Be it 3D images, touch-screen technology, click-and-collect, facial recognition (yes, really; Citroen use this to gauge the average demographic of potential customers making for more targeted marketing techniques), QR codes or connected TV, the technology world is moving fast and it is vital that retailers keep on top of these developments. Whilst many of the above technologies have been around for a little while, it has only been very recently that they are truly starting to shape the way consumers shop, and there now seems to be something of a sense of urgency around this amongst many retailers. As Waitrose sum up; “[t]here’s a perception that you’re falling behind if you don’t have the latest technology”.

Whilst each retailer has a different agenda, it is agreed that investment in new technologies is key to building consumer loyalty and increasing spend. All very exciting stuff, but with this comes inevitable challenges, especially for more ‘traditional’ retailers. Surely one of the most immediate challenges is that whilst many consumers have embraced “e-tailing” and all that comes with it, others still need a bricks-and-mortar experience, and retailers are forced to strike a balance in catering for both customer profiles whilst keeping control of the company image and offering. There’s no easy answer, as whilst it seems to me that the future of retail does depend on technology, it will be interesting to see how retailers cater for all consumer needs amongst increasing pressure to out-tech each other in a space that is still relatively new for them.

Facial recognition photo by Andrew Grill on flickr.

The event, held at Aston University, received great attendance thanks to the impressive line-up of guest speakers, including Malcolm Levene, David Bozward, and Dan Sodergren to name a few. With talks ranging from a start-up crash course, to ideas generation and disruptive business models, the weekend programme created a great buzz amongst the attendees.

Which leads me nicely onto The New Entrepreneurs Foundation, a fantastic opportunity to work alongside a top CEO, getting involved in projects and also receiving monthly world class training from the likes of McLaren, Deloitte and the London Business School. We are in our final week of applications, so get applying now! Your application will take less than 30 minutes, so don’t miss out!

Heineken has announced a new round of cost-cutting across its operations in developed markets including continental Europe and the UK. The Dutch brewer unveiled plans to slash €500m from its operational overheads over the next three years. The cash will be used to fund its expansion in emerging markets.

Tesco banks on former Barclays boss Oppenheimer

Former Barclays executive Deanna Oppenheimer is to join the board of directors at Tesco. Oppenheimer was head of Barclay’s UK retail banking division from 2005 until last year. She joins the Tesco board next month. Tesco denied that her arrival was linked to the decision to postpone the launch of its current account until next year.

Milk Link to boost cheese capacity with £2.4m investment

Milk Link is investing £2.4m upgrading its Oswestry cheese- packing plant and its Llandyrnog creamery. The dairy co-op said it would spend £2m to install additional high-speed, fully automated cutting and flow-wrapping lines at Oswestry as well as a high-speed, intelligent cutting line, designed to make smaller-run lengths more efficient. The work will be done by early summer.

Online trade drives January retail sales

Online trade drove an increase in the value and volume of retail sales in January, according to the Office for National Statistics. The overall value of retail sales rose 4.4%, while volumes increased by 2%, the ONS Retail Sales Index revealed. Sales volumes were driven primarily by food and online shopping.

The Entertainer boosts multichannel

Toy retailer The Entertainer is to launch 30-minute click-and-collect services and a range of other multichannel offers, after it rolls out a new platform and website later this year. The retailer will also launch same-day delivery, order tracking and delivery to customers from stores.

Multiple retailers closed 14 stores a day in 2011

Multiple retailers closed an average of 14 stores a day across the UK, according to the Local Data Company and PWC. Figures from accountancy firm PWC and the Local Data Company have revealed that multiple retailers have shown a 0.25% reduction in the total number of shops in 2011.

Kellogg buys Pringles in $2.7bn deal

Kellogg has agreed to buy the Pringles brand from Procter & Gamble for $2.7bn (£1.7bn) in a deal that will almost triple the size of its snacks business.
The company says the acquisition of Pringles will put its snacks business, which consists mainly of US brands such as Keebler and Cheez-It, on par with its cereal business consisting of global brands such as Cornflakes and Special K. Pringles is said to be world’s second biggest savoury snack brand with $1.5bn (£955m) in annual sales.
The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the summer, pending regulatory approval

Nestlé looks to marketing to offset tough 2012

Nestlé, the world’s largest food maker by revenue, says it will ramp up focus on marketing and product innovation as it looks to offset what it predicts will be a tough 2012.
The company posted better than expected sales growth of 7.5% across its brand portfolio, which includes Haagen Dazs and Kit Kat, in 2011 with growth in both emerging and developed markets.
Growth is expected to be no higher than 6% in the coming year because of depressed demand in European and North American markets.

