Category Archives: Retail

News, Retail, Retail & E-commerce, Retail Tech

Supermarket giant Iceland puts colleague welfare first by partnering with VoCoVo

VoCoVo, the retail communications specialist, has today announced a partnership with UK supermarket chain Iceland which will see every store within the retailer’s estate provided with access to the latest cutting edge communication technology.

Following the recent launch of VoCoVo’s Series 5 Pro headsets, designed to provide a significant boost to operational efficiency, colleague safety and customer experience, the headsets will be made available in each of Iceland’s 1,004 UK stores. The decision to provide every store with the technology forms part of Iceland’s commitment to ensure the safety, wellbeing and optimum working experience for all colleagues.

VoCoVo and Iceland worked in collaboration to deliver a solution that met each of Iceland’s unique needs. Following a resoundingly successful trial in select stores, the Series 5 Pro will play an important part in Iceland’s customer experience plans moving forward.

“The investment in VoCoVo headsets is a real step forward in improving the efficiency, communication and safety of our store colleagues, which are all paramount to our current and future plans,” says Kristian Barrett, Iceland’s Group Retail Director.

Opting for the Series 5 Pro headsets followed a rigorous vetting process by the supermarket, with the VoCoVo product best meeting all Iceland’s requirements for a durable and innovative solution that would transform the colleague working experience.

Spanning all areas of Iceland’s retail stores, including shop floor, back areas and home delivery services, colleagues can use VoCoVo to efficiently collaborate on store operations, helping to maintain Iceland’s high standards of operational efficiency. Staff are empowered to meet customer expectations, alongside the ability to quickly resolve queries for an optimum customer experience.

“On our store floors and beyond, we’re committed to improving our customer’s experience when shopping with us. Our partnership with VoCoVo will directly support this commitment and we’re excited to grow the solution once the headsets are installed. This will include specific APIs that will integrate with our in-store technology and notification systems, enabling us to quickly update our store colleagues on certain business activities that are happening,” says Louise Dhaliwal, Iceland’s IT Director.

“Iceland’s commitment to protecting its colleagues and prioritising their wellbeing through the power of voice communication was apparent from the moment we engaged with them. Iceland stores already operate with high efficiency and we’re delighted that our technology will help take this further and cement Iceland’s position as one of the UK’s most loved retailers. We’re looking forward to a successful rollout and collaborative future,” says Rob Gamlin, CEO, VoCoVo.

The compact design of the Series 5 Pro headset allows colleagues to communicate with each other in crystal clear audio quality, while being discreet enough to ensure customers are not deterred from approaching staff on the shop floor. Its fully adjustable design also makes for a more comfortable experience when worn and the rapid charge feature provides 50% battery charge in just 30 minutes.

Iceland is also making use of a full suite of custom-developed video content to help train staff on how best to make use of the new solution. VoCoVo will provide ongoing support as the partnership evolves, with further integrations in the planning. The rollout is expected to be complete with VoCoVo technology active in all Iceland stores by April 2024.

News, Retail, Retail & E-commerce

Boxing Day Footfall Down by 22.1% against 2022, Despite Promising Start

The latest insights from retail analysts MRI Software (previously Springboard) show footfall on Boxing Day rose year on year by +2.3% across all UK retail destinations up until 3pm, largely driven by high streets (+6.5%). However, full day results reveal that footfall still remained -22.1% lower than last year across all UK retail destinations.

Notably, Central London was the only town type to experience an increase in footfall, with a 12.9% rise versus 2022.

Week on week, footfall was -32.9% lower across all destination types monitored by MRI Software (high streets, retail parks and shopping centres). Shopping centres and retail parks witnessed a more severe decline of-34.8% and -47.5% from the same day in the week before.

 

Rise of Online Shopping Hitting Bricks and Mortar retail

Compared to 2019 levels, footfall remains -33.8% lower, indicating the continued impact of the rise of online shopping, the close proximity of Black Friday deterring further spend and the potential restrictions of the cost of living crisis.

Historical data from MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index (from 2014 to 2022, excluding the Covid years 2020 and 2021), highlights that footfall in the week following the final trading week before Christmas tends to witness a week on week drop averaging -20%, which is to be expected given the significant boost observed in the week prior.

 

Jenni Matthews, Marketing and Insights Director at MRI Software comments: “It was encouraging to see Boxing Day footfall rise year on year by +2.3% across all UK retail destinations up until 3pm, however it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap between the figures last year in 2022.

