Retail Supply Chain Management

The retail industry has seen the highest rise in trade union memberships across the UK, according to new research into the decline of trade unions.

How will Chinese domestic politics evolve in the year of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 100th anniversary? Which issues are keeping Beijing up at night, and which new trends will define Sino-European relations going forward? To shed some light on these issues, MERICS conducted a survey of some 170 European China experts and roughly 1,000 members of the wider international public in December and early January.

Bargain-hunting Brits have been saving cash while spicing up their love lives – with discount codes for adult toys hitting record highs during lockdown.The number of randy shoppers logging on to discount site NetVoucherCodes.co.uk to save cash on adult products was up by almost two thirds in 2020 compared with the previous year, according to new data.

Warehouse management technology provider, SnapFulfil, is forecasting a new fulfilment year where companies still focused on retail locations and outlets will have to be nimble enough to grow e-commerce operations if they are to survive.

By James Daniels, freelance writer

Many businesses have made the jump to the cloud in recent years, and even more, are now doing this in 2021 as a result of the pandemic forcing workforces to work from home. This is intelligent as the cloud is now the best way to do business, particularly with so many people working remotely, which can bring a multitude of benefits.

By Malcolm Carroll, Director, BlueFinity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many sectors with retail especially having felt the repercussions of the lockdowns and Tier restrictions on their footfall and their profits.

By Nate Burke, CEO of Diginius.

It’s that time of year again where we reflect upon the prior year and make informative predictions for the months ahead in order to adjust our business activities and refocus our strategies.

Shopping habits are changing, and retailers are doing an exceptional job at keeping up and adjusting their business models with the help of technology to meet these ever-changing shifts. With many high streets still struggling but the desire to shop local remaining strong, retailers are looking at a very different future than they would have imagined this time last year.

Alanod, the manufacturer of specialised coated metal surfaces, has launched MIRO CU. This copper-coated antimicrobial surface covering is designed to protect retail staff and customers against the transmission of bacteria and viruses, including coronaviruses.

Europe is one of the most important markets for wines and spirits. In 2019, almost a third of the world's wines were produced here. Due to the Corona crisis, the already growing e-commerce in this sector has continued to expand heavily during this year.