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eSports and Competitive Gaming – Gotta Catch Em All! |
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Posted At: 22 July 2016 14:56 PM
Related Categories: Retail, Social Commentary |
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Following the news that Game has opened its first eSports and competitive gaming zone at its Manchester Trafford store and the eagerly awaited launch of Pokemon Go, FSP takes a look at the impact gaming is having on our lives and the wider retail industry.
Gaming has been a feature of many people’s everyday lives right from the release of the very first console - The Magnavox Odyssey – in 1972 through the years to the release of consoles from the major video game companies such as Atari, Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft.
Over the years, the consoles have evolved to match the changing needs of the gamer, providing a lucrative business for the likes of Game when consumers want to upgrade their consoles to get the latest release and upgrades. These changing needs have also brought about the evolution of online gaming, mobile gaming apps and virtual reality headsets, a long way away from the very first consoles ever produced, and yet more ways of making money, be it through in-app purchases or an online subscription.
The release of the mobile app Pokemon Go recently has been so well received it has surpassed all expectations from its makers. From the young to the old, Pokemon Go has people running down the road trying to ‘catch them all’, and it’s getting children outside and off of their normal consoles. This could be a good thing.
The gamer is definitely here to stay, and retailers will need to stay one step ahead in order to capitalise on this market. Game could be on to a winner; providing space where people can compete against each other while in a shopping centre environment and adding another leisure dimension to the standard shopping trip. Whether it is a success or not remains to be seen.
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Is There Anything Tesco Can’t/ Won’t Do? |
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Posted At: 16 July 2013 15:21 PM
Related Categories: Retailers, Social Commentary |
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This month Tesco signed a deal to rent out the upstairs of its Stockton store to budget gym operator, Xercise4less, as part of its plans to downsize its larger stores.
The Yorkshire-based budget gym chain agreed a partnership with Tesco which will see large-scale gyms created within Tesco stores around the country.
With this latest venture, is there anything Tesco doesn’t or rather, won’t, do?
A quick look on the Tesco website shows that Tesco offers not only groceries and some of the more obvious goods, but also:
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Electricals appliances/ accessories (washing machines, cookers, cameras, tablets etc…)
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Home and garden furniture and equipment
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DIY and car accessories/ equipment
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Sports and Leisure equipment
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Banking
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Mobile phones and contracts
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Insurance
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Travel
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Opticians
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Photography (Posters, mugs etc… can be created)
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Floristry (with Interflora)
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Tesco compare – their own price comparison site
The list feels endless, and with a “cash for unwanted gold” service, there is undoubtedly no end yet in sight.
According to Retail Week, the grocer is already planning to open its restaurant Giraffe into some larger stores, as well as its coffee chain Harris & Hoole.
Tesco is also in talks with Sports Direct with a view to sharing mezzanine space at three of its hypermarkets, forming part of a new strategy to reduce floor space at its bigger stores as demand for many non-food items moves online.
Tesco offers everything you could possible need, as well as much you don’t, all in one place, in store or online, but what are the alternatives if your customers don’t want to be suffocated by the omnipresent supermarket, and what can be a limited choice due to their ever-increasing offering?
A quick look at SnapShop reveals:
Sign up to SnapShop to find the retail life beyond Tesco
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Who's next? |
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Posted At: 27 July 2012 16:36 PM
Related Categories: Retailer At Risk, Retailers, Social Commentary |
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JJB Sports…
Based on FSP’s multi–layered approach* to identify retailers at risk, which includes early signs like key staff changes, management re-shuffles and departures, to medium term dangers like decreasing market share/profits and store closures and re-enforcing that with financial information like gross profit and cash flow in its simplest form provide the navigation tools for a business.
While the rival Sports Direct has continued to make progress, these warnings are clear and have been around for some time:
• £24.7m loan from Bank of Scotland,
• fall in revenue from on-going retail operations for the 52 weeks to 29 January 2012 by £78.7m (21.7%) compared to the previous accounting period as a result of store closures
• like-for-like decrease of 13.1%
• rapidly falling P2 score indicating Very Worrying financial health
And now, the news that chief executive Keith Jones is stepping down with immediate effect is the latest in a chronicle of incidents (read woes!).
Over several years JJB has had three fundraisings and avoided administration twice. We wonder if the new chairman, US retail veteran Robert Corliss, has a turnaround strategy?
Key
P2>175 – Very Strong
P2 >150 and <175 - Healthy
P2>125 and <150 – Fairly Healthy
P2>100 and <125 – Head Above Water
P2<100 – Very Worrying
*As the performance of any business varies because of its size and sector, the FSP Retailer Risk prediction methodology can only be used as a rough guide to retailers in trouble. Financial Health is one guide in Retailer Risk
Elsewhere on the high street, Clinton Cards administrators have announced all remaining stores are to close by the end of the month, the government has announced a further 15 town centres that have been accepted into the Portas Pilots scheme, Max Studio have signed up to London Designer Outlet at Wembley, Vivienne Westwood is to open a store in St. Davids Shopping Centre, Cardiff, Juicy Couture has opened its new flagship store on London's Regents Street and is replacing its store on Bruton Street.
For more up to date news on retail administrations, new retailers and expanding retailers, please subscribe to SnapShop with membership starting from only £96 pa.
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And Finally - QR Code on a Cow to Raise Awareness |
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Posted At: 19 July 2012 13:21 PM
Related Categories: And Finally, Social Commentary |
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In an attempt to raise awareness, a dairy farmer in Somerby, Leicestershire has come up with a new form of farming technology - putting QR codes on to cows. Lady Shamrock, the Fresian in question, is unknowingly raising the profile of the whole British dairy industry with her new tattoo.
Passers-by can scan the QR code using an app on a smartphone and get quick access to a blog which contains information about Lady Shamrock''s daily routine and the challenges facing dairy farmers.
Traffic to Lady Shamrock''s site has soared by 150% since she was turned into a walking weblink.
We all have seen QR Code tattoos, QR Code augmented reality t-shirts, people even cut their hair in a shape of a QR Code. So should we be surprised on seeing a cow who is moo-ving with the times — with a digital bar code on her side? Nonetheless this is unique, proving to be a huge hit among teenagers and is believed to be first of its kind in the country.
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And Finally - Retailers hope the Olympics will keep them alight! |
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Posted At: 24 May 2012 00:30 AM
Related Categories: And Finally, Social Commentary |
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Only if you have been under a rock for the last 12 months could you have missed out on the hype surrounding an event with over 26 different sports, 10,500 participants and millions of spectators.