“The footfall drop of -32.9% week on week across all destination types is not surprising given that last week consumers were finalising their festive shopping. The fact that compared to 2019 levels, footfall remains -33.8% indicates the long-term impacts of the continued rise of online shopping, as many consumers may have started their sale shopping on Christmas Day evening, and with Black Friday only a few weeks ago many will have grabbed their bargains back then. We also can’t forget that many people may be tightening their purse strings given the cost of living status, or may still be spending time with their families on Boxing Day and not be heading out to stores and destinations until later in the week.

“Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the week pans out for retail as we close out 2023.”

AI, FInance, Retail

Dynamic Yield by Mastercard Unveils Shopping Muse, The Next Generation Personal Retail Assistant

Dynamic Yield by Mastercard today announced Shopping Muse, an advanced generative AI tool that revolutionises how consumers search for and discover products in a retailer’s digital catalogue.

Shopping Muse re-creates the in-store, human experience by translating consumers’ colloquial language into tailored product recommendations, complete with suggestions for coordinating products and accessories. Consumers can use Shopping Muse to explore modern aesthetics, trending looks, dress codes, and unconventional search terms like ‘cottagecore’ or ‘beach formal’ with ease. Shopping Muse recommendations match an individual consumer’s unique profile, intent, and affinity, and builds on the conversation’s context over time to deliver results that perfectly match even the most eccentric query.  Underpinned by Dynamic Yield’s deep personalisation capabilities, the solution combines contextual and behavioural insights to produce recommendations that are informed by the retailer’s keywords, visual cues, and the consumer’s own affinity.

“Solutions like Shopping Muse are the next natural step in the retail revolution and are core to putting the consumer back at the centre of the journey,” said Raj Seshadri, President of Data & Services at Mastercard. “At Mastercard, we’re putting technology and machine learning to work to deliver better outcomes for both brand and consumer.”

In addition to helping shoppers search by phrase, Shopping Muse can reduce frustration by helping consumers find the perfect item even when they don’t know how to properly describe it in words. Using integrated advanced image recognition tools, retailers can recommend relevant products based on visual similarities to others, even if they lack the right technical tags. The tool also takes into account the shopper’s affinity, based on session browsing history or past purchases, to better estimate future buying intent. With an understanding of the consumer’s affinity and the context of broader collective behaviour, the retailer can ensure the suggested items are complementary, not redundant.

“Personalisation gives people the shopping experiences they want, and AI-driven innovation is the key to unlocking immersive and tailored online shopping,” said Ori Bauer, CEO of Dynamic Yield by Mastercard. “By harnessing the power of generative AI in Shopping Muse, we’re meeting the consumer’s standards and making shopping smarter and more seamless than ever.”

In this era of fast evolving trends and deep learning algorithms, retailers must adapt to changing demands and higher consumer expectations to move beyond short-term trends. Embracing technology is crucial to that agility – more than one in four retailers are currently using generative AI solutions, with another thirteen percent planning to adopt them in the next year.

Mastercard acquired Dynamic Yield—a 6-time Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for personalisation Engines—in 2022 to strengthen its suite of consumer engagement and loyalty services, helping brands deliver more effective and trusted experiences across channels. Mastercard embeds best in class privacy safeguards into all of its products and services in line with a thorough Privacy by Design approach and the application of effective and responsible AI principles and standards.

International News, News, Retail, Retail & E-commerce

Proposed Border Strategy: “Everything is last minute, and poorly thought through,” warns Jenney

The Chief Executive of the UK’s Fresh Produce Consortium, Nigel Jenney, spoke frankly to the House of Lords Horticultural Sector Committee last Thursday (6 July) urging them to heed the consortium’s warnings concerning the proposed border strategy.

Referencing the governments TOM (Target Operating Model) Jenney remarked: “Well, they’ve missed the first target, because the target was to actually respond to the industry with guidance by the end of last month. This hasn’t materialised and won’t materialise for weeks, which puts huge pressure on the industry in terms of being able to prepare for the hard delivery dates that the government is currently suggesting.

“We are operating in a sector which grows and distributes highly perishable, highly sensitive products as quickly and efficiently as possible ,” he continued. “So frankly, from my industry’s point of view, we believe the current proposed strategy will fundamentally compromise our industry’s least cost, highly efficient supply chain from Europe, without a doubt.

