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March/April 2022 IER-MAR22-DAD FC:IER-FEB20-WITT 09/03/2022 12:54 Page 1
Buying into digital transformation makes good business sense
T EDITORIAL
Managing Editor: Simon King
sking@datateam.co.uk
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here is no doubt in my mind that digital transformation makes good business
sense for retailers and the pandemic – where people were forced to stay at home – has likely changed consumer behaviours for good. It’s an understatement to say that Covid-19 – and
the restrictions imposed on businesses as a result of it – have triggered change within the retail sector. Over 15,000 shops and 188,000 retail jobs were lost in the fi rst 12 months of the pandemic, and 2020 has since been confi rmed as ‘the worst year for the UK High Street in more than 25 years’. The introduction of ‘stay at home’ guidance
from the UK government, in addition to the blanket closure of ‘non-essential’ shops and businesses, essentially forced consumers onto online platforms for much of last two years – and shopping behaviours have been irrevocably changed as a result since. The Online Nation 2021 report from UK communications regulator Ofcom found that the pandemic accelerated the UK’s shift towards online shopping – with sales rising by almost 50% year-on-year. This dramatically increased level of traffi c has
REGULARS 4 News
10 Question & Answer: Darren Clements, retail general manager, Hughes Electrical
12 Review of KBB Birmingham as retailers fl ock to the show after the pandemic
14 Retailer Profi le: AF Thomas Electricals in Newport
16 The Big Interview: Simon King speaks to Samsung’s Jonathan Hartley
18 The Big Interview: Simon King speaks to Amdea’s Paul Hide
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FEATURES
20 A review of The Inspired Home Show, which took place recently in Chicago
IER AWARDS 2022
24 The Manufacturer Shortlist 26 The Retailer Shortlist
March/April 2022 18
www.ierdaily.co.uk | 3 16 12 14
crashed websites, impacted delivery times and ultimately highlighted the need for businesses to update existing systems or processes – and put digital transformation higher on the agenda. Independent electrical retailers are realising the
importance of improving their web off ering and it is encouraging to see that this is happening. While undertaking such a project at a time of great uncertainty might feel slightly overwhelming, the consequences of inaction are fundamentally more alarming. The pandemic has changed the way in which we shop – and retailers with a physical presence need to move fast if they’re to keep up with the pace. This issue of IER is published alongside a supplement celebrating the 30th anniversary of leading distributor D.A.D – congratulations to Adrian Gillman and his team for reaching this key milestone, and here’s to the next 30 years.
Simon King Managing Editor
sking@datateam.co.uk
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