Health and Safety Courses

5 Day ConstructionSkills Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS)

2 Day refresher course for the 5 Day ConstructionSkills Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS)

3 Day ConstructionSkills Site Safety for Shopfitters & Interior Contractors

1 Day refresher course for the 3 Day ConstructionSkills Site Safety for Shopfitters & Interior Contractors

2 Day ConstructionSkills Site Safety for the Structural Elements of Shopfitting and Interior Contracting

2 Day ConstructionSkills Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme

1 Day ConstructionSkills Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher

1 Day Directors’ Responsibilities of Health and Safety

1 Day ConstructionSkills Heath and Safety Awareness

1 Day Site Waste Management

1 Day CDM 2007Update

1 Day Achieving Behavioural Change (ABC)

1 Day How to Write an Effective Risk Assessment & Method Statement

2 Day SPA Petrol Retail and Core Accreditation

Health and Safety Mix and Match Courses

½ Day UKATA Accredited Asbestos Awareness

½ Day Fire Safety Awareness

½ Day Abrasive Wheels

½ Day Manual Handling

½ Day Hand Arm Vibration & Safe Use of Portable Power Tools inc. Nail Guns

½ Day Safe Working at Height

½ Day Health & Safety Update refresher

Courses arranging throughout the UK and Northern Ireland

On-Site training available

Programmes individually tailored to suit your Specific requirements

Assistance with identifying training needs

Grants from ConstructionSkills may apply.

For more information call: 01883 624961 or

 Email: sitf@shopfitters.org

www.sitf.org.uk

Retail Design & Technology Magazine and Nick Martindale looks at the juggling act of meeting retail customer demand versus stockpiling.

Stock-ordering systems, in theory, should enable them to keep on top of this but a recent survey by Wasp Barcode Technologies found some 64 per cent of retailers were not happy with their current means of managing stock control.

Stock ordering systems, whether as part of wider ERP packages or standalone systems, have become considerably more sophisticated in recent years, says Maria José Gonçalves, director for the retail market at WeDo Technologies. ‘These now include features such as sales forecasting, weather conditions and even social network inputs,’ she says. ‘This gives a much broader view of the different elements that impact stock handling and enables retailers to be better prepared.’

For smaller retailers that still rely on manual stock processes, the advent of a barcode scanning system which links into stock control or inventory management systems can make a big difference, suggests Hugh Furness, European sales director at Wasp. ‘Any company moving over to barcode scanning and stock control or inventory management will see a great improvement, with no stock-outs and accurate records,’ he says. ‘As staff will only be scanning stock in and out using a barcode scanner, there won’t be any human errors and the stock should be correct at all times.’

Technology can also help retailers get round the perennial problem of having items out of stock on the shelves but available in the backroom. ‘Retailers should either monitor EPoS sales in real-time or near real-time, comparing sales against trends,’ says Gonçalves. ‘For example, with a food retailer if there are no milk sales in the period between 9 am and 10am, there is a high probability that the milk is not on the shelf. Business assurance systems can help here by performing this type of analysis and then sending alerts to store staff.’

Larger retailers, though, will need to think about systems which tie into other business applications, such as forecasting, planning and supply chain modules to avoid scenarios where shelves are bare at key times of day.

‘Retailers should consider an approach that combines accurate forecasting of consumer demand and matches this with continual replenishment of inventory,’ says Sarah Taylor, senior director at Oracle Retail. ‘The technology exists to accurately predict consumer demand for goods, manage this with the supply chain and suppliers and ensure that products are received on time, lowering the risk of products being out of stock and improving efficiency. They should not be relying on just-in-time delivery to avoid bare shelves.

