest, it is common practice that retail opening hours reflect this idea – with some markets shutting their stores completely on this day. For many years France has fallen into this category, with high streets closing up...
Shopper Loyalty Programs Done Right
Not all loyalty programs are made equally. The days of simply presenting a generic plastic card at the point of sale are gone. Today’s consumers desire a personalized, integrated connection while shopping, whether in a brick-and-mortar location, or at home. In order to understand this shift, it’s important to first acknowledge the following trends...
Easter 2015: the retail winners
As the dust settles on Easter 2015, retailers and shopping centres will be reviewing their performance to see whether the year’s first peak shopping period brought the success they had hoped for. So which countries are celebrating a strong performance – and how did shopping patterns vary between regions? Our review of previous Easter footfall...
2015 Easter Holiday Promotions Analysis
Now that the holiday weekend has come to a close, it’s time to examine some of the promotions that retailers ran during and before the Easter holiday. As noted in the previous blog post, Easter weekend shifted up this year by two weeks on NRF’s retail calendar—from week 12 to week 10. Did this affect retailers’...
Is it time the mall had an overhaul?
A lot of talk has been given to the future of out-of-town shopping destinations of late. Once a symbol of U.S. culture, the shopping mall is now viewed by many as a retail format in decline – why? The problem is certainly not due to retail interest. According to the International Council of Shopping Centers,...
Great eggspectations: what will Easter weekend hold for the European retail sector?
The shelves are lined with chocolate eggs, fluffy chicks and greeting cards, which can only mean one thing: Easter’s on its way. Traditionally the first major shopping period of the year, retailers and shopping centres are ramping up their promotions to maximise profits over Easter weekend. What should these businesses ‘eggspect’ this year? One of...
Why data alone can’t drive retail profits
The car without fuel: why data alone can’t drive retail profits Picture this: you’re considering purchasing a new car. Your vehicle of choice is sleek, smart, beautiful and has the latest technology built in. Although there is one catch, and it’s a biggie: It has no fuel tank and therefore doesn’t drive. It’s still a...
China’s national celebrations are growing in global importance
Last week marked the start of the Year of the Goat or Sheep – creatures synonymous with shy, mild-mannered personality traits. However, the impact of this year’s celebrations was anything but shy, with Chinese New Year making bigger waves globally than ever before. The global spread of Chinese culture was certainly evident in images of...