Retail Barometer

The Retail Barometer

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January 2012
January 2012 - Issue 45 Welcome to the Retail Barometer for January 2012 Dear Customers and Colleagues, Another year in retail and as we know, the only constant is change. Online retail is making its mark in a multi channel retail environment with softer sales continuing throughout November and December for some of our bricks and mortar retailers and conversely PayPal seeing its busiest ever shopping period in December. Less ‘fit’ retail businesses are experiencing high inventory levels and static to declining sales, margins are getting impacted and consumer confidence is very mixed with large format speciality retailing consistently under pressure. We saw a 3.1 per cent year on year growth for November 2011 so the November interest rate cut appears to have given consumers the respite they needed for their Christmas shopping. The categories bringing this average up were household goods (up 2.0 per cent) and food (up 5.0 per cent), indicative of the great Aussie Christmas BBQ and at home entertaining. However some categories were not so positive for the month with department stores down 4.1 per cent and clothing and footwear down 3.5 per cent. Continue reading... "A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed tomorrow." - General George S. Patton Jr. Isn't it interesting that one of the most valuable currencies of all in modern retailing is time - yet it is never really the direct topic for discussion. Why do we disregard one of the most significant impacts of all the elements that influence us, including our customers and our perceptions? Fundamentally, it is time that is the single greatest product that the technological revolution has produced. Continue reading... An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. – Bill Vaughan. I am an eternal retail optimist. No matter what the state of the economy, there are always ways to make your retail business "fitter" by embracing the exciting speed of retail change. We leave behind a 2010-2011 year that Deloitte Access Economics described as a "...disastrous year for retail." However, it also predicts a "reasonable rate of GDP growth in 2011-12," allowing for growth in job figures and providing a better support for retail spending. Continue reading... Next Retail Doctor Group 'Fit for Business' Breakfast Confirmed! What's in-store for the future of retail? Join Coles and IBM for the next event in our successful ‘Fit for Business' Breakfast series. Find out what every 'fit' retail brand needs to know. Hear research findings, insights and global and domestic case studies and find out how to implement practical solutions that will increase your business fitness. Guest Speaker: Stuart Machin - Store Development & Operations Director, Coles Group / Wesfarmers Australia. 10% discount available for our readers use code BAROMETER. More information and registration here The Morning Show Brian Walker recently appeared on Channel 7's The Morning Show to discuss Shoplifting. Click here to view the video Upcoming Conferences Path to Purchase Summit: Brian Walker will be participating in a panel session on 23rd February. More information here FMCG Longevity Summit: Brian Walker will present at this conference on 15th February. More information here 12 Crucial Consumer Trends for 2012 This year, much as in previous years, some brands may be staring into the abyss, while others will do exuberantly well. Read it here The death of big box retail? While some banks may be too big to fail, it seems that big box stores run the risk of being too big to survive, if recent profit downgrades in Australia and the US experience are signs of things to come. Read it here Retail 2012: Let the blur begin As retail commentators around the world gaze into their crystal balls for a peek at 2012, the overriding image I get is… one big blur. Read it here Retail's innnovation drought The past few years have brought the retail industry into the spotlight in a way not seen in recent times. Read it here Consumer sentiment edges up in January, but economist says European debt woes, labour market concerns weigh The rise in the overall index was largely due to an almost 10-point jump in the subindex measuring expectations of economic conditions over the next 12 months. Read it here Shoppers snub department stores The unchanged month on month result reported in the November ABS retail trade figures was disappointing for retailers who hoped for an early Christmas shopping boost, says ARA chief Russell Zimmerman. Read it here Contact us to increase your sales and profits and get 'Fit for Business' PO Box 209 Milsons Point 2061 Phone: +61 2 9460 2882 Fax: +61 2 9460 3883 Email: businessfitness@retaildoctor.com.au Website: www.retaildoctor.com.au Our Business is your Retail Fitness Download (221Kb)

January 2012

January 2012 - Issue 45

Welcome to the Retail Barometer for January 2012

Dear Customers and Colleagues,
Another year in retail and as we know, the only constant is change. Online retail is making its mark in a multi channel retail environment with softer sales continuing throughout November and December for some of our bricks and mortar retailers and conversely PayPal seeing its busiest ever shopping period in December. Less ‘fit’ retail businesses are experiencing high inventory levels and static to declining sales, margins are getting impacted and consumer confidence is very mixed with large format speciality retailing consistently under pressure.

