West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 17th July 2020

WM REDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report is based on … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 17th July 2020”

Rethinking Modern High Streets: What Comes After Retail?

The high street is reaching crisis point. House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer have joined the list of high street giants expressing difficulties in today’s turbulent retail environment. This comes after a string of high profile closures, including HMV, BHS, Toys R Us, Mothercare and Carpet Right. Even service outlets are closing their doors, … Continue reading “Rethinking Modern High Streets: What Comes After Retail?”

Meditations on the Demise of Advent and the Commercialisation of Christmas

Every year Christmas seems to become closer to the end of October. Retailers begin to signal the start of the season of Christmas. Illuminated Christmas trees begin to appear in shops and houses. Perhaps Christmas now commences on Black Friday. For 2018 this was November 23rd and next year it will be November 29th. One … Continue reading “Meditations on the Demise of Advent and the Commercialisation of Christmas”

Small Business Saturday (1 December 2018) and Responsible Consumption: Independent Retailers and the Revival of the British High Street

I have just begun to realise that it is that time of year. Conifer trees, real and artificial, have begun to sprout up from the pavements and in shops and offices and additional twinkling lights have been installed to illuminate shopping streets and retail premises. There are many ways of reading these signs – as … Continue reading “Small Business Saturday (1 December 2018) and Responsible Consumption: Independent Retailers and the Revival of the British High Street”

Reading Dubai Mall: Service Spaces, Experience Spaces and Strolling Spaces

“The Dubai Mall – A place like no other. A new day, a new dawn. From the wind swept sands, a new legend rises. A mall of epic proportions that is named The Dubai Mall”.[1] Professor John Bryson presents his final blog from Dubai: ‘I am based in Dubai for ten days getting to know … Continue reading “Reading Dubai Mall: Service Spaces, Experience Spaces and Strolling Spaces”

How Will the Closure of House of Fraser/Rackhams Affect Birmingham?

House of Fraser announced yesterday that it plans to close 31 of its 59 stores across the county, including Rackhams in Birmingham. Professor John Bryson talks about what the closure will mean for Birmingham. Retailing matters for local economic development. It creates local jobs for local people and prevents money from leaking out from a … Continue reading “How Will the Closure of House of Fraser/Rackhams Affect Birmingham?”

The 2018 Retail Crisis Catches Up With Marks and Spencer

Recently, the UK retail industry has been facing six challenges, namely: 1) a squeeze in incomes; 2) the shift to online shopping; 3) changing tastes; 4) rising overheads; 5) high debt; and 6) simply too many shops. Following the closure of Toys R Us, Maplin and certain New Look stores, approximately 5,500 people are already … Continue reading “The 2018 Retail Crisis Catches Up With Marks and Spencer”