From press articles released over the last few weeks it is clear to see that retailers are taking advantage of London staging the Olympics.
Located on the main entrance to the Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford’s tenants hope to catch some of the action, as visitors arriving by public transport, will have to walk through the shopping centre to get to the Park.
Joining some of the 300 hopeful retailers in time for the games are Victoria’s Secret and Kate Spade.
Retailers like Burberry are opening elsewhere inside London and will also throw open their doors before the opening ceremony.
Juicy Couture and Selfridges (amongst others) will be launching lines to celebrate the games.
It is not just big name retailers however who are hoping to cash in on the games; one of the Olympic torch relay participants has auctioned off her souvenir on eBay. The torch she used in the parade (bought for just £215) fetched over 153,000 quid! We, at SnapShop, are pleased to note she’s putting the money towards a community gardening project - The People's Plot. The retailers are not anticipated to be quite so altruistic!
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What to do in Brent Cross |
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Posted At: 14 May 2012 15:19 PM
Related Categories: Retailers, Social Commentary, Town & Shopping Centre Management |
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I might do a little bit of flag waving when the England team plays, and maybe a little bit of jumping up and down (at least metaphorically, if not physically) when the England team score a goal, but beyond that my interest in football is negligible on any scale. From this uneducated perspective, I am aware of two types in football; those that support Manchester United and those that don’t. However, whatever the type, fashionista is not a term universally applied to football supporters. Football strip is slippery, primary coloured and in the most part, unflattering. Quite frankly it looks good only on, well, athletic premiership footballers. And even then only when there really is nothing else to wear.
Arsenal supporters, who, by definition, are not Manchester United supporters, are presumably an untapped market of loose-walleted beings completely oblivious to the sartorial inelegance of the red and white kit. The club knows its market and is eager to please, relieving its fan-base of a little more cash in the process. In case you missed it, Arsenal Football Club has announced it is to open its first flagship store in a major retail location after securing a 2,270 sq ft first floor unit at Brent Cross Shopping Centre.
According to Retail Week, the shop has been benchmarked against sports brands to produce trendy merchandise. In red and white presumably? Narrows the market a little!
However, Brent Cross is, according to the Arsenal press statement, located in a traditional heartland of Arsenal support. Phew! Fortunately, Brent Cross has a substantial amount more to offer those who prefer their trendy merchandise in a delicate shade of blue or green.
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And Finally - Tommy & Kate |
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Posted At: 22 February 2012 13:00 PM
Related Categories: And Finally, General, Social Commentary |
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SnapShop hears that Tommy Hilfiger, the upmarket American brand, is attempting to secure increased sales through its British stockists with the lure of a trip to New York. This is a bonus in the true sense of the word; something extra, which can’t be earned just by doing your normal job.
However, we wonder how successful the sales will be, in the face of stiff competition from all the bright young things currently being paraded at London Fashion Week. Add to that the Duchess Effect, currently being felt by Orla Kiely, Whistles and Hobbs, and the indies such as Choice, Fallen Hero and Accent which stock the Hilfiger brand are going to have to go some to be the winning store, achieving the highest sell-through above 65%.
Then again, the beautiful Duchess would make tea cosies fly off the shelves if she wore one as a fashion accessory. The rest of us mere mortals should not assume the effect will rub off if the outfit’s the same. So, where’s my nearest Hilfiger stockist?
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Retail Spotlight – Peacocks calls in the administrators |
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Posted At: 19 January 2012 15:34 PM
Related Categories: Administrations, Retailers, Social Commentary |
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Despite reporting a like-for-like sales increase of 17% over the Christmas period, Peacocks’ problems ran much deeper – after months of struggle, Peacocks calls in the administrators making it the biggest retailer to collapse.
19/01/2012 – Peacocks collapsed into administration putting over 9,600 jobs at risk. Joint administrators from KPMG are trading the company while they look for a buyer. The Bonmarché business, which employs approximately 3,800 staff, has not entered administration and continues to trade
17/01/2012- Peacocks boss attempted to put together an eleventh hour rescue deal to save the retailer as the company's advisers filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator, after talks to restructure £240m of debt failed
09/12/2011 – Peacocks was considering closing up to 200 stores, as it was seeking to reduce its debt burden
28/11/2011 - Goldman Sachs was in talks to take control of the chain and was in discussions to become the majority shareholder as part of plans to reduce Peacocks’ £240m debt pile
19/09/2011 - Peacock lenders appointed KPMG to conduct an independent review of the business
28/04/2011 - Allan Leighton was in talks to become Chairman of Peacocks, for a potential sale or flotation
18/04/2011 - Fast fashion chain launched a higher-priced collection of catwalk-inspired clothing with retail prices between £35 and £38
01/10/2010 - Peacocks cancelled plans for a sale as it failed to attract what it considered to be acceptable offers
31/08/2010 - Peacocks hired Goldman Sachs, and was looking at selling the chain for an estimated £500m-£600m, or refinancing the business
18/06/2010 - Chief executive Richard Kirk confirmed that a strategic review of the business has begun that is likely to result in the sale of the value fashion chain
26/04/2010 – Owners were considering a sale or refinancing of the value retail group
20/04/2010 – Value retailer relaunched its website
11/01/2010 – Retailer reported cracking Christmas, like-for-like sales rose 8% in the eight weeks to January 2, with a 17% spike in December and early January. Total sales over Christmas rose 13%
16/12/2009 - Peacocks has taken a 10-year lease for 7,800 sq ft at £25 per sq ft at Newbury Retail Park in Newbury
4/11/2009 - Peacocks took 7,000 sq ft shop at Thornfield’s 1.6m sq ft The Rock scheme in Bury, Greater Manchester
9/01/2009 - Peacocks outlined plans to buy up to 50 shops from failed competitors
Financial Health:
Key:
P2>175 – Very Strong
P2 >150 and <175 - Healthy
P2>125 and <150 – Fairly Healthy
P2>100 and <125 – Head Above Water
P2<100 – Very Worrying
SnapShop subscribers can find more information like store numbers, quarterly and annual sales and latest news on the Peacocks Group and Bonmarché here.
Elsewhere on the high street, Pumpkin Patch UK arm went into administration while Primark’s sales surged over Christmas, ASOS reported strong Christmas trading, Q4 sales jump at ebay. For more up to date news on retail administrations, new retailers and expanding retailers, please subscribe to SnapShop with membership starting from only £96 pa.