“We don’t manufacture widgets, we don’t keep them in a UK warehouse for six months, hoping someone’s going to buy them. Our produce is literally harvested, packed, and delivered within hours, not days.

“As such, the TOM provides some huge challenges for our sector in terms of compromising that just -in -time least cost to maintain both the quality of the products, but also the cost of the products,” Jenney explained.

“We are extremely concerned that the current proposed government border strategy which adopts government managed border control points (BCPs) , are frankly highly inefficient.

“We believe the current proposed strategy will fundamentally compromise our industry’s least cost highly efficient supply chain from Europe which will have considerable and wide ranging impacts.

We will proactively, and we have for years now, offered solutions to the current BCP model, including adoption of control points. They are facilities which are managed by our industry, or our commercial partners.

“A Government managed BCP adds, brutally, no value for my industry,” he continued.

“One of the things that we proposed several years ago but which didn’t happen at that time, is that we offered government the opportunity to use our industries facilities to carry out these inspections. This wasn’t an option that was considered appropriate at that time.

“We also suggested it would be wise to allow responsible businesses within the industry to be trained and accredited to complete official inspections. Because do you want a few hundred official inspectors managing your border security, or do you want thousands of people managing your border security?

“And the best part is that you wouldn’t have to pay them because the industry pays for those people. It’s incredibly disheartening that this system will not be available, assuming the 31st of January date is the go live date.

“Our industry will be forced to either use BCPs or control points but still wait for an official inspection by an official officer. Which is so frustrating, because we’ve had years to manage and plan the processes, yet everything is last minute, and it appears to be poorly thought through.

“The industry, ultimately, is going to have to pick up the pieces and I’ll remind you all again today that, with the costs  we envisage the industry having to incur, I have to sadly say that we simply cannot absorb those costs. They will instead be passed on to hard pressed consumers in a very difficult environment at this moment in time.

“We have no choice. Our margins just simply do not allow us to do anything else.”

The House of Lords Horticultural Sector Committee plans to release its report by the conclusion of this year to summarize their findings and recommendations.

Employee Benefits, News, Retail

Jollyes Invests In Paw-some New Benefits Package for Colleagues

Aims to be one of the best employers in retail to help attract new talent

Jollyes, the fast-growing nationwide pet superstore, is treating its team as top dogs for their pawsome work after unveiling an array of new benefits for its own colleagues.

The firm, which is now trading from 90 stores across the UK and employs over 1,000 colleagues, is constantly thinking of new ways to make working at Jollyes even more rewarding.

New perks include a ‘top dog’ scheme, which will run across the business. Every colleague will be provided nomination cards which they write and hand out to colleagues who deserve a little recognition.

What’s more winners will get a ‘Cat Nap Day’ for them to enjoy a day off on Jollyes along with a badge and a certificate.

Jollyes’ HR Manager Linda Pandeli announcing the new colleague package at the Jollyes 2023 conference – Image Credit Professional Images/@ProfImages

 

Other Jollyes benefits that have been introduced include:

  • Birthday leave – a day off on a colleague’s special day
  • A ‘pet-eternity’ day for colleagues getting a new pet in the family
  • Wedding / civil partnership – a week off for all colleagues on full pay when they get married
  • Enhanced paternity leave – two weeks of full pay for new parents
  • Enhanced maternity leave – Jollyes parents can now get full pay for six weeks for maternity leave
  • A gift when colleagues have a baby, including through fostering or adoption
  • An enhanced 20 per cent discount off all Jollyes services
  • A discount for a partner or friend – after three months working at Jollyes, colleagues can nominate a second person to get an in-store discount
  • Lifetime discount – after 20 years’ service a colleague will qualify for a discount for life
  • New long service award badges for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years’ service – Jollyes has some of the most loyal colleagues in retail with a dozen colleagues on the payroll for over 25 years

These are all in addition to all of the package of benefits colleagues currently enjoy with big discounts at a number of partner retailers.

 

Jollyes’ chief executive officer Joe Wykes said:

“Our colleagues are at the heart of our business – our customers rely on them for their knowledge and experience and love how they support the pets in their family.

“We’re building a package of support that reflects the importance of their work and commitment to our business – part of our aspiration to have some of the best benefits in retail.

