Video Case Study - The Supermarket Bullies?

Many thanks to Janis Thompson at Bristol GS for suggesting this terrific 3-minute video on the battle between supermarkets and their hard-pressed suppliers.  A great range of business topics in here, including an obvious starting point for discussing the ethical issues raised in the clip

Launch BBC video

Download student worksheet (including video link)

Providing What Customers Want?

Asda yesterday launched a new range of clothing under it’s well-established George label.

What’s unusual about that, you might ask. 

Well the 13-piece range is “the UK’s first mainstream range of traditional Asian clothing” - not just for supermarket clothing, but for the big high street names.

The tills are alive with the sound of Woolies

It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were musing on the fate of the 800 stores that closed following the collapse of Woolworths. A new report estimates that over 60% of the former Woolworths stores are now trading again…

Starter Activities - UK Retailers

Here are some puzzle-style starter activities based around a collection of well-known UK retailers…

Instore Takes a Pounding

Knowing what your customers want is key to the success of any business.  This is particularly true for so called “pound” shops; their customers are focused on value and price. 

The importance of this is perhaps reinforced by the tale of two retailers who operate within the value market.  Poundland has gone from strength to strength, as shown in earlier blog articles, and is set to open at least 30 new stores over the next 12 months.

InStore, on the other hand decided that their customers should move upmarket - and replaced the familiar £-stretcher fascia with the less familiar InStore fascia.

Video case study - the effect of deflation on businesses

The latest data on inflation, as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI), sbows that prices are falling.  What are the effects on the turnover of retailers?  What is the impact on workers?  A great video from the BBC provides ideal stimulus material for looking at this topic. 

Product life cycle - can independent record stores extend their life?

In case you missed it, last Saturday was Record Store Day.  Around 100 UK independent record shops participated in a “worldwide” programme of events which included in-store gigs and one-off vinyl releases.  But will sales promotions like this help extend what seems to be a rapidly shortening commercial life for the record store?

Q&A - Why is the cash flow forecast so important?

If a business runs out of cash and is not able to obtain new finance, it will become insolvent. It is no excuse for management to claim that they didn’t see a cash flow crisis coming.

Credit Insurance and Retailer Cash Flow

A fantastic 8-minute video from Newsnight is ideal for A2 students looking at the causes of cash flow problems - particularly for retailers…

Improving cash flow by reducing stocks

An excellent piece in the FT yesterday focuses on how businesses are destocking as part of their cash-flow management in the downturn…