Beyond Retail
16 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago -It didn’t all change in March 2020. Not really.
The UK high street has been in the throes of a gradual revolution for decades. From the rise of ecommerce, to the birth of mobile, social commerce, and a growing emphasis on experience, change has been underway for a while.
In fact for many, the pandemic has acted as a wake-up call. Digital transformation was no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a matter of survival. Necessity sparked innovation and customers are enjoying more flexibility and convenience than ever before.
But what now? What lessons should we take with us as we move forwards? And how can we ensure we’re ready for whatever’s next?
To find out, host Colin Neil embarked on a journey spanning the past 10 years. Using our latest consumer research as a launch-pad, we spoke to famous brands, industry experts, and consumers on the street.
The result is a five-part podcast series providing a unique insight into the rich, varied world of UK commerce in 2021 and beyond.
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Episodes
Reading the tea leaves: What awaits?
August 22, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBThe food and beverage space has done a lot of evolving over the last decade. And after some unprecedented circumstances, it experienced some short but rapid stages of advancement, bringing us new technologies that are now commonplace. As time goes on, and stability is challenged once again with factors such as a cost of living crisis, the industry carries on its steady modernisation, making it fit for the consumers of the future. But what does this future look like? In our f...
Feeding consumers’ evolving appetite
August 08, 2023 03:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MBThe pandemic taught food and beverage brands how to evolve through innovation. Digital took the forefront, and convenience and efficiency became more important than ever when it came to keeping business afloat. Meanwhile, takeaway and delivery options opened up new revenue streams for restaurants and cafes, expanding their consumer base and appealing to a whole new audience. But as the industry continues to face a pressurized social climate with the current cost-of-living crisi...
Creating a recipe for staff retention
July 25, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBThroughout this season, we’ve explored the value that atmosphere, design, and innovative tech provide when boosting customer experience. But as an industry built on people, F&B is increasingly shifting its focus inward to find new ways to enhance the experience of those who keep the businesses running – staff. In this episode of Beyond Retail, we investigate the ways in which brands are enhancing the everyday tasks of their frontline staff. We hear about the changes being made to i...
Spaces designed for consumption
July 11, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 48.1 MBYou may think a signature dish or culinary theme are all a food and beverage business need to develop a strong identity. But in reality, the meals served at our favourite eateries are one of many factors contributing a complex branding strategy. Food, lighting, interior design, menu layout; these and many other elements combined are what create immersive and memorable experiences for customers. And as newer and increasingly sophisticated technology continues to develop, we’re se...
Bite-sized reflections
June 27, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 49.8 MBThe food and beverage space isn’t what it once was – it’s much, much better. Even before the pandemic, restaurants, bars and cafes were on a steady march towards modernisation. Takeaway apps were making it possible for restaurants of all shapes and sizes to deliver to customers, and new technologies like QR codes were slowly making their mark on the user journey. But then the pandemic hit, and businesses went into overdrive. To stay open, they had to think fast to meet custo...
Platforms for growth
August 08, 2022 02:00 - 33 minutes - 45.4 MBBrands are spoilt for choice when it comes to business tools; POS systems, CRM databases, even social media. These technologies are just a sampling of the plethora of services available to help retailers function and evolve. But one class of tool really making a difference is platforms. Platforms for E-commerce, platforms for managing business - no matter where they’re rolled out, what they really are are platforms for growth. Platforms are allowing brands to scale faster, collect ...
Data engineers are the new fashion designers
July 25, 2022 02:00 - 35 minutes - 49.4 MBNot that long ago, you’d only expect a personalised customer experience if you were a regular repeat customer on your local high street - or if you happened to be a VIP shopping at Gucci. But that’s no longer the case. Today, a few data points can potentially give businesses a wealth of insight into their customers. And the information is already out there - all retailers need is a good data strategy to utilise it. Of course it isn’t always that simple, but businesses are getting ...