“Our colleagues go the extra mile to make Jollyes a special place for customers – and that’s why we’re doing more to help colleagues celebrate the major milestones in their lives from celebrating weddings to civil partnerships, becoming a mum or dad – and of course, getting a new pet!

“Following a great year for the business, it’s another way for us to thank our colleagues’ hard work and help us recruit the best people for dream jobs working with animals as we look to open even more stores in 2023.”

 

In June, Jollyes confirmed that it has completed a record-breaking financial year and now intends to accelerate growth as it brings its offer to more communities across the UK.

Sales in the current financial year broke through the £100 million threshold, rising 33 per cent from £87 million in the 2022 financial year to £115.5 million in the year to 29 May 2023. Like-for-like sales also grew by 17 per cent over the full year, over double the market which grew at eight per cent.

The increase in turnover continues through a mix of higher sales at existing stores, new openings and acquisitions, and rising digital demand for home delivery and click and collect services.

 

Jollyes is now trading from 90 stores across the UK, opening 13 new locations in the current financial year. It will open new stores in Swindon, Wiltshire and Belfast Northern Ireland at the end of this month.

 

 

Gifts, Retail, Retail & E-commerce

Black Friday Deals 2022: Up To 50% Off with ARRAN Sense of Scotland

Boutique bath, body and home care brand ARRAN Sense of Scotland (formerly Arran Aromatics) will be giving customers a helping hand during the current cost-of-living crisis by offering up to a whopping 50% off in the run up to Black Friday, providing Christmas shoppers with the chance to pick up premium products at a fraction of the price.

This will be the brand’s biggest Black Friday sale to date with fantastic savings on some of its most popular home and body care bestsellers:

 

Monday 21st November: Get A Helping Hand With 40% Off Hand Care

The pre-Christmas sale kicks off on Monday 21st November when customers wanting to look after their hardworking hands can grab hold of any of ARRAN Sense of Scotland’s naturally nourishing hand washes and hand creams for a fraction of the price, with 40% off the entire range.

Choose from a range of fabulous fragrances from zesty Glenashdale to relaxing Glen Iorsa and of course ARRAN’s signature scent After the Rain, all of which are enriched with essential oils and skin-soothing ingredients to keep hands clean and hydrated. Both hand wash and hand creams will be available from only £9.60 (usually £16.00).

https://arran.com/collections/hand-care

 

Tuesday 22nd November: Grab A Luxury Reed Diffuser for Just £20.00

Make your home smell gorgeous for the festive season with ARRAN’s luxury reed diffuser collection priced at just £20.00 each – a saving of almost 40% off the normal price.

Available in 8 stunning fragrances – including Ultimate Fig, Amberwood, Wild Gorse and Cedarwood & Citrus – all inspired by the ruggedly beautiful landscapes found on the Isle of Arran and using natural ingredients to truly bring the outdoors in.

https://arran.com/collections/reed-diffusers

 

Wednesday 23rd November: Take Time Out with Up To 50% Off Apothecary 

ARRAN’s Apothecary range is infused with natural ingredients and inspired by the ancient crafts of the alchemist. Those looking for a natural antidote to modern living can take advantage of a massive 50% discount across the full range including restorative Aloe Vera, soothing Lavender & Tea Tree and cleansing Seaweed & Sage products.

https://arran.com/collections/apothecary

 

Thursday 24th November: Keep One for Yourself with 3 for 2 on Gorgeous Gifting

ARRAN’s 3 for 2 on gifts offers a saving of up to £40 on pre-boxed hand, body, home fragrance and discovery gift sets so customers can bag a treat for themselves whilst also saving on gift buying for friends and family. And with luxe body and hand care, gorgeous candles and mixed mini sets perfect for stocking fillers, there really is something for everyone.

https://arran.com/collections/gift-sets

 

Friday 25th Nov: Black Friday 40% Off Sitewide 

Get 40% off everything including ARRAN’s iconic signature fragrance, After the Rain, a divine combination of rose, lime and sandalwood inspired by the unique scent of an Arran garden following a rainstorm. The discount also applies to ARRAN’s brand new Naturals Collection – Calm, Mindful and Awaken.

https://arran.com/collections/after-the-rain

 

Saturday 26th – Monday 28th: 35% Off Sitewide Plus Free Delivery on Cyber Monday

Don’t worry if you miss Black Friday as you can still get 35% off sitewide for the entire weekend. And as if that wasn’t enough, delivery is completely FREE for orders placed on Cyber Monday.