The issue for many retailers, though, is the specific demands of their own sector and the scale of their enterprise, as well as the obvious barrier of a lack of resources to invest in new technologies. ‘It’s less a case of systems development and more an issue of management understanding the need to organise operations on a different basis,’ says Julian Mosquera, technical director at LCP Consulting.  ‘This approach requires analysis and segmentation of the product portfolio, with rules established as to how the different segments will be served into store.’ Options here could range from drip-feed daily replenishment, once-weekly bulk replenishment to full allocation to store at the start of an event with no further replenishment available, he suggests.

The huge acceleration in online shopping and increasingly mobile and social networking-led purchases also has implications for stock ordering. ‘Today’s key issues are how I order across all the channels in which I trade, and how do I balance between fulfilment online and store replenishment,’ says Tony Bryant, business development manager at K3 Retail.

‘With click-and-collect moving on at a pace, stores may move to a fulfilment model rather than a purely replenishment one. Today’s solutions should now give very sophisticated replenishment models with supporting algorithms to meet a significant changing demand profile at store location level. A minimal credible display on the shelf is required and stock should never fall below this level,’ he adds.

Solutions are also emerging to help smaller retailers in this space, suggests Furness, which can flag up when stock is at a minimum level and provide remote access to inventory systems so managers can email purchase orders direct to suppliers.

Ultimately, though, the arrival of genuine multi-channel retail means having staff keep track of stock is becoming increasingly anachronistic, says Taylor at Oracle. ‘The larger the organisation, the more difficult it is to maintain visibility to stock across multiple stores, distribution centres and ecommerce sites, unless you have systems in place to manage this centrally.

‘It is no longer appropriate to wait until the shelf is empty to reorder. Retailers should have a comprehensive view of inventory – from stores to the distribution centres and beyond – to automate and better manage orders, inventory, allocation and distribution.’

WeDo Technologies                          www.wedotechnologies.com

Wasp                                                           www.waspbarcode.co.uk

Oracle Retail                                          www.oracel.com

LCP Consulting                                      www.lcpconsulting.com

K3 Retail                                                   www.k3btg.com

Visual merchandising is at its best over Christmas. RDT takes a look at the finer points of the art

The retail industry never fails to embody the spirit of Christmas, contributing, as it does, so earnestly to the festive feeling of high streets and town centres up and down the country.

Curmudgeons may whine that retail has robbed Christmas of its true meaning. In truth the industry gives much back – it is both cynical and hypocritical to suggest the festive period is simply taking and not giving, a profiteering exercise for the nation’s shopkeepers.

It is of course a fiercely competitive time for retailers – when isn’t it? High street sales are flagging, while online shopping is as popular as it’s ever been, especially among those trying to avoid the hustle and bustle of towns and shopping centres. That said, millions still flock to stores in search of bargain presents. So what’s the big attraction?

‘It’s in the traditional shopping destinations that people get to experience the fun, joy and pure theatre of Christmas shopping’ says Ian Foulds of the Marketing Store. ‘Successful festive visual merchandising recognises this and looks to help people move quickly through their shopping missions with as much interactivity as space allows, to deliver multi-sensory experiences.’

There is however more than meets the eye when it comes to creating an eye-catching display. Shop fronts and floors are awash with bells, baubles and tinsel from around the start of December, and as such run the risk of merging into one another. It’s imperative from a sales standpoint that tradition and individuality are woven into the fabric of the design. Peter Cunningham of Design CLD says: ‘Decoration should relate directly back to the brand identity of the shop, in colour, typeface and style. Customers could be given free gift boxes which are themed to match the decor scheme.’

We know that you know that Westfield Stratford City is pretty amazing, and you most certainly don’t need to be told again, but now the crowds have dispersed somewhat (note I’m writing this in October, therefore it’s now December, which means the Christmas rush is in full swing, probably making that statement a complete lie), we can delve into the re-branding and innovative designs created by some of the high street’s best loved retailers.

Westfield was always going to be one of the biggest events to happen to the industry over the last five years, and retailers large and small immediately saw it as an opportunity to revamp, re-brand and even re-launch. For some it was the perfect platform to show creativity, go beyond expectations and thrash the competition with something that could only be done in a large location. For others, it was the ideal moment to beat recession-induced struggles.