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And Finally - Missing baskets, World’s most expensive pie and Loo of the Year Awards |
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Posted At: 15 December 2011 13:37 PM
Related Categories: And Finally, Social Commentary |
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Retail quirkies of the month include:
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Half of the 300 baskets at Morrisons, in Aberystwyth, disappeared when the Welsh government imposed a 5p charge on carrier bags. The 5p charge for all single-use bags is aimed at reducing litter and avoiding unnecessary damage to the environment. Co-Operative confirmed that it had also lost a small number of baskets but there had not been a 'dramatic' loss
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The world’s most expensive mince pie is on the display for a month at the Marvellous Mince Pie Manufactory in The Exchange shopping centre in Ilford. Valued at £3,000, the mince pie was made using traditional ingredients including the highest-grade platinum leaf, holy water from Lourdes to bind the pastry, vanilla beans and cinnamon from eastern spice markets, and ambergris sugar which is derived from sperm whale secretions – health & safety won’t be very happy with that!
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Talking of the hospitality industry, JD Wetherspoon has been awarded for having the best toilets at the Loo of the Year Awards 2011 as well as being named the UK Trophy winner in the Corporate Provider category
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Simply having a coaxing Christmas time |
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Posted At: 01 December 2011 15:23 PM
Related Categories: Christmas, Retail, Retail Property, Social Commentary |
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Ok so it’s been a bit quiet on the blogging front recently – probably a reflection of the amount of time the team here have (not a lot) to be pondering but I couldn’t help but notice how hard shopping centres are trying to increase their footfall.
Moving on from the traditional Lights switch on, Retailer Discount days, Santa’s Grotto choirs and brass bands, here are a few of this year’s new inspiring events:
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The Oracle in Reading is hosting a Boden pop-up shop until Christmas Eve and for the customers who spend £15 or more inside the centre a free gift wrapping service is available.
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The Red Bull Formula One team will be attending an event at Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes
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Life size snow globes at Silverburn
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One New Change in London is hosting a Dickensian story teller from the Museum of London
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David Hasslehoff (AKA The Hoff) visiting Cabot Circus, plus there will be an Ice Rink in situ until early January.
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Real life reindeer in Glasgow’s Princes Square
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Charity Santa run at White Rose Leeds
It’s enough to put even the coldest of Scrooges in a festive mood (yes I sit with a few, so I should know).
So if retail information is your pressie of choice this month, FSP can be your department store – let us know what you are after and we can supply it.
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And Finally - Something for the corner of your Shopping Centre… |
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Posted At: 21 July 2011 11:59 AM
Related Categories: And Finally, Retail, Social Commentary |
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With all available reporters either covering the News International shenanigans, or taking cover themselves, the stories for And Finally are a little thin on the ground this month
In times of a news drought, ordinarily we look across the pond for some American madness; what shocked us with this little treasure is that the invention hails from good old Blighty!
Concept Shed, based in Falmouth, has unveiled the ultimate in tacky mall machines. AutoWed is a novelty wedding machine offering a quick hitch, a couple of rings and a personalised certificate for just £1. This wonderful machine plays a specially composed intro version of the Wedding March, after which, customers can select their type of union from gay, straight, lesbian or best friend forever. A truly romantic robotic voice conducts the ceremony, before customers take their vows - pressing one button for "I do" and another for "Escape". Souvenirs from this experience are a wedding receipt and two plastic rings in egg-shaped capsules. Nice!
We were very pleased to hear from Concept Shed that they came up with the idea last year and built the unit especially for Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Detroit. That’s alright then!
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Birding - one more way to spend your money |
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Posted At: 05 July 2011 16:16 PM
Related Categories: General, Social Commentary |
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Possibly a bit of news you’ve missed…. Retailers are reporting bird supply prices rising as much as 100% over the last year. And according to the folk on the telly, over 50% of households feed garden birds. So that’s where we’re disposing of our income!
Even though the market for supporting our little feathered friends may be somewhere in the region of £200m, it’s still affected by the same issues which trouble the high street retailers: sourcing (wrong kind of climate to grow some types of bird food); use of food crops for Bio-fuels; increased demand from emerging economies are all to blame for a steep rise in prices.
Birding* is not peculiar to the UK. A recent US study shows their citizens have also taken birding under their wing (lame!), with it being the 2nd most popular outdoor leisure pursuit. It is thought that 7% of US pet store sales are from bird food and supplies.
One might not consider garden wildlife as pets, but Pets at Home along with garden centres have picked up on the consumer demand and sell a wide range of bird accessories from seeds and treats to feeders and boxes. Gone are the days of your standard net or wire birdfeeders, now you can delight the tweethearts in your life by placing their food on something that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern sculpture gallery and can set you back more than £20.
This must be one of a number of ways Pets at Home were growing their sales last year. Results announced in January of this year saw a revenue increase of £63m (+15.8%) for the year ending March 2010. But is it sustainable this year? To track the financial health of retailers, subscribe to SnapShop, or see a global overview on the FSP Accounts Barometer.
*Birding – noun: the identification and observation of wild birds in their natural habitat as a recreation; bird-watching.
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FSP’s retailer of the month– Co-op: low profile or key retailer? |
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Posted At: 20 June 2011 10:38 AM
Related Categories: Co-operative Retail, Retail, Retailers, Social Commentary |
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Do you think of Co-op as a bit of a low-key, low-profile, retailer with little to offer? If so, read on…
Having reviewed the news reported on Co-operative Group we believe that the retailer has now upped its game considerably, with well stocked aisles, fresh food and pleasant staff.
With the purchase of Somerfield in 2008, Co-op became the fifth largest grocer in UK and with the recent acquisition of several London stores (including the flagship store on The Strand in February and another convenience store opening in Wembley in March), nine new stores have opened since the start of 2011 and a further 21 contracts have been exchanged. Guess what, it doesn’t end here, the retailer intends to open more than 300 new stores in the next three years, creating around 7,000 jobs, with around 50 of these properties starting to trade this year.
To crown the expansion strategy, the flagship store on The Strand gave Co-op a unique coverage across UK as it now has a food store in every UK postal area!