Reckitt Benckiser to invest an additional £100m in brand building

Reckitt Benckiser will introduce a raft of cost-savings measured to fund an additional £100m in building brands such as Finish, Vanish and Calgon in growth markets, a move that comes as it announces an overhaul of its company structure.
Measures including freezing fixed costs and changes to supply chain projects will be introduced, the company says, “to fuel investment” in its 19 key “power brands” in 16 “power markets”, mainly developing markets.

In a bid to improve accountability and better measure return on investment, some consumer promotional and marketing costs will be moved into cost of goods. The company the move will focus our commercial organisation on better decision making around our promotional strategy.

On the heels of the holiday season's binge fest comes an up swell in self promises and gym memberships in January.  I was speaking to a Director of a premier health & wellness organisation recently where he mentioned that this surge is then closely followed by the year's largest drop-out rate only 5 weeks later!  A quick search on Google revealed that a new report, from Nuffield Health, pinpointed February 8 as "Ditch the gym day".  This date sees the largest drop in usage at the chain’s 66 Fitness & Wellbeing centres across the UK.

Keep up the momentum 

If you have not "ditched the gym", do give yourself a pat on the back.  Kudos to you.  In another 5 or 6 weeks you will have gone through the tough period and will begin seeing the results of your new fitness regime.  Research shows that it takes an average of between nine to 10 weeks to form a new habit and around 12 weeks to see the results of a new fitness regime.  If you are thinking about quitting, set up a game plan and hang on for a bit longer, you are almost there!  If you have already quit, it's the perfect time to practice your negotiation skills and get an even better deal!

Healthier and more productive

The best result however, aside from being able to re-claim a long lost belt hole or two, is to be able to experience the positive effects exercise will have on your productivity at work.  It will help you to re-energise and improve your concentration, as well as making you feel calmer and more able to solve problems.  We can all use a little less stress in our lives.  Your colleagues will notice, your boss will be impressed and your clients will be happy.

It is not uncommon for me to encounter candidates who have made ‘a mistake’ or two in their career decisions to date.  It could be the result of a cultural mismatch or the scope of the role changing in the early days of the move.  Many will make the decision to get out quickly when they recognise the mistake and I do think, in most cases, this is the sensible way to go.  One mistake is always forgivable, and if you are able to picture yourself in your next interview telling a compelling and logical story as to your reasoning, future employers will, by and large, understand.  And the cost for remaining in a role that is clearly not right can be both disheartening and de-motivating.  More than one mistake however can begin to turn your CV into one that is perceived as ‘jumpy,’ and particularly in this market, that can be dangerous. 

This is a tough market with decisions taking longer to make for both clients and candidates alike.  Mistakes will no doubt still be made but giving considerable thought to why you are looking to move and what you are hoping to gain from your next role, both in the immediate and longer term, will go a long way in preventing that dreaded feeling of regret.

We’re halfway through the application window for the New Entrepreneurs Foundation intake of 2012 and it’s been great to meet so many young, enthusiastic, budding entrepreneurs over the past couple of weeks. The quality’s been consistently high and I’ve been impressed that so many applicants have thrown caution to the wind and pressed ahead with bringing their business ideas to fruition.

It’s a reminder that there’s probably never an ideal time to launch a startup... it’s better just to get on with it. Almost all of these people could have waited – perhaps until after they’d graduated, done an MBA, or built up some more commercial experience.

There will always be reasons why it might be wise to hold off a while longer. But being young is one good reason to take the plunge right away: you have energy, creativity, ambition and a fresh perspective. And most importantly you don’t have huge responsibilities in life, so if it all goes massively wrong you can dust yourself off and carry on.

Naturally lots of young people feel they need a helping hand in becoming an entrepreneur (which incidentally is one of the main reasons the New Entrepreneurs Foundation was set up). But in any case the lesson seems to be that there’s no time like the present. Carpe diem!

Unilever today predicted a tough year ahead for growth, despite reporting a 6.5% rise in underlying profits in 2011. Shares in the Anglo-Dutch fmcg giant dipped as the results emerged slightly below City expectations. Analysts blamed higher than anticipated restructuring costs. However, chief executive Paul Polman said the Lynx and Pot Noodle maker had made “significant progress” in its transformation to being a sustainable growth company.

Chance for ethical start-ups to get their name on Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s has kicked off a hunt for ethical start-up companies that match the Unilever brand’s stated ideal of ‘giving back to the community’. Five winning businesses will pocket a €10,000 award and have their names featured on bespoke tubs of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Finalists in the Join Our Core promotion will pitch their ideas to a panel of business leaders, including the ice cream brand’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield, with the first 100 entrants receiving a year’s supply of ice cream.