We still love getting physical
July 11, 2022 02:00 - 37 minutes - 52 MBPhysical stores aren’t going anywhere. And Adyen’s latest research found that consumers support this, with 59% still preferring to shop in-store. While sensationalist news headlines might try to convince us otherwise, the truth is that the internet isn’t the brick-and-mortar killer it’s been made out to be. In actual fact, the growth of the online store isn’t so much siphoning customers from high street shops as it is augmenting consumers’ physical shopping experience and bolstering...
Prove you’re worthy of long term loyalty
June 27, 2022 02:00 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBThe retail landscape is rapidly changing alongside both global shifts and local pressures. Accelerated by the pandemic, businesses are now blurring the lines between digital and physical experiences. This shift towards multiple, connected sales channels has helped build resilience for many businesses. In fact, recent Adyen research has found that 74% of businesses that connect their sales channels expect to grow by more than 20% this year. That doesn’t mean the pressure is off. Ris...
When the going gets tough, the tough diversify
June 13, 2022 02:00 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBThe initial ‘response’ phase of the pandemic is over. Now, as we’re adjusting to a state of normal(ish), it’s a good time to take stock and evaluate the current state of UK retail and hospitality. We’ve seen that many retailers used the downtime of the pandemic to diversify their sales channels. The boundaries between in-store and online have become increasingly blurred, and new channels and experiences are emerging. But how do we ensure that the values and personality of a brand s...
High tech, high impact
August 03, 2021 02:00 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MBImpact seems to be on everyone’s minds these days. The pandemic has reawakened the altruist in us all, and the societal and environmental impact of brands matter as much as price when making purchasing decisions. Technology is also driving changes in our behaviour. Digital adoption accelerated during the pandemic as people sought solutions that were quicker, easier, and safer. As a result, consumers of all ages are more tech-savvy than ever before. In this final episode of Retail ...
Standing out
July 20, 2021 02:00 - 34 minutes - 79.7 MBIn March 2019, the nation was placed under house arrest. No eating out, shopping, or socialising meant retailers and restaurants had to pull down their shutters and to pivot to e-commerce or risk never opening their doors again. But in 2021 as brands welcome back shoppers in-store and online, how can they satisfy their customers' renewed appetite for the retail experience? In this episode of Retail Reawakened, we dissect the shopping experience. On the macro level, we find out why ...
Lasting Loyalties
July 06, 2021 02:00 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBPanic buying, impulse shopping, and the growth of online spending - in the past 18 months, customer behaviour has been wildly unpredictable. Or has it? In this episode of Retail Reawakened, we examine the psychological impact of the pandemic on consumers and what it takes to win their loyalty today. We’ll also explore how businesses are embracing new technologies to elevate their loyalty programs and increase their adoption in store and online. Since the start of the pandemic, c...
Wake Up Call
June 22, 2021 02:00 - 32 minutes - 45 MBIn 2021, it's not enough just to have a website anymore. You need a full ecommerce strategy. That means online stores, social media presence, seamlessly integrated online and in-store customer journeys and more. In this episode of retail reawakened, we explore exactly what it is that brands need to do to remain competitive in a retail landscape where customers demand multiple ways to shop. We examine the ways that brands are constantly innovating their online experience and how the...
Early Risers
June 08, 2021 02:00 - 29 minutes - 41.1 MBWho hasn’t seen headlines heralding the death of the high street? Woolworths, Debenhams, Arcadia Group - do the the failure of these brands point to an overall demise? Is ecommerce taking the place of physical retail? Or is something different going on? To learn more about where we are now, we need to look back a few years. In this first episode of Retail Reawakened, we track the digital transformation of global fashion brand Burberry and see the ways they’ve maintained their brand...
Introducing Retail Reawakened
June 04, 2021 14:01 - 1 minute - 2.74 MB2020 didn’t grind retail to a halt—it threw it into overdrive. Food and beverage reinvented themselves and took huge risks to stay in business. Incremental change went out the window as companies fought to survive. Now, as we return to normal, normal will look very different. Digital transformation, social commerce, experiential emphasis—what big swings are here to stay? And what’s on the horizon? On Retail Reawakened, host Colin Neil takes you through the latest consumer research ...