First up is the return of Base – back to its East End roots. The family-run company returned to Stratford after a 21-year absence, since closing its former Stratford store in 1990. Two stores, Base and Boys Base, are located on the lower ground floor. The units connect internally and have showcased a range of new brands, including Ralph Lauren, Converse, Firetrap and Levi’s – to name a few.

Base’s original store closed after 25 years in Stratford high street, after the retailer found trading opportunities limited. Westfield provided the chance to re-launch the store and return to where the brand was born. Marc Granditer, managing director for Base said: ‘Base returns to Stratford with a mixture of nostalgia and confidence. We look forward to renewing old acquaintances as well as making new friends.’

Topshop opened its second largest store within the UK and showcased a new design concept, containing the very best of the brand’s mainline and designer collaborations. Spread over 1,950 sq m across two floors, the store features a glass-free, double-height 70m frontage, creating maximum impact and allowing easy access.

All Saints store at Westfield

Once inside, the space feels premium, sleek and glossy. Smoked glass walls and staircases look modern, and theatrical lighting and spotlights add drama. A 33m avenue of mannequins stretches through the middle of the store, with the space including an interactive public area for Topshop to interact with its customers and host workshops. An iPad bench area will be available for customers to access the website and blog.

Commenting on the brand’s creativity, Tanya Reynolds, creative director of Proportion London said: ‘Many of the multi retailers steered away from their usual identities, challenged with the pressures of recent retail downturns and the need to outdo their competitors.

‘Topshop, as usual made a step-change, choosing to maximise edgy concept trials experimented with in their flagship hotbed Oxford Circus store.’

Many retailers used the launch to experiment with visual merchandising. Marks & Spencer introduced a number of concepts to maximise some of its best-loved brands. In collaboration with Proportion London, which effectively propelled the visual theatre forward, the retailer selected a number of its manufactured mannequins, bust forms and lingerie presenters. The FLUID collection was used throughout the lingerie area to endorse femininity of the merchandise while fitting the product.

Reynolds said: ‘Marks & Spencer wanted to make the very best of the store layout and product adjacencies, while providing distinctly segmented areas for each brand. The visual presentation is all-important within this plan, allowing the customers to clearly identify which brands best meet their personal style. The VM equipment throughout the store was created to represent and complement sub brands, ensuring customers would be able to identify particular areas swiftly.’

It’s evident that the stores at Westfield have been clever with design, focusing on the layout while still making the effort to create visual impact. Reynolds added: ‘Many store layouts flowed seamlessly, guiding customers and highlighting particularly aspirational merchandise. The build-up to the launch as a benchmark retail centre obviously incited brands to experiment and develop, given the opportunity for large numbers of visitors in the run up to the Olympics.’

River Island is a clear example of an experimenting brand. The Westfield store embodies a completely different concept to previous stores, immediately attracting and inviting customers. Introducing a new logo and façade, it was the first store to have this treatment. Reflecting a traditional East End vibe, with cream and green brick tiling and a curved bar system, the store is distinctive architecturally, further enhanced by its individual 3D and LED illuminated letters.

In-store, a range of PoS is used, including a variety of mannequins and styles with an electric feel. The interior features a VIP department with mirrored walls, illuminated billboards, Art Deco-style jewellery section and quilted ceilings.

For the first time, the Arcadia Group located Miss Selfridge alongside Dorothy Perkins and Burtons, while Kurt Geiger is positioned with Nine West since purchasing the brand. With lucrative designs, bright lights and flawless merchandising, a stroll through Westfield highlights the fact that retailers have gone all out in a bid to beat competition. Even Primark featured a re-brand in order to match its price increases and be on par with competitors, such as H&M and New Look.

Standing out from the crowd, and a clear winner on design and concept – for me at least – is John Lewis. Opening its first store for 20 years, the most contemporary John Lewis to date features 70 per cent new shopping concepts.