We saw a 3.1 per cent year on year growth for November 2011 so the November interest rate cut appears to have given consumers the respite they needed for their Christmas shopping. The categories bringing this average up were household goods (up 2.0 per cent) and food (up 5.0 per cent), indicative of the great Aussie Christmas BBQ and at home entertaining. However some categories were not so positive for the month with department stores down 4.1 per cent and clothing and footwear down 3.5 per cent.

Continue reading...

"A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed tomorrow." - General George S. Patton Jr.

Isn't it interesting that one of the most valuable currencies of all in modern retailing is time - yet it is never really the direct topic for discussion.

Why do we disregard one of the most significant impacts of all the elements that influence us, including our customers and our perceptions? Fundamentally, it is time that is the single greatest product that the technological revolution has produced.

Continue reading...

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. – Bill Vaughan.

I am an eternal retail optimist. No matter what the state of the economy, there are always ways to make your retail business "fitter" by embracing the exciting speed of retail change. We leave behind a 2010-2011 year that Deloitte Access Economics described as a "...disastrous year for retail." However, it also predicts a "reasonable rate of GDP growth in 2011-12," allowing for growth in job figures and providing a better support for retail spending.

Next Retail Doctor Group 'Fit for Business' Breakfast Confirmed!

What's in-store for the future of retail?

Join Coles and IBM for the next event in our successful ‘Fit for Business' Breakfast series. Find out what every 'fit' retail brand needs to know. Hear research findings, insights and global and domestic case studies and find out how to implement practical solutions that will increase your business fitness.

Guest Speaker: Stuart Machin - Store Development & Operations Director, Coles Group / Wesfarmers Australia.

10% discount available for our readers use code BAROMETER.

More information and registration here

The Morning Show

Brian Walker recently appeared on Channel 7's The Morning Show to discuss Shoplifting.
Click here to view the video

Upcoming Conferences

Path to Purchase Summit: Brian Walker will be participating in a panel session on 23rd February.
More information here

FMCG Longevity Summit: Brian Walker will present at this conference on 15th February.
More information here

12 Crucial Consumer Trends for 2012

This year, much as in previous years, some brands may be staring into the abyss, while others will do exuberantly well.
Read it here

The death of big box retail?

While some banks may be too big to fail, it seems that big box stores run the risk of being too big to survive, if recent profit downgrades in Australia and the US experience are signs of things to come.
Read it here

Retail 2012: Let the blur begin

As retail commentators around the world gaze into their crystal balls for a peek at 2012, the overriding image I get is… one big blur.
Read it here

Retail's innnovation drought

The past few years have brought the retail industry into the spotlight in a way not seen in recent times.
Read it here

Consumer sentiment edges up in January, but economist says European debt woes, labour market concerns weigh

The rise in the overall index was largely due to an almost 10-point jump in the subindex measuring expectations of economic conditions over the next 12 months.
Read it here

Shoppers snub department stores

The unchanged month on month result reported in the November ABS retail trade figures was disappointing for retailers who hoped for an early Christmas shopping boost, says ARA chief Russell Zimmerman.
Read it here

Contact us to increase your sales and profits and get 'Fit for Business'

PO Box 209 Milsons Point 2061
Phone:   +61 2 9460 2882
Fax:       +61 2 9460 3883
Email:     businessfitness@retaildoctor.com.au
Website: www.retaildoctor.com.au

Our Business is your Retail Fitness

Download (221Kb)

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