In May this year Co-operative Retail added 50 new products to its own brand range. Its Truly Irresistible range of premium food goods is being re-launched and revamped. This retailer seems to have understood clearly that shoppers are on a bargain hunt in this climate so it is offering 25% discount off all its new range, and will also be advertising the scheme through its sponsorship of ITV National Weather. Joining the social crowd Co-op is introducing QR codes into its food stores to help drive traffic to its website and daily prize draws will be given out to Twitter and Facebook users who mention Truly Irresistible.
Earlier in January 2011, Co-op had launched a new product range called Taste the Seasons to reflect the British seasons and urging customers to shop locally to save time to do something better.
With high unemployment figures, the UK’s largest mutual retailer has unveiled its new Apprenticeship Academy, which promises to 'inspire' young people and help move them up the career ladder. Costing £9 million, the academy will cover all areas of the Co-op’s business portfolio, including its food, pharmacy, automotive, legal and financial arms.
Members of the Co-operative Group have agreed to donate more than £3m of their annual profit-share to charities and community groups, maybe that’s the retailer’s way of sharing its success and believes in making real difference – must admit we are impressed!
But it’s not all that positive; with rival Haldanes announcing that it is taking legal action over the ex-Somerfield stores it purchased from Co-op after a ruling by the Competition Commission.
Expansion of property portfolio, increasing turnover, new product offerings, tapping multi-channel promotional strategies including proximity marketing service, launch of new services like legal advice to its customers, in-store banks, enterprise service. Now, this is what we call all-round expansion. Tesco watch out!
Not only is the Co-op FSP’s retailer of the month on SnapShop, but we believe it could be given titles like “most ethical” and “responsible grocer” of the year too.
Like what you read? Why not register to receive FSP’s information-packed newsletter from SnapShop for 3 months? Or join SnapShop and see Co-Operative’s Profile for yourself
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And Finally - Cupcake rage - woman wrecks the shop |
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Posted At: 24 March 2011 12:00 PM
Related Categories: And Finally, Social Commentary |
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From cupcakes to burgers, customers are smashing restaurant staff when the service or food is not what they expect.
Police are examining CCTV footage to trace a woman who smashed a cup cake shop and even attacked assistants after being told that there were no more 'sweet tooth fairy cakes'(which costs £2.20 a cupcake).
Shop owner Sally Dodd, 43, said: 'The woman went absolutely ballistic when she was told we didn't have the cupcake flavour she wanted. She didn't even wait for us to tell her that if she waited we could bake some fresh cupcakes for her.
According to Alliance Boots group CEO Andy Hornby delivering “genuinely legendary” customer service standards will be vital. While importance of customer service can’t be underestimated, is it justified to smash shop assistants for non-availability of an item?
On the similar note, how would you rate SnapShop as a product and our customer service? Please feel free to comment.
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Waterstone’s Vs. Amazon |
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Posted At: 11 March 2011 00:33 AM
Related Categories: Future of Retailing, Retail, Retailers, Social Commentary |
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Gone are the days when, if you wanted to read a book, you either bought it with the choice of hard or soft backed, or you went to the local library.
With the internet came Amazon and many other internet book retailers, with their super-cheap new and second hand books and speedy delivery (most of the time).
The humble book shop that you had to actually physically visit faded into the background with Waterstone’s experiencing dreadful Christmas results in 2009 and failures in its supply chain costing the then managing director his job.
The most recent news relating to book stores is that Russian investor Alexander Mamut has directed Credit Suisse to advise him on a potential acquisition of Waterstone’s.
Mr Mamut holds a 6 per cent stake in HMV (Waterstone’s parent). Many observers did not think the businessman would consider making a bid for the book retailer with no clear business benefits.
One reason however could be that in fact Mr Mamut’s aspiration to own the chain stems from an intellectual ambition, rather than a financial one, in the same way that other oligarchs collect Premiership football teams.
In my opinion, Mr Mamut buying the Book store would be a positive thing.
I enjoy visiting a store, browsing through books, visiting the café if there is one.
One significant difference between online stores and bricks and mortar is that you don’t have the helpful staff available.
They can recommend books, order in obscure titles or even recommend a book similar to something you have already read. The reason Waterstone’s has all these benefits is that genuine book lovers work in store who have actually read the books and can give real advice.
Amazon may be able to use clever queries to sell you similar items or possible items you may be interested in due to your shopping activity, but this will never compare to a real life person giving a recommendation based on the fact they personally really enjoyed a book.
Some believe that physical shops will only survive in city centres and affluent locations as the market moves online, and books become increasingly available to download.
This may be the case, and if this is the future then businessmen such as Alexander Mamut saving book stores as a hobby rather than a business acquisition can only be a good thing?
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The Shrinking Cadbury Bar |
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Posted At: 10 February 2011 12:53 PM
Related Categories: General, Retailers, Social Commentary |
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The famous Dairy Milk bar has been reduced in size by 20g allegedly for “economic reasons".
Cadbury has said that it had to reduce the size of the bar in order to avoid price increases.
The resulting downsizing means that a previously 140g bar of Dairy Milk (RRP 99p) is reduced to 120g with two squares also being removed.
Reasons for reducing bar sizes include:
· The price of cocoa is on the rise
· Healthy eating concerns promoting smaller portions
Cadbury also defended its decision by suggesting the new, thinner bar would “enhance the eating experience”.
However there are brand risks that could result from the decision, especially if the changes are not completely transparent.
Consumers are increasingly savvy thanks to social media sites where thoughts and opinions can be broadcast in an instant, and often directly onto a brand’s public profile page.
One of our more seasoned team members remembers a hullabaloo when a similar thing happened to the Crème Egg. Ever decreasing chocolate bars do not, however, result in no chocolate bars; they result in a new product – witness the Walkers “Grab Bag” of crisps and the snickers “Duo”. More content, heftier price and the resultant health concerns So reducing the size of a chocolate bar might seem a quick fix with justified reasons of overhead costs increasing etc… but the consumer perception can be very different resulting in severe repercussions for the brand.
Other Shrinking Products include:
· GU's 'Cheeky Pots' of chocolate desserts are now 45g, compared with a previous weight of 50g. The retail price has not changed
· Haribo’s Liquorice Favourites have gone from 175g to 160g.
· Pots of Muller Rice used to be 200g but now are only 190g
· Malteser bags now have fewer chocolates in them with the price also staying the same.
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The Big Fish Fight |
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Posted At: 18 January 2011 12:22 PM
Related Categories: General, Media, Social Commentary |
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Over the past week Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and friends have launched ‘The Big Fish Fight’.
Sainsbury’s and Tesco were both highlighted as having questionable statements on Tuna.