ARRAN Sense of Scotland creates bath, body and home fragrance collections inspired by and proudly made on the Isle of Arran. For three decades, the family-run company has been creating vibrant, evocative scents from its Home Farm factory – an old dairy farm near the historic Brodick Castle. Inspired not only by the breath-taking scenery of Arran, but its deep-rooted ability to make any visitor relax and reset as soon as they step off the ferry. From the freshwater spring to a pinch of seasoned gorse, there’s a bit of Arran in every single product.

 

Pensions, Retail, Retirement

Five easy steps for people to track down pensions on National Pension Tracing Day

Finding a lost or forgotten pension could be an unexpected bonus during this cost of living crisis, and Punter Southall Aspire, the firm behind National Pension Tracing Day, is urging people to find their pensions in five easy steps.

National Pension Tracing Day is on Sunday 30 October – the day the clocks go back. The campaign invites people to use that extra hour to join in a ‘Great Pension Treasure Hunt’ and search for their pensions. Experts estimate there could be 1.6 million lost pensions in the UK. That could equate to around 1 in 30 people finding a pension.

Last year, one person found three pensions worth a total of £55,000, another managed to retire seven years earlier than planned and another found two pensions, worth over £80,000.

 

Step 1 – Retrace career steps – People can start by heading down memory lane and making a list of places they’ve worked in the past and roughly how long they worked there. Looking through old CVs, payslips, P45s or P60s can help.

 

Step 2 – Check old papers – Search through paperwork and emails for old pension statements. Have a good hunt for a pension statement for each place worked. People should also think back to whether they ever had a separate personal pension and if they ever ‘contracted out’ of part of the State Pension[i]. It could mean they had a personal pension.

 

Step 3 – Sense check – Look through the paperwork to check if contact details are up to date for each pension pot. If they are not, get in touch with the provider or administrator to update them.  At the same time ask for an up- to-date statement. It could offer a welcome surprise.

 

Step 4 – Mind the gap – If people spot any gaps in their pension history it’s time for some detective work.  For jobs where they don’t have a pension statement, try to find contact details for the pension provider or administrator. They could contact the employer’s HR department directly or use the government’s Pension Tracing Service.

 

If old employers can’t be found, they may have changed their name or merged with another organisation. Try searching Companies House – it lists companies’ previous names with their current registered office address. Or, people that worked for a charity could search the Charities Register.

Employers may have used a personal pension (possibly called a ‘group personal pension’) or a group stakeholder plan as their workplace pension. Find the name of the pension provider, perhaps by contacting an old employer, speaking to ex-work colleagues or finding old paperwork.

 

Step 5 – Get in touch – Get in touch with the provider or administrator and check if they’ve got any record of a pension. People will need to prove who they are so will need their National Insurance number and possibly other details. It’s also worth asking them to check if they did have a pension with them but transferred it elsewhere.

 

Not everyone will find a pension, but for those that do the final part of the treasure hunt is:

  • find out how much is in the pot and ask for an up-to-date statement
  • give them up-to-date contact details so the provider can keep in touch in future
  • ask if they can be registered to access the pension information online
  • Celebrate! They have found lost treasure they had forgotten all about

Alan Morahan, Chief Commercial Officer, says, “Finding an old pension is like paying yourself money you didn’t know you had, so we urge everyone who thinks they might have lost or forgotten a pension to spend some time going through these steps.  It’s very straightforward and could really change someone’s life as it has done for the people who followed the campaign last year.”

Johanna Nelson, Communications Director, Punter Southall Aspire, added, “There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by spending the extra hour searching for money. We encourage everyone to join the Great Pension Treasure Hunt.”

National Pension Tracing Day won the Pensions Age Thought Leadership Award and the UK Pensions Awards Educational and Thought Leadership Initiative of the Year.

Find out more at www.nationalpensiontracingday.co.uk.

 

[i] Contracting out was popular in the late 1980s and 1990s. You stopped building up part of the State Pension. In return you either paid lower National Insurance contributions, or some of your National Insurance contributions went into a pension for you. This could have been a workplace or personal pension – so there could be a missing personal pension for you.

News, Retail

Are Vape Shops Still Profitable in 2022?