M&S lifestyle app hints at future of shopping

Marks & Spencer is bringing its food, lifestyle and fashion expertise to the nation’s living rooms by becoming the first UK retailer to launch an app on interactive television sets from Samsung. The app can be downloaded on to internet-connected Samsung Smart TV sets and offers information on food, fashion, lifestyle and technology trends, as well as recipes, wine and beauty tips. M&S director for new channels Susan Aubrey-Cound said the app would let consumers “discover [M&S products] from the comfort of their living rooms”.

BT: 'Marketers need to have love affair with customer services’

Marketers need to embark on a “love affair” with their customer service counterparts or risk failing their brands, according to BT’s service chief. Speaking at a London event hosted by the Direct Marketing Association, the telecom company’s managing director of retail customer service, Warren Buckley, says that marketers need to spend more time talking to and learning from the people that are the closest to customers. Buckley’s comments come as the company credited its customer service focus in helping to lift pre-tax profit by 18% to £628m in the three months to 31 December.

Kingfisher eyes UK growth with grassroots cricket sponsorship deal

Kingfisher, India’s biggest beer by market share, is hoping its sponsorship of English amateur cricket will give it a firmer foothold in the UK and unseat rival Cobra Beer. The Indian brand, is using its sponsorship of the England & Wales Cricket Board’s ‘Kingfisher Beer Cup’, the nation’s top amateur cricket league, as part of a fundraising initiative to drive money back into grassroots cricket. The scheme will be spearheaded by the launch of the ‘Kingfisher Quiz and Curry Night’ next month, which invites amateur cricket clubs to host their own quiz nights.

Sony CEO Howard Stringer steps down

Sony’s first ever non-Japanese CEO Howard Stringer has announced he is to step down as the company prepares for its fourth year of net losses. He will step down on 1 April after six years in the role and will be replaced by executive deputy president Kazuo Hirai. Welsh-born Stringer will stay on as chairman of the electronics giant.

Dixons boss Browett leaves to join Apple

Dixons chief executive John Browett is to leave the electricals group to become technology giant Apple’s senior vice-president of retail.
Browett, who will step down from Dixons’ board on February 20 and will leave the retailer on April 20, will be based in California in his new global Apple role.
“The opportunity ahead of me is exciting and I leave knowing that the group has a bright future under strong leadership.”

Asda tops perception of value, ICM poll reveals

The Walmart-owned supermarket’s reputation for value dominated consumer attitudes, exclusive ICM research for Retail Week revealed. 46% of those polled ranked Asda the best grocer for value, while its nearest rival Tesco lagged with only 19%. An Asda spokesman said: “We continue to lead on price and we know our customers are thrilled at the change we’ve made on quality.” Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said Tesco’s needs to do more to improve consumer opinion about its more premium ranges.

WHSmith boss Kate Swann sells £2.3m worth of shares

WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann sold more than £2.3m worth of her shares, triggering a 22p drop in the retailer’s share price to 537p yesterday.
The Wednesday sell-off reduces her holding in the company by almost 40%. Swann sold the shares just as the price hit 550 3/4p per share - a record high for this century.
But profits remained in line with expectations as Swann’s business efficiency programme continues to drive earnings.

Wednesday, 8 February 2012 from 18:30 to 20:00 (GMT)

Are you interested in applying for the New Entrepreneurs Foundation 2012/13 programme?

You are warmly invited to come and find out more about the programme and application process, meet some of this year’s intake and host entrepreneurs, ask them questions and meet other likeminded entrepreneurs.

Light refreshments and drinks will be provided.

Spaces are limited so please and register for the event.

We hope to see you there,

The NEF Team

1. Go travelling
2. Get a part time job
3. Volunteer somewhere to get work experience
4. Join the hunt for that elusive graduate job

For a number of years this has been the generic exit route from University, with graduates being pressured into finding work to cover the sky high costs of higher education.

But one option that a growing number of graduates, (and also school leavers) are pursuing is to start their own business. The highly competitive nature of graduate schemes, and time consuming application process has encouraged many bright, entrepreneurial graduates to seek a self employment route. Granted, the starting salary may not be as attractive, or the long working hours, but the experience gained is invaluable.

At a time when graduates and school leavers are being encouraged to gain as much experience as possible, (paid or unpaid), a new generation of young entrepreneurs has spawned.

One such aspiring entrepreneur is Andrew Rajanathan*, who believes that becoming an entrepreneur was a much more appealing option than joining a large firm. This is a view shared by an increasing number of graduates and school leavers including Kevin Robinson*. Kevin left school at 16 and worked within the building trade and recruitment industry before starting his own business.

Whilst the number of young entrepreneurs is on the rise, there are a few common challenges which can restrict these budding entrepreneurs from making their first million. Most notably:
Knowledge of a sector, knowledge of how to run a business, and the network of contacts required to springboard the business to success.

These factors are the key focus of a new training programme targeting the kind of bright, entrepreneurial candidates who are looking for the next challenge.

