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Retail Reflections: Heavy price paid for ‘taking it back’; raised voices and smart assistants

Alan Monahan writes: I once worked in the same office as a young woman who thought nothing of ‘buying’ a dress on a Friday and returning it to the store for a refund the following Monday. Challenged by colleagues about this practice – which also extended to having pieces of jewellery on approval – she

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Retail Reflections: Call for help as small shops feel the strain; steep footfall drop; a question of confidence

Alan Monahan writes: A bouquet for the Federation of Small Businesses, which has once again turned the spotlight on retailers. This was prompted by a rise in employment to 75.4% – the highest level since records began – and a drop in the number of self-employed people by 30,000 to 4.76 million. It is independents

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Retail news round-up: Ascential shows ‘could be sold’; Bitcoin on high street

Spring Fair and Autumn Fair organiser Ascential has launched a strategic review of its exhibitions division as it announces plans to focus on its digital business. Press reports suggest that this could lead to the sale of its trade and consumer shows and generate between £250 million and £300 million. Its strong annual results revealed

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Retail news round-up: ’Unhappy’ staff; stores making headlines, shop jobs and automation

The retail industry has the unhappiest staff, according to an Expert Market/Vivatic survey. Some 13% of the 2,222 respondents said they had imagined killing their boss and 30% of those in the sector claimed to hate their job. At the end of April, Eric Smith – who has designed jewellery for the Queen and the

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Retail Reflections: computer crashed and shop was happy to take my cash

Alan Monahan writes: I popped into my local coffee shop the other day to be greeted by a hand-written sign on the counter: ‘Sorry, we can only accept cash payments.’ Oh dear, their computer had crashed and the barista was painstakingly noting all transactions on a piece of paper. Never mind. I always carry cash.

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Retail Reflections: don’t despair of the data, you can still put money in the till

Alan Monahan writes: I do hope that your Christmas sales have defied the grim predictions of the doomsayers. For what is supposed to be the most joyful time of the year, recent data has been less than upbeat In my last column I said that the jury was out regarding Black Friday. Well, Visa UK

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