During the pandemic, numerous vape shops struggled to stay afloat. Luckily, some of them managed to go online. As a result, their sales figures quickly reached new heights, and their success did not go unnoticed. Right now, new vaping stores are being opened each day. Is it really such a profitable business idea, though?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. The basic ones include your location, your marketing strategy, your inventory, and the quality of your customer service. In case you want to know more, read on! We will touch upon what the vape industry looks like this year, as well as how to make your vape business as profitable as possible.

The Vape Industry in 2022

Electronic cigarettes seem to be much safer than regular cigarettes. In consequence, the market growth has been nothing short of tremendous in the past couple of years. In 2021, the value of the electronic cigarette and vape market reached more than twenty billion dollars. What is more, it is likely to reach a compound annual growth rate of around thirty percent by 2030.

As the interest in vaping grows, so do innovations that one can invest in. According to the latest vaping news, young users seem to be fascinated by technologies like pod systems and squonk mods. Other things that vaping enthusiasts are interested in include unique vape juice flavors, ranging from candy to tropical fruit.

What does it mean for people who want to start a vape shop? One can only guess what is to come. However, the current market size and growth make entering the industry seem very promising. With the right mindset and strategy, it might end up being an incredibly profitable business venture.

Factors That Affect the Profitability of Vape Shops

If you are planning on opening a vape shop and making it profitable, you should be prepared to deal with some things that are likely to affect its profitability. The most important ones include wholesale costs, local regulations, competition, and selling range.

Wholesale Costs

You can either set up a franchise of a larger vaping company or become an independent retailer. If you go for the latter, you will have to source products from wholesalers. In such a scenario, you should be very careful about who you are buying from and how much you are ordering. If the prices of the wholesaler that you are ordering from are too high, you will find it difficult to make a profit.

Local Regulations

In order to stay in business for years to come, you have to stay informed about the latest vaping regulations. It is particularly important if you are planning on selling products in or shipping to multiple locations. Otherwise, you are likely to end up dealing with fines and other legal problems.

Competition

The vape industry is fiercely competitive. In spite of the fact that numerous retailers do not have physical stores, some streets in places where vaping is trending are lined with vape shops. So, if you live in one of such places and want to open a physical shop, you are likely to end up competing with dozens of other vape shops.

Selling Range

If you want to have a physical shop, go for it, but make sure to pair it up with an online store. By doing so, you get to reach a much wider audience. Just keep in mind that it comes with its share of responsibilities and costs. You have to stay on top of the vaping regulations in the countries that you are shipping to and find a reputable shopping company to work with, among other things.

How To Open a Profitable Vape Shop

Market Research

To begin with, you should conduct thorough market research. Identify your potential competitors and decide who your target market is. You should also take note of what the pricing policies of your competitors are like and what products they are selling. It will make it easier for you to come up with competitive prices and identify profitable market trends.

Reliable Suppliers

If you do not find a reliable supplier, you are likely to end up with overpriced products and dissatisfied customers. With that in mind, browse the internet in search of a trustworthy supplier. If possible, you might want to ask other people who work in the same industry for advice. Just keep in mind that their opinions are subjective and are best taken with a grain of salt.

Welcoming Atmosphere

Last but not least, make your store feel welcoming. Put some time and effort into decorating it and use warm colors, such as red and orange. Aside from that, treat every customer with kindness and respect. If they do not know something or ask you a question, give them a thorough and easily digestible answer. It is key to become more popular and gaining repeat customers.

In Conclusion

To sum up, the vape industry is currently booming and is expected to keep growing in the years to come. If you are planning on opening a vape shop, you should definitely go for it. But before you get to work, you should research your local vape market and find a reliable supplier. In case you are planning on opening a physical store, make sure to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

While putting the tips listed above into action might end up being time-consuming, it is definitely worth the hassle. It should make it much easier for you to become an owner of a successful vape shop!

Fashion, London News, News, North of England, Retail, Retail & E-commerce

Recycled cashmere brand hosts pop-ups at John Lewis this September

Luxury second-hand fashion brand, Nearly New Cashmere Co is set to host two pop-up stores later this month at high-street retailer John Lewis stores in Greater Manchester and London.

The family-run company was established in 2015 by entrepreneur Ali Orr from her home in the Yorkshire Dales. Since then, it’s become a leading shopping destination for cashmere lovers – who can shop for luxury cashmere knitwear at affordable prices. 

