talking trade
the ‘stay home’ regime, footfall fell by 75%. What businesses of all types were already asking was: how they could prepare for - and survive - any more general shutdown? Because we have no real way of knowing how long this disruption is going to persist. And, at the time of writing, we still don’t. My local award-winning cookshop The Kitchen Range in Market Harborough has started offering home delivery. My local gift shop saw sporadic peaks of demand in advance of Mother’s Day, interspersed with hours of nothing at all happening. At the same time, the floristry side of the business was booming as Mothering Sunday approached. But the sales there were not coming from walk-ins. They were predominantly coming from phone calls and social media messages. Retailers and service providers are getting
creative with their services. Our local wine merchant has announced that it will deliver free locally, pushing out the message through Facebook (and they handed over a case of wine to me at home as arranged). Needing flour from our nearby bakery for the
sourdough bread I bake, I ordered by phone. The government announced that cafes,
On March 23, award-winning cookshop The Kitchen Range in Market Harborough (winner of the Best Cus- tomer Experience and Best Window Display categories of the Housewares Innovation Awards 2020) took the deci- sion to close - but has started offering home delivery. It tweeted: ‘Whether it be a potato peeler, pasta machine or pots and pans, we will deliver it safely to your door.’
restaurants and pubs could start to offer takeaways and delivery with temporary changes to planning rules. But as far as I can see, all of our local providers had already got on and done this. I don’t think they even considered asking for permission. Retailers are putting themselves out there,
especially on social media, and I would be surprised if that doesn’t change the way we do business for good. Consumers are engaging online in volumes
that they never have before - with supermarkets in particular maxed out on delivery slots for weeks and in some cases for months - and these first steps will lead to others. Making new habits begins with small changes in behaviour. Both customers and retailers have been making changes that will have permanent effects on the way we shop, accelerating and amplifying established trends. Those changes will be become more entrenched as the dislocation goes on. But one thing we can be certain about is that it will, eventually, pass.
• Michael Weedon is chair of the FSB [Federation of Small Businesses] Retail and High Streets Policy Unit and managing director of exp2 Ltd, which carries out projects including research and report creation for clients in the retail industry, including data providers, place managers and individual retailers. He established exp2 in 2016 from a leading trade association role.
Michael’s contact details are: Mobile: 07411 763 551 Email:
Michael.weedon@exp2.co.uk Tw: @michaelweedon
Do you receive your digital edition of Housewares Magazine?
H 11:14 Page 1 MARCH/APRIL 2020 SIGN UP NOW!
http://www.housewareslive.net/registration/
Our digital editions are high quality, page-turning versions of the print edition. They feature enhancements including live weblinks and will display on your PC, tablet or mobile device.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
They are available to our retail readers FREE OF CHARGE
:
0161 934 2240 DECEMBER 2019
www.progresscookshop.com
0333 577 9820
www.beldray.com
0330 9000 231
www.scott-gear.co.uk
01952 671077
www.melitta.co.uk
0161 934 2268
www.saltercookshop.com
01256 462341
www.western-house.com
01264 343900
www.lecreuset.co.uk
0116 234 4611 0844 800 8055
www.epeinternational.com
sales@burton-mccall.com y01275 841841
www.tg-woodware.com
01244 556777
www.prdirect.net
0151 482 8000
www.meyergroup.co.uk
0151 651 2265
www.phassocs.co.uk
01282 687030
www.whatmoreuk.com 01488 686572
www.eddingtons.co.uk
Merry Christmas one and all
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