The programme urged consumers to venture away from the popular but extremely over fished choices of Tuna, Salmon, Cod and Prawns and opt for alternative but just as tasty options.
As a result of the program sales of alternative fish have seen a significant rise. Waitrose saw sales of Coley up 36%, Dabs up 35% & Dover Sole up 163%.
Tesco has now announced plans to switch to 100% pole and line caught fish for its own brand canned tuna.
The UK is the second largest consumer of tuna in the world and Tesco being top of the big 3 supermarkets, this is significant.
This is not Hugh’s first battle with the big supermarkets. He first took them on several years ago with his ‘Chicken Out!’ campaign, where he wanted better conditions for battery farmed chickens and Tesco to be more clear and honest with its labeling.
For more information visit http://www.fishfight.net/
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Secret Shopper |
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Posted At: 13 January 2011 14:00 PM
Related Categories: E-tailing, General, Media, Social Commentary |
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Next Wednesday the new series from Mary Portas sees her turn her attentions to poor service in the `fast fashion' sector. Along the same topic Michel Roux’s series Service started this week. The programme sees Michel set out on a personal mission to train eight young people as front-of-house superstars.
Michel describes UK customer service as “Surly, slapdash and dreadful”. He says, "Even buying a newspaper you can find that you're not even acknowledged. There's no eye contact, no greeting or anything. Bad service is unforgivable and it's everywhere in the UK."
Michel describes UK customer service as “Surly, slapdash and dreadful”. He says, "Even buying a newspaper you can find that you're not even acknowledged. There's no eye contact, no greeting or anything. Bad service is unforgivable and it's everywhere in the UK."
As shown in the last SnapShop blog entry - Animal – a customer service success story, customer service can be brilliant.
So is UK service really that bad and if so, why?
With the upcoming Royal wedding and 2012 Olympics international visitors are going to expect a warm welcome.
Competition to get the increasingly frugal customer to part with their money is strong, making customer service and customer relationships more important than ever.
If I receive bad service I will avoid that shop or website, and tell all my peers of my bad experience. With reports of decreasing sales retailers cannot afford to lose customers or the subsequent bad publicity.
Maybe retailers should take a leaf out of Waitrose and John Lewis where the customer is key and service often going above and beyond.
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Struggling for Christmas present ideas? |
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Posted At: 09 November 2010 16:11 PM
Related Categories: General, Social Commentary |
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Stuck with a difficult secret Santa gift to get? Wondering what to get that distant relative or work colleague? How about a Marmite chocolate bar!
Marmite has launched a Marmite flavoured chocolate bar available in BHS, Robert Dyas and Debenhams.
The 100g chocolate bar is a blend of milk chocolate with ‘a hint of the yeasty spread’.
A ‘Black Label’ has also been introduced aimed at hard-core Marmite fans.
This is not a standalone product. Other Marmite themed products will accompany it including a Marmite cheese board dome complete with cheese tools and a Marmite teapot and mug.
This is a continuation of the marketing campaigned launched in line with the general election where Marmite introduced the ‘Love Party’ and the ‘Hate Party’.
So if you are struggling this Christmas will marmite chocolate be on you shopping list?
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Is Christmas too early? |
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Posted At: 09 November 2010 16:00 PM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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As we enter November Christmas has firmly be thrust upon us.
As soon as the temperature dipped slightly, supermarkets had removed the holiday aisle to be replaced by advent calendars and giant tins of chocolates and mince pies have replaced the disposable BBQs.
Starbucks have their seasonal red cups in store, the only thing missing is the first showing of Coca Colas ‘Holidays are coming’ advert.
But is all this too early? Each year it seems festive goods appear on our shelves earlier and earlier.
Most see the sale of Christmas pudding in August as ridiculous and possibly annoying, however a small group of individuals have taken particular offence.
A group calling themselves the ‘Movement for the Containment of Christmas’ have started posting threating letters to charity shops they feel are getting into the festive spirit too early.
From the retailers point of view Christmas cannot come early enough as this spells huge sales increases.
However the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been inundated with complaints that Christmas ad campaigns are launching too early and that an Argos ad suggests Santa may not be real.
Several complaints label the premature advertising campaigns “socially irresponsible" with the current climate and the additional financial pressures that Christmas brings to families.
Several of the complainants suggested the ASA should look at setting parameters for when companies can start airing Christmas-themed ad campaigns.
Is this all valid and should there be a ban on Christmas festivities until at least November or is everyone being a bit Bah Hum Bug!?
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What a pain! |
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Posted At: 16 September 2010 00:22 AM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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We’ve not heard much about the hooded youth terrorising our shopping centres recently, but with a greater focus on leisure, malingerers are bound to be even more attracted to their shiny open spaces. Fortunately we need only look to the ever inventive Chinese for a solution.
Park officials in China have found a way to stop people from hogging their benches for too long - by fitting steel spikes on a coin-operated timer.
If visitors at the Yantai Park in Shangdong province, eastern China, linger too long without feeding the meter, dozens of sharp spikes shoot through the seat. The spikes are too short to cause any serious harm - but long enough to prevent people from sitting on them comfortably!
At SnapShop, we think there’s scope for even greater inventiveness: If mobile phone tracking shows said youth is missing from home or indeed breaking his ASBO, those spikes could be replaced with hooks to hold him in place ‘til his Mum arrives. Any other ideas? Let us know.
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Your change Sir |
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Posted At: 25 August 2010 15:11 PM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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When preparing SnapShop Monthly and the And Finally… news is light here in the UK, we turn to our “only in America” folder which is, as ever, bursting with the ridiculous. Today we find that the Complaint Culture has hit a new all-time high (low?) with a man from Atlanta robbing a Wendy’s burger restaurant, then phoning to complain about how little cash there was in his stash. Sadly he didn’t leave his name and is still at large.
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Wired Wellies |
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Posted At: 17 June 2010 10:20 AM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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Nowhere is safe from technology. Festival goers may have to put up with crowds, communal loos and a distinct lack of basic sanitation, however, they will no longer be out of touch with their mates back home.
Orange, being fully aware that green presents a huge marketing opportunity, has launched wellies which can recharge a mobile phone handset using a "power-generating" sole. Developed by renewable energy experts GotWind the wellies convert heat from the feet into an electrical current. And there will undoubtedly be plenty of hot feet!
SnapShop can see a couple of downsides: you’ll need to stomp your feet for 12 hours to power your phone for one hour and what if the festival mud is wellie-topping?!
