The Perfect Storm on the High Street

Retailers Need a Radical Rethink To Ensure Long-Term Survival

Retail is facing the perfect storm on the high street. The inflationary trends and interest rate rises over the last few years have increased costs across the sector, from product and inventory to rent, energy, labour and financing.

Combined with consumers who have tightened their grip on their wallets and become more selective in how and where they spend their money, the pressure on margins in the sector has been relentless from both sides. Many retailers have already taken decisive action aiming to increase revenue by implementing better store layouts, extending product ranges and reducing costs by downsizing stores and store portfolios in an accelerated manner. But are these actions enough?

Retailers need to put themselves in the best position to future-proof their businesses and have a mindset that goes beyond just revenue growth to focusing on reducing costs – a powerful approach when creating sustainable cash flow for the business. Investment in strategic thinking could unlock growth and value creation in the long run. Retailers that invest in evaluating all their options, assess the strategic impact of their actions and then use these insights to make decisive and bold moves will be the ones best placed to become winners in the next era of retail.

This report aims to provide business leaders and investors with an overview of the key trends shaping the retail sector and the radical rethink required by retailers who want to thrive in the long term.

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