Covering an area of 24,000 sq m and costing £35m, the Stratford store features a luxury shop fit and design. The home concept features room sets showcasing the latest designs and layouts to inspire customers. The electronics department has been given a radical new look too. Created by Dalziel and Pow, which also designed the womenswear section, it combines an inspirational and interactive experience with products and technology experts on hand to solve all dilemmas.

The modern, four-storey building, designed by architect Crispin Wride, boasts an uninterrupted view over the Olympic Park and beyond. Considered a landmark building, John Lewis features a glazed frontage with a ceramic, circular pattern, designed to symbolise the circle of generations in Stratford enabled by the Westfield development and partners working towards London 2012 and its legacy.

Hosting a team of experts on home interior design, fashion, fitness and childcare, John Lewis includes eateries, a Waitrose outlet and a selection of specially commissioned art with paintings and installations on display. It would appear all of lifes problems could be solved with a trip to John Lewis.

Still drawing in the crowds, the latest concepts and innovative designs at Westfield appear to be working a treat for retailers, it almost makes one think, ‘recession, what recession?’ As Christmas approaches and seasonal styles change, watch this space – or should I say, window?

CONTACTS

www.proportionlondon.com

uk.westfield.com/stratfordcity/

RD&T spoke to Mike Hancox, chief executive of Ideal Shopping Direct to discuss why TV shopping is such a popular option for consumers .

RD&T: Ideal World hit our screens in April 2000. What sparked the decision to move from mail order to TV?

In common with many entrepreneurial businesses, a gap in the market coupled with emerging technology – in this case digital TV – sparked the move

RD&T: How has the channel progressed over the years?

As you’d expect with the countrywide digital switchover, we’re in many more homes now than when we started on Sky, Virgin, Freesat and Freeview. Added to that, we’re broadcasting 24-hours a day across four separate channels and also have specialised divisions to look after crafters, gardeners and pet owners, as well as anyone who wants to buy items for their home or themselves.

RD&T: What opportunities does TV shopping offer consumers?

The chance to see products being demonstrated before they buy coupled with entertainment with presenters that they enjoy watching.

RD&T: What is the audience demographic?

Customers from all age groups shop with us, with the spread across categories mirroring more traditional retail outlets. Some of the strongest demand we see is from shoppers who find it especially useful to be able to shop from their home.

RD&T: Why do you think shoppers are turning to TV rather than heading to the high street?

We know that that TV shopping offers a convenient way to view and buy products from the comfort of your home. Our customers are telling us that with their much busier family lives, our range of fun products and the chance to see demonstrations, the experience is more pleasure and less hassle.

RD&T: What part does TV shopping play in the fluctuating retail industry?

It’s been one of the big growth areas in the past few years, and one we think will continue to grow. Customers seem to like the familiarity of the traditional retail browsing experience coupled with the convenience of being able to do this at home. As technology develops and people start to watch our output on a range of portable devices, such as tablets and PCs as well as traditional TVs, we believe that we will continue to grow.

RD&T: How has the on-screen purchasing market changed?

TV shopping reflects trends within the larger economy, so a hotspot at the moment would be customers making sure they get the best value from whatever they buy. With a growing acceptance of the concept by the public, there is more competition out there, which means Ideal World has to make sure that we are offering exactly what the public wants. The growth in our web business of over 250 per cent in the last three years reflects the fact that we have a competitive offer.

RD&T: What effect has the recession had on TV shopping?

Over the past few years, we’ve seen sales steadily increase, and are predicting another rise by the end of this year. We have seen a number of entrants in the past few years – including well-known high street names – so we think that TV shopping is a growth area.

RD&T: so online shopping has become increasingly popular. What impact has this had on Ideal World?

We’ve always tried to focus on the essential strengths of the format at Ideal World and Create & Craft. This means live demonstrations by real-life presenters, rather than simply relying on pictures and text on a website, which can sometimes seem a little flat.