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Bossy Boots and Spoil Sports |
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Posted At: 07 May 2010 16:57 PM
Related Categories: Environmental, Retail Suppliers, Retailers, Social Commentary |
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So, Poundland and B&M have been selling Boots’ products on the sly then eh? Tut tut. Although, not really, because it was completely above board and everyone involved was aware…anyway…
Apparently a couple of students from Aberystwyth University uncovered the ‘labeling scam’ - as its being called - after buying a body sculpting cream from their nearby Poundland and discovering a rogue label underneath the existing (why would a ‘couple’ want body sculpting cream? Was the girl just too afraid to break the story alone or what?). For some as yet unknown reason, the label was removed and the Botanics branding was revealed, causing the nation to step back and take a collective gasp of horror! Or not, because no one cares – probably due to some small election thing that’s happening, or maybe just because it’s massively irrelevant to most people, who knows.
So, what most people would have done is keep it to themselves – they bagged a bargain right? At the most, they should have maybe told a few friends to get in on the action. It was clearly not in anyone’s interest for this story to be leaked, and I am dismayed at the fact that they decided bypass both of these options and go to the papers, probably motivated by the thought of some, ahem, monetary remuneration, for their story. Honestly, is everything for sale now? Why couldn’t they just be happy that they’d been lucky enough to discover this amazing cost saving tip?
Yes, I’m sure at least one of Boots’ many millions of customers will be outraged to hear that they’ve been ripped off, but that same customer is probably a) not even in Poundland's demographic and b) a bit naïve anyway, since I find it hard to believe that any creams cost anywhere near the £8 that Boots were charging for the product in question to make. (Said customer should’ve watched Gok Wans beauty tests – they’re all basically the same, no matter how much they cost).
The only people who have lost out here are the consumers, because I’m sure that this practice will now be stopped. Boots were right to sell off their excess produce rather than dumping it the oceans like many others would, and the company to whom they sold it would have clearly had to ask their permission to rebrand it. Poundland have confirmed that the supplier have an agreement with Boots, so they were obviously completely aware of where this ‘excess’ stock was going, and have used the ‘should be going abroad’ line to save face.
What I find more interesting than this silly labeling story is the ingenuity of the Poundland business model, and the way they have been able to offer many openly-branded products at such a low price, completely legally without compromising on quality.
Rather than being painted as ‘criminals’ maybe the two retailers involved should be commended on their ability to ‘think outside the box’ in an effort to recuperate some cost, provide the customer with a lower priced item and for attempting to save the environment! Honestly. Some people spoil it for everyone!
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Basket of Goods |
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Posted At: 16 March 2010 10:17 AM
Related Categories: Retail Statistics, Social Commentary |
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ONS have just released the CPI/RPI Basket of Goods and Services update for 2010, and though it may not look too interesting on the face of it (unless stats are your thing), it becomes a fascinating read when you trawl back through the archives and consider the influence of outside factors on our buying decisions.
From what I remember of 2009, it wasn’t a great year. There were bushfires, earthquakes, tsunamis and an economic meltdown, and it was a spectacularly bad year for music and film fans, with the deaths of Michael Jackson, Les Paul, Patrick Swayze, Brittany Murphy & Farrah Fawcett to name but a few.
But did this have an effect on what we purchased?
Favourites such as garlic bread, liquid soap, cereal bars and hair straighteners have been added to the basket product list, while pitta and squash court hire have been removed. It looks to me like we were struck with a case of the ‘why waste your time on the squash court when there is so much life to be out there living’?
Of course I don’t know if this is the case, but personally, disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami’s make me realise how precious life is, and that frankly, I’d rather be out there enjoying myself rather than worrying about how healthy my diet is or how I’ve missed one of my twelve sessions in the gym this week. So yes, I’d much rather have some garlic bread than dealing with rubbish dry pitta, thanks!
And if you look back to 2003? Pot noodles, slim fast and Ikea bookshelves were the order of the day, while electronic keyboards, tinned spaghetti and vinyl floor coverings were no longer en vogue!
See, fascinating!
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Basket of Goods |
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Posted At: 16 March 2010 10:17 AM
Related Categories: Retail Statistics, Social Commentary |
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ONS have just released the CPI/RPI Basket of Goods and Services update for 2010, and though it may not look too interesting on the face of it (unless stats are your thing), it becomes a fascinating read when you trawl back through the archives and consider the influence of outside factors on our buying decisions.
From what I remember of 2009, it wasn’t a great year. There were bushfires, earthquakes, tsunamis and an economic meltdown, and it was a spectacularly bad year for music and film fans, with the deaths of Michael Jackson, Les Paul, Patrick Swayze, Brittany Murphy & Farrah Fawcett to name but a few.
But did this have an effect on what we purchased?
Favourites such as garlic bread, liquid soap, cereal bars and hair straighteners have been added to the basket product list, while pitta and squash court hire have been removed. It looks to me like we were struck with a case of the ‘why waste your time on the squash court when there is so much life to be out there living’?
Of course I don’t know if this is the case, but personally, disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami’s make me realise how precious life is, and that frankly, I’d rather be out there enjoying myself rather than worrying about how healthy my diet is or how I’ve missed one of my twelve sessions in the gym this week. So yes, I’d much rather have some garlic bread than dealing with rubbish dry pitta, thanks!
And if you look back to 2003? Pot noodles, slim fast and Ikea bookshelves were the order of the day, while electronic keyboards, tinned spaghetti and vinyl floor coverings were no longer en vogue!
See, fascinating!
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Hot Topic |
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Posted At: 05 February 2010 16:44 PM
Related Categories: Retailers, Social Commentary |
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You know, I can’t even remember how I stumbled upon this gem of a blog topic yesterday; I must have read something throughout the day that lead me down the long dark path into researching…self heating food products
Stick with me here.
You must remember those little coffee cans you used to be able to get at the supermarket – you pop a button in the bottom, give it a shake and hey presto you’ve got third degree burns and lovely nice hot coffee…? Yes, well, you can get food that does that now you know. Whole meals, in fact!
Actually, it seems like there is a whole sector out there based on the innovation, production and retailing of self-heating products, and its not a new thing. Self-heating food was first produced for mountaineers and explorers in the 1900s, and they even appeared in the rations available in the Second World War! Fascinating.