The skilled team at Nearly New Cashmere Co works meticulously to restore, repair and hand-finish cashmere pieces to a like-new standard. They’re also passionate about waste reduction and finding innovative ways to reuse discarded cashmere. This process includes transforming jumpers into neck warmers, fingerless gloves, beanie hats and other accessories.

The sustainable fashion brand has a restore and repair service for customers who wish to extend the life of their existing cashmere pieces and exchange service. The exchange service is for customers that want to exchange their old cashmere items for credit to spend at Nearly New Cashmere Co. The team hopes this will encourage people to wear clothing and accessories for longer and positively impact the environment.

Sharing more about what customers can expect at the pop-ups, founder Ali Orr comments: “At Nearly New Cashmere Co, we specialise in repairing and restoring second-hand and vintage 100% cashmere clothing into like-new quality cashmere pieces. We are passionate about saving discarded garments that would otherwise end up going to waste.

“Over the years, we’ve hosted many pop-up stores and stalls at fairs across the UK, and we’re always excited to run these. They’re an excellent opportunity to meet some of our customers in person. 

“We will have an extensive range of men’s and women’s cashmere clothing and accessories available at the pop-up shops, including cashmere scarves, cashmere jumpers, and cashmere cardigans. 

“We appreciate that second-hand and sustainable shoppers are conscious about the products they’re buying, and rightly so. With that in mind, the pop-ups present a great opportunity to chat with customers about the products, the repair and restoration process, and cashmere care and styling.”

The Nearly New Cashmere Co pop-up stalls will take place later this month at the John Lewis store in Stratford, London, from 20-25 September, and the John Lewis store in Trafford, Manchester, from 26 September-2 October. 

Both of these events coincide with Oxfam’s Second Hand September – a sustainable style challenge to encourage people to buy only second hand items for 30 days in the month of September.

Food & Drink, News, Packaging, Retail

What Is Wrong With Styrofoam?

The takeaway food business is really popular, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated Styrofoam ban.

However, in order to stay relevant, it’s important for takeaway businesses to keep up with the times and switch from Styrofoam to alternatives such as paper cups and compostable material.

Breaking Up With Styrofoam

Many alternative options are available, but which will be best for the businesses and people?

With so many opinions about what types of food products should be sold in paper or plastic, deciphering which one is better can get confusing.

Although many people appreciate the convenience of food being sold in Styrofoam, it’s important to remember that Styrofoam isn’t biodegradable; therefore, it takes a long time to degrade. Not only is Styrofoam not entirely biodegradable, but it also has negative environmental impacts on animals, mainly marine life.

Many people and companies have tried to make alternatives to Styrofoam; in recent years, more alternatives have come on the market for hot food containers.

Why Is Styrofoam So Bad?

Styrofoam is produced using petroleum. The Styrofoam production process uses chemicals that are potentially harmful to humans, it requires a lot of natural resources, and even the disposal of Styrofoam has adverse effects on the environment because Styrofoam takes way too long to degrade.

In addition to these problems, styrene can leach from Styrofoam into food products. Leaching styrene can cause cancer. The styrenes in Styrofoam are often used as an additive in many different types of plastics and can interfere with developing embryos and fetuses.

What Are The Alternative Options For Food Containers?

Moving away from Styrofoam means making a change to the way that our food is packaged, handled, and consumed.

Paper

Instead of using Styrofoam, we can use paper cups and other types of containers. Paper cups have been around since the 1800s, but they have not been commonly used until recently when they were more easily accessible. The paper cup market has grown because consumers have come to appreciate the environmental implications of using paper cups over Styrofoam.

The use of paper cups reduces waste by eliminating plastic and Styrofoam packaging. Sometimes recycled materials are used to create the cups themselves, which can make them more environmentally friendly than Styrofoam.

When they are thrown away, they may end up in landfills, but paper cups degrade and can be easily recycled. Paper cups are still disposable and some poorer quality cups can also leach chemicals into food products.

Mushroom Fibre

Another material that has been tested to use as takeaway food packaging is actually made from mushroom fibre.

It’s completely biodegradable, but it hasn’t been tested to see how long it will take to break down in the natural environment. While this alternative material is environmentally friendly, it also lacks many of the advantages that Styrofoam has.

Bran Fibre

Bran wheat fibre has been used to make different types of containers, including cake boxes, egg trays, and coffee cups.  This material is a lot more expensive than Styrofoam, but makes for a strong and credible alternative to Styrofoam packaging.