RD&T: When did you decide to add IdealWorld.tv to your offering?

Idealworld.tv has been seen in its current form from about 2003 onwards, although as you’d expect it’s always being developed to reflect new trends and technologies. This is in line with our drive towards a multi-platform retail model rather than just being a TV shopping channel.

RD&T: Has this had a noticeable effect on sales figures?

Our websites are of course important to our business model by themselves, but we think of them also as an extra way to order from us rather than as an alternative to TV. In fact, with the growth in laptops, tablets and web browsing phones, many customers go onto our website from the sofa, rather than in a separate room to the TV.

RD&T: What effect, if any, do you see the digital changeover having on the market?

Digital switchover gives us the chance to talk to more customers directly in their own homes at the same time as giving those customers a choice of ways to buy what they have seen. So we’re making sure that Ideal World is at the forefront of this multi-platform approach and isn’t just seen as a TV shopping channel.

RD&T: With more shopping channels becoming available, how do you plan to maintain your success?

Stick to our philosophy of offering products your family wants from people you trust – and of course all at the right price!

RD&T:  Have you seen much change in product demand over the time you’ve been broadcasting?

A good selling product for TV shopping will always be something that can be demonstrated well. In the past few years we’ve seen this work for more advanced technology, like laptops and sat-navs, as well as traditional products like kitchen appliances.

RD&T: In some circles, there is a certain stigma attached to shopping channels. How do you overcome this to create brand loyalty?

We’ve never been embarrassed about any of our customers, and we don’t think our customers are embarrassed to buy from us. We’re building brand loyalty by providing the products our customers want – conveniently from home and at a good price

RD&T: What, in your opinion is the single most important factor in the slow down in the high street?

When you consider traffic, high transport costs and peoples’ busy lives, the convenience of being able to buy the same items without leaving the house is strong.

RD&T: How do you think it will bounce back?

It’s likely that many traditional high street retailers will look at the multi-platform approach in the next few years to boost revenues and customer numbers.

RD&T:  What are the three most important factors that contribute to the success of a retailer?

The best retailers always understand what their customers want, go that little bit further when customers do shop with them – and then give them a reason to come back.

RD&T: What advice would you give to struggling independent retailers?

Look at what you do well and do more of it. Don’t forget that your customers have a choice, so give them a real reason to come back to you.

RD&T: Where is the ‘shopaholic’ capital of the UK?

Although a number of areas countrywide do have a high number of customers, Sheffield is often at the top of this list.

RD&T: With winter approaching, do you have concerns over how bad weather may affect your sales, and can you put any special measures in place?

The snows last year did cause disruption for many retailers and shoppers alike, whether it was abandoned trip to the high street or a delay in a delivery van reaching the home, especially around the busy Christmas sales period. We can assure customers that we will do our very best to make sure that their goods arrive on time.

RD&T: How much of an impact does Christmas have on TV shopping?

Like many retailers, the Christmas run–up is a big event for us. So we make sure that we’ve got the products that our customers want and can deliver them in time for the big day.

With so many people relaxing when the Christmas break does arrive, it’s a good chance to talk to new customers who might not have seen Ideal World before.

RD&T: Have you seen an increase over the years of people purchasing Christmas gifts via TV shopping?

Apart from offering convenience and value, TV shopping can be a great source of ideas for gifts. If a customer is stuck for a present for a particular family member around Christmas time, we hope we can offer inspiration and maybe something a little different that they may not have thought about before.

RD&T: What is the future of shopping?

We think that there will be a much closer link between different ways of shopping. Customers will want the choice from multi-channel retailers like Ideal World to see a product on TV and then buy it easily from a website or over the phone.

www.idealworld.tv/

A Marble Arch replica, built from litter collected from the streets of Westminster, has eclipsed the original iconic arch itself and will be taken down today after an 11-day stint.

