Point of view

The Talking Shop 2026 report reveals that 80% of frontline retail workers feel secure in their jobs and 76% trust AI. So why is confidence in retail as a career collapsing? The answer isn't disengagement. It's invisibility.

AI moved from experiment to infrastructure, leadership changed hands at the top, culture drove commerce at speed and the consumer story felt increasingly contradictory.

Too many companies confuse brand values with marketing slogans. Lush just showed us what it means to stand for something.

In the age of AI, real leadership means showing up with care, consistency, and integrity. Here's how to spot people-first culture beyond the polished copy.

The High Street is being reimagined as a space for wellbeing, connection and community. From wellness spaces to grief cafés, sensory-friendly supermarkets and social enterprises. 

How AI and retail teams work together to keep stores summer-ready, from heatwave forecasting to front-line delivery.

Marketing strategy starts with discovery, insight and real-world understanding. Here's why that matters more than ever.

A behind-the-scenes look at how preparing for a university guest lecture made me rethink everything I knew about buyer personas and CRM, thanks to AI.

In a world full of polished promises and performative branding, here's why marketing that reflects your values builds real trust, connection and lasting impact.

Recognition builds more than morale, it builds legacy. Here we unpack why specific, heartfelt credit matters, how it shapes culture and what it looks like in everyday practice.

Creative Partner Chris Newell of Syn on how a ‘wow wall’ brief became a sensory, emotion-led retail experience that redefines wellness and proves physical space still matters.

The UK government has announced major reforms to tackle retail crime, including tougher laws on shoplifting and new powers for police. Retail leaders welcome the move but call for proper funding to ensure real impact on the high street.