The New Entrepreneurs Foundation programme (NEF), backed by Brent Hoberman (Founder of lastminute.com), Charles Dunstone (Carphone Warehouse) and Sir Nigel Rudd, offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with some of the UK's leading entrepreneurs - and get paid for it!

The successful applicants are placed into entrepreneurial organisations to work alongside some of the most influential people in the business. Now entering it’s second year, the programme has seen 25 candidates from 2011 placed across a range of high growth companies including: Skrill, Monitise, Liv-ex, and Seatwave.

With applications now open for the 2012 intake, there isn’t a better time to expand your career opportunities, and move away from the more conventional career path. You can apply now for the NEF 2012 intake by clicking on the link below:

http://www.freshmindstalent.co.uk/jobs/entrepreneurship-training-programme-september-2012-start/

*Andrew and Kevin were both part of the NEF 2011 intake and worked with Liv-ex and 2 Sisters respectively.

John Lewis sales rose 11.4% last week driven by a “cracking” online performance. Johnlewis.com recorded a 47% increase in sales in the week to January 21 with fashion sales up 71%, electrical and home technology up 48% and homewares up 34%.  The website enjoyed a “stunning” performance on beds and Special Buy laptops. John Lewis reported an increase in sales at 16 of its stores including Liverpool which was up 11%.

Waitrose and Boots pare back product partnership

Waitrose and Alliance Boots have scaled back a partnership to sell each other’s goods in their stores. The tie-up, launched in March 2010, was seen at the time as an opportunity for the grocer and the health and beauty giant to bolster their offers and compete more fiercely against the big four supermarkets. However, Waitrose is to stop selling the Boots lines. A Waitrose spokeswoman said: “The Boots health and toiletries trial currently running in 13 Waitrose stores will be phased out from January 2012. The products will be replaced by Waitrose own-label or branded products.

Amazon eyes chilled food offensive

Etail giant Amazon is gearing up to sell chilled foods in a move that would shake up the supermarket industry. Amazon is “extremely well advanced” in launching its offer, according to sources, and is in the process of hiring chilled food buyers. It is also thought to be testing trial delivery routes. Amazon already sells ambient and a limited range of fresh produce items in the UK but a move into chilled would fire a salvo against established online grocery players including Ocado.

Starbucks to invest £8m in London stores in time for 2012 Olympics

Starbucks plans to invest £8m to revamp 70 London stores ahead of the Olympics in a bid to cash in on increased visitor numbers to London. The coffee chain reported a 9% rise in global sales in the three months to 1 January. Total revenue in the three months to 1 January increased 16% to $3.4bn (£2.2bn) while profit jumped 10% to $382.1m (£243.7m).

Tesco faces ad ban for misleading £5 promo

Tesco is facing possible censure for its £5 loyalty voucher promotion, introduced earlier this month in a bid to reverse a decline in sales. The Advertising Standards Authority has received 11 complaints so far that the promotion is misleading and is assessing whether there are grounds to launch an investigation.

Morrisons snaps up Best Buy stores to grow Kiddicare

Morrisons has bought 10 of the 11 former Best Buy stores to drive the expansion of its Kiddicare baby stores. Morrisons will invest £15m to convert the stores to carry the full Kiddicare product range, and integrate it with the existing online offer. Morrisons is asking customers to decide which location to open first through a social media initiative. The first store is expected to open by autumn this year.

Billionaire Buffett buys up £500m more of Tesco

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has beefed up his holding in Tesco by a further £500m.
His Berkshire Hathaway investment vehicle has increased its share in the UK’s largest supermarket from 3.21% to 5.08%.
The move by the investment legend comes as a confidence booster for Tesco, which last week reported a 2.3% fall in like-for-like sales over the key Christmas period. Those results caused its share price to tumble by more than 15%.

Record market share for Colgate-Palmolive

Sales jumped 7.5% to$16.7bn at Colgate-Palmolive last year.
The toothpaste-to-soaps giant said its figures were boosted by a 3.5% increase in global unit volumes, as well as a 1% increase in pricing. The Sanex business, which Colgate-Palmolive acquired last year from Unilever, also boosted full-year sales and volume growth by 1%.
Market share also soared to record highs, with global market share for toothpaste up 0.3 share points to 44.3%. Global market share for manual toothbrushes hit 31.7% - up 0.5 share points versus a year ago.

Unilever signs major chocolate supply deal

Unilever has signed a major new supply deal with chocolate giant Barry Callebaut.
Under the terms of the deal, Unilever will double the volumes of chocolate it takes from Barry Callebaut.
Following the agreement, 70% of the chocolate Unilever uses will come from the company. The duo already co-operate on Unilever’s Magnum ice cream brand.