EDITOR’S COMMENT Will McGill
“The best way to predict the future is to create it” – Peter Drucker
8
Millions of lights, stretching endlessly into the distance, every building glowing. It feels futuristic, probably because it is! And I suppose that’s what got me thinking. As an industry, we’re always looking ahead. New
T
products, changing consumer habits, evolving technology, economic pressures, opportunities, we’re all trying to work out what the future looks like and, more importantly, how we continue to grow within it.
But sometimes, the best way to move forward is to stop for a moment and simply ask the question: “How are things really going?” That’s exactly why we’ve launched The ERT
Report. This is something we genuinely want to build into a valuable snapshot of the independent electrical retail sector, an honest reflection of how business has been over the past year, the challenges retailers are facing, the areas performing well, and where confidence sits going into the future. And before anyone panics: no, we’re not asking for your figures. In
fact, we’ve made the whole thing as straightforward as possible. It’s multiple choice,
here’s something fascinating about a city skyline at night. Take Chongqing in China, for example.
quick to complete, and designed to give us all a clearer understanding of the market without taking up too much of your time. Because the reality is, independent retailers have a voice that deserves to be heard. You’re on the shop floor every day. You’re speaking directly to customers. You see changing buying habits before anyone else. You know when confidence is growing, when it’s cautious, and when something in the industry simply isn’t working.
The more retailers who take part, the more meaningful the report becomes, not just for us at ERT, but for the industry as a whole. It helps identify trends, spark conversations, and hopefully give everyone a better sense of where we are and where we’re heading next.
So this month, alongside all the usual news and
features, I’d encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the survey. We, and by that I mean me, will be compiling the findings in our July/ August issue with every survey filled out being anomalised.
And while you’re at it, why not enter the ERT Awards too?
Celebrate that member of staff who always goes above and beyond. Shine a light on the work your team does day in, day out. Or perhaps simply recognise your own achievements, because running a successful independent retail business in today’s market is no small thing. Too often, retailers downplay what they’ve accomplished. But the ERT Awards are about exactly that: recognising the people, businesses and ideas helping push this industry forward. And as I mentioned last month, recognition carries real value. Not just on the night itself, but long afterwards too. Sometimes all it takes is one trophy on a shelf, one finalist logo in a window, or one conversation with a customer to remind you why it matters.
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