The results mark an incredible 8.8 per cent growth in fCommerce in just four months as more and more retailers import their website functionality into the social networking site. The study also found that a staggering 25 per cent of online consumers now log onto Facebook more than once a day, representing a considerable proportion of all shoppers and a massive opportunity for retailers.

The eCSI study also found that an impressive 97 per cent of online shoppers plan to log onto the internet this Christmas to browse and buy gifts. Over a quarter (27 per cent) of consumers will access the internet from their smartphone to browse and buy, whilst another nine per cent will use their tablet devices to do the same.

Derek Eccleston, research director at eDigitalResearch, explains, ‘This is an exciting Christmas for retailers and marks the first truly multichannel Christmas we’ve seen. We’ve been tracking the growth of smartphones and tablet devices over the past two years and these results show that this will possibly be the first year that Christmas shoppers will be using their social media accounts, smartphones, laptops and tablet devices to buy gifts. The fact that we’ve seen an increase of 8.8 per cent in fCommerce over a very short period of time is no surprise, and retailers continue to use Facebook to talk and sell to their customers.’

Numerous Facebook developments in 2011 have seen an influx of retailers flock to the platform in an effort to connect and communicate with customers. The introduction of check-ins and Facebook deals earlier in the year allowed retailers to provided localised information and offers to customers, whilst the recent tweaks to photo tagging and timelines gives retailers the potential to connect beyond their immediate fan base and towards friends of customers as well.

The results also highlight the rising influence that both social media and customer reviews are having on consumer buying behaviour. Of those surveyed 61 per cent have recently been influenced by a negative product or customer review on a website or social networking site, marking the importance for retailers to ensure they provide a seamless shopping experience with exceptional customer support.

Guest blogger: George Bett, head of partnerships at DiscountVouchers

Retailers can no longer rely on high street trade, needing to look beyond the more traditional forms of marketing to stay viable. An active online presence is now becoming a necessity in the drive to retain customers and attract new business.

In these difficult trading times, retailers are having to entice shoppers with bona fide discounts to secure sales.  With more than 200 voucher sites thought to be operating in the UK, it is important to deal with a reputable and robust voucher company as linking your product to an unreliable voucher could be detrimental to your brand.

Research is Key

The world of voucher codes has developed at a rapid pace, with some unscrupulous websites failing to deliver.  This can only add to a retailer’s nervousness that their brand could be damaged. Research is the key to ensuring your partnership is successful; does the voucher site deal with big brands, how large is its database?

Choose a partner with a co-ordinated approach to promoting your offers – assess what they do in terms of their own website, their subscriber communication and any social network activity they operate, particularly through Facebook and Twitter.  Their activity should give you the potential to promote your brand with a logo and ensure any key message is communicated.

Ensure you plan tactical and strategic activity that promotes your own work, whether that’s themed promotions online or in-store.  This will give you far deeper control over your brand exposure and greater reach into the market.

www.discountvouchers.co.uk

The combination of the HTML5 POS with the portability and low cost of tablet computing means kachng! is well-suited to retailers, restaurants, bars and franchises looking for a flexible POS.  It can be scaled quickly in line with demand and also fits into their existing IS systems and POS framework.

As a cloud-based service, it is easily accessible, does not require a large investment in hardware and can be set up in a matter of minutes.

What’s more, the technology is ideal for pop-up shops, it also suits large retailers to reduce queues and who wish to reorganise their store without having to worry about re-laying cables.

Services available through kachng! include trading sessions, full cash management including: float control, petty cash, cash settlements, statements of the day’s trading and tender report; the sales features include: returns, price modifications, voids, suspend and recall actions, and other services such as electronic audit, enterprise dashboard, KPIs and a promotions engine.  The range of kachng! services can be accessed via broadband and/ or 3G networks, and it is easy to set up a menu of products, with reporting and configurable on/off functionality.  Customer support will take place online, via live chat or forum.

For more information see www.kachng.com