And it’s not just cans. Oh no. One particular company that I came across in my research has to get special kudos, for they have invented…wait for it… self-heating cups, fondue kits, ‘containers’, business lunch (??!) and 3 course meals. Bargan Innovation Production Group, if you’re interested. I wish we could post pictures on the SnapShop blog, because the picture of their self-heating 3 course meal is amazing.
As far as I could see, these meals were not in stock at any of the outdoor retailers on the high street, which is just barmy. Surely this sort of stuff would be great for the novice/lazy camper or unfussy festival goer? Blacks, Millets, Go Outdoors (they have pouches, but not the self-heating container bit I got with mine); none of them had what I was looking for. I’m sort of convinced that offering these a bit cheaper/as part of a festival/summer camping kit would be a great hit. Ok, so this is mainly my desperate attempt at linking this topic to retailing, but you know, its products like this that get peoples attention. I’d never heard of such a thing until stumbling upon it, and I’m sure the majority of non-hardcore-outdoor-types will feel the same – “I don’t know why, but I want some!” – so why aren’t they in stores? A bit of innovation might shake this sector up – especially when we all know you can get a tent just as good from Wilkinsons and Tesco, these days.
Finally, if you’re interested, a review of the products that I tested…
I ordered sausage and beans in a can from Hotcan and an All Day Breakfast pouch from Autochef.
The Hotcan was definitely the easiest of the two products to use, the cheapest (by 1p – both cost around £4), and the contents were edible. The method for activating the magic chemicals inside involves sticking a metal spike (included) into some holes and standing well back. It kind of sounded like the can might explode – some bubbling and hissing with rising steam was observed – but all was well! The contents didn’t get hot enough for me personally, but it was plenty hot enough to give you a nice hot meal in an emergency. All in all, 4/5 for the Hotcan I think.
The Autochef breakfast was a bit too fiddly for me to recommend in an emergency. The food itself comes in one pack, while the separate heating pack has to be activated with water (provided). You put the food in the hot pack and voilla! Although, be warned, the pack gets very hot and is not protected by cushioning as the can – actually, it got so hot I moved it out of the carboard box I’d stood it in into the metal sink, concerned that I may set the office on fire! Not only that, but leaning over to smell it (not sure why!) resulted in a nose scolded by the steam for intrigued JC, who also burnt her finger on it! I’d not be confident using this in a tent, or anywhere remotely flammable, although I’m sure it wouldn’t be on sale if such things could occur. The contents – pretty much the same as the beans and sausage, with the addition of some tofu-esque omelette and tasteless bacon bits. Alright, but you’d be better off with the straight sausage/beans combo. 3/5 for Autochef.
Bit of a random blog, I give you, and really only loosely related to retail, but interesting all the same, I hope!
Next mission; to find somewhere that still sells self-heating coffee/tea!
PS: One of our Directors did suggest he’d take 3 week old dead squirrel over our offerings, but frankly, that’s just a negative attitude!
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Snow...bloggan! |
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Posted At: 08 January 2010 17:14 PM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past week or so (or somewhere other than the UK, maybe), you can’t have failed to notice that we are currently in the grip of something. Something we still get quite excited about, as it’s a rarity for us Brits. That something is snow. We do get a few flurries every now and then, but at the moment we are under inches. There is a fantastic photograph of the UK from space out there on the ‘net, and if you choose to go and find it, you’ll see to what extent we’ve been affected this deluge.
It’s caused forced days off for workers and school children, staff shortages across the country, including within the emergency services…which have been stretched, due to people slipping on the ice. Shelters for the homeless and the stranded have been opened, and councils across the land have come under the collective public wrath for being tight with the grit. Yes, the snow has been the only news worth reporting since it began on Tuesday, and predictions are that it will be around for some time to come.
But could this actually be a GOOD thing for retailers?
On the negative side, retailers face the same difficulties as everyone else; Sainsbury’s and Tesco have all issued statements claiming that people who do not show up to work because of the snow will not get paid, and keeping deliveries running in this cold weather must be a challenge.
On the positive side, however, we must remember that people are intensely paranoid. Though the snow is not blocking access to doors and windows (in most parts!) we do insist on using the term ‘snowed in’ which only serves to compound our theory that we must…fill our cupboards!
There have been pictures of empty supermarket shelves in the pages of my local newspaper this week, and I’ve witnessed people battling through with their shopping trolleys to get their supplies.
Sainsbury's have said that sales of flasks and travel mugs were up more than 160% on this time last year, while sales of tinned items, hot cereals and candles and matches were also expected to increase.
Online shopping levels are also expected to rise as people are stuck at home and are simply getting bored, and retailers of sledges, rock salt and shovels are all rubbing their hands with glee.
For those unfortunate who do not sell useful goods, though, all is not lost. One comment I found on the Internet suggested this down time has provided a great opportunity to do routine cleaning and maintenance undisturbed.
So whatever situation you find yourself in, remember there is a silver lining! Or should that be a ‘white’ lining…? Sorry!
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2009 Review |
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Posted At: 04 January 2010 16:44 PM
Related Categories: Administrations, Future of Retailing, General, Retail, Retailers, Social Commentary |
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If you’re anything like me, you’ll be thoroughly confused as to how it can be January 2010 already. 2009 seems to have gone by in a blur of drama and change for the retail world, as the industry struggled to stay afloat in the difficult market conditions.
January was perhaps the most traumatic month, as the final Woolworths store closed and SnapShop record 20 – yes 20 – retailers falling into Administration!
On the flip side of that of course are new market entrants, which also saw a decline in 2009. Falling from 110 in 2008 to 79 between January and December 2009, they struggled to offset the losses felt on the high street.
Interestingly, some retailers who may have been destined to die managed to breathe new life into their lungs by persuading landlords to agree to a CVA. Focus, Blacks and Flannels all took advantage of this rarely-used opportunity.
Though many property developments slowed down as redundancies in the sector increased in abundance, Aberdeen’s Union Square, Bath’s SouthGate scheme and the St David’s 2 shopping centres in Cardiff all opened successfully and continue to trade well.
And finally, towards the end of the year, we though Christmas was doomed as a veil of white snow fell across the country, creating panic and pandemonium amongst the hundreds of men who had left their Christmas shopping till the last minute – again! John Lewis was on hand, however, to provide a bed for those stranded at their High Wycombe store when the blizzards hit – aaaw!
It may not have been the best year, and it may not yet turn out to be the worst, but those who got through it are likely hoping for some reprieve in 2010, so here's hopping they get it!
