Entries open for Skillsmart Retail Rising Stars 2011 Awards | Industry News | TalkingRetail.com

The search for retail’s brightest stars has begun as entries open for this year’s Skillsmart Retail Rising Stars Awards.

The annual awards, organised by Retail Week and headline sponsored by Skillsmart Retail, recognise the“best talent in all areas of retail, from the shop-floor to head office.” 

Each of the 14 award categories will identify individuals who demonstrate outstanding talent, intuition and ambition in their roles– singling them out as the ones to watch for the future.

For the first time retailers can also enter the new customer service category. This award celebrates the highest service standards in retail, recognising those who have shown they understand the need for delivery of consistent, top-quality customer service across their business.

Anne Seaman, chief executive of Skillsmart Retail, said:“These awards are an excellent way to recognise the breadth and depth of skills in retail. We want to celebrate those individuals and teams who not only work hard, but make a real difference to the companies they work for.     

“The awards cover all sections of retail. Whether you are an independent or high-street store this is your perfect chance to recognise those who have been a real asset to your business.”

Two awards, the Skillsmart Retail Apprentice of the Year and National Skills Academy for Retail Learner of the Year, give special praise to learners in retail who have chosen to fast-track their careers and gain qualifications while at work. 

Those that encourage and help individuals into retail will also be celebrated with the National Skills Academy for Retail awards Trainer of the Year, recognising training excellence and Ambassador of the Year, thanking those who inspired students to take a career in retail.  

The closing date for entries is Friday 3June, after which a team of retail experts will shortlist the individuals and teams that stand out as excellent retailers. The winners will then be announced at an awards ceremony on 8 September at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

Entries can be made online atwww.retailweekrisingstars.co.uk

Source:Skillsmart Retail

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Pound stores‘to grow’ in economic upturn | Independent News | TalkingRetail.com

Discount pound shops are predicted to keep attracting shoppers away from supermarkets and convenience stores even if the economy begins to improve, according to research from YouGov reported in today’s Independent Retail News.

The stores, such as Poundland and 99p Stores, continue to thrive in the high street and have created loyalty amongst‘savvy’ shoppers. The latest research from YouGov reveals almost one-third (32%) of adults have shopped at a pound store in the last three months.

Almost a quarter (23%) of respondents have bought products from one or more key categories in the past three months and they are spending less at supermarkets and other stores as a result.

Cleaning products are the most popular pound store purchases, with 21% of consumers having bought them in the past three months, while 18% have purchased toiletries, 17% have bought chocolate and/or sweets and 13% have purchased snacks and/or crisps.

YouGov said saving money was the“overwhelming reason” for using pound stores for 60% of respondents. This is particularly true for women (67%) and older respondents (66%). The stores do not just appeal to poorer people, as fairly affluent people now shop there as well.

Pound stores, along with discount outlets such as Wilkinson and B&M Retail, have started to expand their grocery offering in recent years to become even bigger competitors to supermarkets and c-stores.

Rob Cushen, consulting director at YouGov, said pound stores were likely to grow their share in some categories, most notably in cleaning products.“Our research suggests shoppers aren’t simply planning to head back to supermarkets when the financial situation improves,” he said.

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ACS and the BRC react to the Red Tape Challenge | Independent News | TalkingRetail.com

The Secretary of State for Business has launched a major and innovative new public consultation that gives local shops the opportunity to explain which regulations that cause them a burden should go.

The website,www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.ukwill be live for four weeks and the feedback received will be closely analyzed over a period of three months. The working presumption is that unless there is a compelling case for a regulation to be retained it should be scrapped.

James Lowman, ACS chief executive, said:“Local shops, particularly independent retailers, are crippled by the time and money required to comply with bad regulation. By bringing out open scrutiny for all regulations affecting retailers, the government and retailers themselves can identify the ones that bring bureaucracy and costs withoutdelivering their objectives. ACS will play an active role in advising what regulations need to go in order to get the balance right.

“We will be encouraging our members to have their say across all the regulations being considered. We are particularly keen for members to find the ones they want scrapped, but they will also be able to explain why others are needed.”

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is also pleased the government is putting its promises on reduced regulation into action. Along with its members, the BRC will be getting to work providing feedback on which measures should be scrapped, and identifying any missed opportunities.

Director of Business and Regulation at the BRC, Tom Ironside, said:“After all the promises which have been made about reducing the burden of regulation on businesses, this is a good start. But it won’t be enough only to remove the trivial rules which affect a handful of businesses.

“Red tape isn’t just an inconvenience. It ties up time and money that retailers would rather spend growing their businesses and expanding their workforces. It’s in everyone’s interests to make sure the regulations we do have are proportionate and genuinely needed.

“Some rules are useful. Those that keep people safe and protect consumers’ rights will stay. When other regulations are put to the test, we’re confident many will turn out to be unnecessary or to duplicate other legislation.