Also in 2009…
- Co-Op completed its £1.5bn acquisition of Somerfield
- Primark was hit with more controversy over questionable ethics at some of its suppliers
- JJB Sports and Chris Ronnie got into a right old spat, ending with his suspension and a subsequent investigation into his dismissal
- Iceland’s economic crisis threw Baugur into turmoil – it eventually put its stakes in House of Fraser, Hamleys, Aurum and Iceland into Administration in February
- HMV ventured into new things, opening a cinema above one store, Orange concessions on the high street and taking stakes in various music venues
- New Look relocated their head office from Dorset to London
- Jimmy Choo collaborated with H&M
- Best Buy ramped up its UK entrance plans
- And importantly, M&S won its £3.5m teacake tax battle, to determine that teacakes were in fact cake and not chocolate-covered biscuits as they had been taxed for
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Puuuurfect |
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Posted At: 07 December 2009 00:45 AM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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On Our Travels...
A while ago, there were reports that Middlesbrough was the worst place to live in the UK. Having been there a number of times, I couldn't really see why the town had been singled out for this award. Today, I read something that proves what ever else you say about Middlesbrough, its people have a sense of humour....
Apparently B&Q are currently selling a leopard skin print wall paper, and the top selling store is - you guessed it - the Middlesbrough branch!
Bet Lynch, eat your heart out.
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Old News |
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Posted At: 30 November 2009 17:18 PM
Related Categories: Retailers, Social Commentary |
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B&Q can teach us all a thing or two. I’m not talking in terms of sales performance – indeed, they were 4.5% down in the last set of results. No, I mean when it comes to employee relations.
A few weeks ago, B&Q celebrated the birthday of its eldest employee – Mr Sydney Prior, 95. He began working for the retailer at the tender age of 76, and works as a store greeter at their store in New Malden.
In fact, over a quarter of B&Q’s store employees are over 50; I don’t know of any other retailer who can boast statistics like that, do you? It’s an especially surprising thing to hear when you have the ‘hip’ Abercrombie & Fitch’s of the world worrying about employee image so much, and one that I highly commend.
Other B&Q staff incentives include featuring them in their advertisements for the last 12 years; launching a staff bonus scheme; and dishing out some Kingfisher shares.
Its nice to see a retailer realising the important of staff incentive and motivation for a change - and choosing to make head office staff redundant over shop floor workers – though unfortunate for the unlucky 40 or so who lost their jobs – is a refreshing response to the challenges of this tough market.
Well done B&Q – an encouragingly realistic view of the world at last.
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Burning His Boxers |
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Posted At: 11 November 2009 16:14 PM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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Now, I wouldn’t want to establish this blog as misandrist – which I think I am in danger of doing if I post another blog ranting about men – but spare a little thought won’t you? We women put up with much stupidity, laziness and occasionally ignorance from our other halves on a daily basis, whereas we ourselves are, of course, practically perfect in every way…
Case in point, a story in this weeks’ Drapers magazine states; “[a] survey showed that men relied on their mothers to select underwear throughout their childhood and teenage years and then tended to be independent in their choice between the age of 19 and 36. This 17-year interlude was followed by a lifetime of neglect, as men relied on women to select and purchase underwear.”
Why!? Because we “enjoy” it? The same way that we “enjoy” doing the ironing? Oh no, this one boils down to one thing: lazy, lazy laziness!
Basically, what this research is saying is that men would happily strut around wearing the same pants that they bought when they were 19 (or 36), should someone not come along and take on the massive responsibility of, you know, dressing him! It’s a mother-son relationship isn’t it; the only other person a woman buys y-fronts for is her child, for Pete’s sake! (I bet Pete doesn’t buy his own either). I wonder how long it will be before men get us to give them a quick shave while they’re snoozing in front of the Sunday TV, too?! Forget about burning your bra’s, burn his bloody boxers if you really want some freedom!
Debenhams surveyed 1,000 men about their underwear buying habits during September and October. When asked “do you have any other questions” most replied “it’s our anniversary next week and I want to get her something…what size are you? She looks about your size…”
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Waste Watchdog Encourages Renting Not Spending |
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Posted At: 05 November 2009 00:00 AM
Related Categories: Future of Retailing, Social Commentary |
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An article in todays Times quotes Governments waste watchdog (Wrap) has called for fifth of all household spending to be converted to renting by 2020. The 5 categories it cites as most suitable for conversion are; high end clothing, glass and tableware, tools and equip (house and garden), vehicles, and telephone (audio and recreational equipment).
I can see the attraction of some of this - 'oh dear can't cut the lawn this weekend as I forget to rent the lawn mower' - has a certain appeal. But clothes? As someone who still has the outfit I was wearing when I met my husband 16 years ago, I don't think so! It may pain me to be 2 sizes larger now but at least its actual proof I was once a size 8!
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What’s in a name? |
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Posted At: 02 September 2009 15:10 PM
Related Categories: Social Commentary |
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Pollack. Or pollock, if you like. Sounds like a perfectly reasonable name for, well, anything doesn’t it? Foodies will recognise it as a white fish, widely regarded as a cheaper, versatile alternative to cod and haddock.
What’s the blog in that, you might think?
Well, it seems it’s been suffering from an image problem. Apparently Sainsbury’s have changed the name of the fish to ‘colin’ in their supermarkets. And reported a double in sales.
Um…what!?
So, that’s Co-Lin - or Colan, as it’s pronounced. If you ask me, Colan is a bit too similar to another word of unpleasant origin, which begs the question: what was wrong with Pollack? At worst, Pollack/ock makes me think of Jackson, colin on the other hand…well you get the picture.
I can’t decide if this ‘re-branding’ worked because we are such a brand driven society or because people just genuinely felt embarrassed at having to ask for said fish. Either way, the reasons are pretty stupid, and support my ever growing theory that society is getting a little bit more brain dead every day.
Of similar irritation this week, a friend reported that the newly opened Sainsbury’s supermarket up the road gives you instructions on how to ride the trolley escalator: “hold onto the hand rail”.
WHAT!? I KNOW HOW TO RIDE AN ESCALATOR WITHOUT TRAPPING MY FACE IN THE FLOOR AND BEING SUCKED INTO THE GREEN-LIT PIT OF OBLIVION BENEATH, FOR CHRISTS SAKE! I’ve been holding hand rails for years now! You might say I’m somewhat of a pro, in fact! So please, Sainsbury’s, gimmie a break!
Ridiculous.
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