“This clear-out of old rules must be accompanied by a commitment on keeping new regulations to a minimum. The government can prove its good intentions by reducing the impact of major new burdens being introduced for retailers, such as the supermarket adjudicator and tobacco display ban.”

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Recession getting worse, Scottish retailers told | Independent News | TalkingRetail.com

The recession is going to get substantially worse before it gets better, Scottish retailers have been told, according to today’s Independent Retail News.

Delegates at this year’s Scottish Grocers’ Federation annual conference, held in Dunblane last weekend, were warned of dire times ahead by two key speakers.

Leigh Sparks, professor of retail studies at Stirling University, and Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium, both revealed worrying trade scenarios.

Set against a backdrop of government spending cuts, 2.5 million unemployed, rising oil and manufacturing costs and an interest rate that can only go up, they said the worst of recessionary trading was yet to come.

“Scottish retailers are having a tougher time than the rest of the UK and it’s going to get substantially worse before it gets better. The recession hasn’t even begun in Scotland,” Sparks said.

Robertson added:“There is very little volume growth in food sales in Scotland. This year is going to be tough for consumers and there will not be much happiness between now and the year end. We know the cupboard is empty, there’s no money to be handed over. When people talk of seeing green shoots in the economy, be very nervous.”

The speakers urged independent retailers to keep investing in their businesses and instil consumer confidence in the sector. They also called for strong leadership from the government, in Holyrood and Westminster, to help the industry trade out of the recession.

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Scottish Grocers’ Federation ‘disappointed’ with minimum wage increase decision | Industry News | TalkingRetail.com

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has expressed disappointed at the decision taken by UK government to increase the national minimum wage by 2.5% to £6.08 an hour.

John Drummond, chief executive of SGF, said:“An increase in the national minimum wage combined with the impact of the economic slowdown on retailing and consumer confidence will add additional pressure to retailers already struggling in these challenging times.

“SGF supports the principles of a national minimum wage. However, at a time when the public sector is freezing pay and the UK government is calling on the private sector to lead the economic recovery this increase is unhelpful and places an additional burden on local shops.

“The Chancellors decision to increase the national minimum wage by 2.5% will force retailers to reduce hours and reconsider plans to employ new staff. 

“This increase will threaten jobs and investment.”

Source: The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF)

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Midcounties Co-operative announce record profits | Industry News | TalkingRetail.com

The Midcounties Co-operative has defied tough economic conditions with a 35% increase in trading profit to a record£26m.

The member-owned community retailer announced its year end results for 2010/11 and will recommend an increase in its dividend from 1.5p to 1.8p per point to ensure all its members share in the Society’s success.

Its food stores, travel branches, pharmacies, funeral homes, childcare nurseries and employee benefits businesses all helped to ring up a 3.4% increase in total gross sales (excluding the figures for its Motor Group, which was sold in January last year).

The regionally focussed retailer also expanded outside its core area by growing its network of nurseries and this summer it will launch its new nationwide Co-operative Energy business supplying electricity and gas to the public. It is the UK’s only energy supplier that is owned by and rewards its members.

Chief executive Ben Reid said:“It has been a very challenging but rewarding year and now we have to focus on the future. There is every indication that the economic climate is going to remain difficult and it is into these conditions we will be launching Co-operative Energy and developing Co-operative Childcare.

“We are really optimistic that both ventures will quickly establish a foothold in the market. It is exciting for a regionally based society to be extending its reach in this way, and we believe that with the continuing engagement of our colleagues and support from our membership we can continue togo from strength to strength.

The annual report for the 52 weeks to 22 January 2011 details are: 

• Trading profit up 35% to£26m (£19.3m 2009/10)
• Food (30%) and Pharmacy (23%) showed the largest growth in profits
• £2.9m distributed to members as a share of the profits 
• Buffer Bear chain of 24 nurseries acquired

Source: The Midcounties Co-operative

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Brits cook with European products, reveals new survey | Industry News | TalkingRetail.com

New research shows that 79% of us now cook with European products at least once a week according to a survey by Discover the Origin.

Not only are consumers keen to try out European ingredients, with 46% saying they like to experiment with foreign produce, but 62% even incorporate them into traditional British dishes.

The survey also revealed 91% of us state that the quality of the ingredients we use is important. And for women, the main assurance of quality is knowing where our food comes from with 64% believing that origin matters;  this is why labelling systems such as the PDO* on food and the AOC* or DOC* appellation on wine are such important guides which provide an easily recognisable guarantee of quality.

This predilection for origin guaranteed ingredients is now so ingrained in the British psyche that it remains a key purchasing criterion, even during difficult economic times; as a result, products such as Parma Ham (+31%), Parmigiano-Reggiano (+22%), Burgundy wines (+20%), Ports and Douro wines (+1.6%) have all seen an increase in sales in the last two years, defying recession and ensuing market challenges. 

Source: Discover the Origin

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