They have been part of Britain’s retail landscape for generations, but independent department stores now face more challenges than ever to survive and thrive.
Writing at Retail Week, CannyInsights.com’s Graham Soult has now shared his thoughts on what department stores need to do to remain relevant and attractive in the twenty-first century retail landscape. It particularly draws from the example of Sandersons, a new boutique department store in Sheffield, that CannyInsights.com was pleased to attend the opening of last month.
I'd expected @SandersonsStore to be good, but it's really a beautiful shop. Another one for @newstores! #rwpics pic.twitter.com/v1UsA6DY8x
— Graham Soult FIPM (@soult) September 1, 2016
The column is behind the Retail Week paywall – so only subscribers can access it, unfortunately – but it picks up on themes that have already been covered in a couple of recent (and free-to-view) blog posts at Soult’s Retail View.
This post, from 31 August, discusses what a successful independent department store should look like. The follow-up here, from 27 September, looks at how Sandersons has addressed these issues, highlighting its strengths in terms of kerb appeal, store environment, customer experience, and marketing effectiveness.
Check out these posts, and let us know your thoughts!
More of our thoughts on department stores
- Beales opening in Perth shows that the department store isn’t yet deadby Graham Soult on September 13, 2017 at 09:00
The news that Beales is to take over the ex-McEwens department store site in Perth, with an expected opening in November, was a surprise on various levels.
- Days department store in the ex-BHS in Carmarthen: what we know so farby Graham Soult on March 23, 2017 at 08:41
More details are emerging about the new Days department store concept planned by EWM Group for Carmarthen’s former BHS. So, what do we know so far?
- Sandersons in Sheffield has reinvented the department store – and the results are stunningby Graham Soult on September 27, 2016 at 12:24
It's a few weeks since I trailed the opening of Sandersons in Sheffield, and having visited the department store for its launch, it doesn't disappoint.
- As Sandersons opens in Sheffield, what should a successful independent department store look like?by Graham Soult on August 31, 2016 at 22:32
What qualities have allowed stores like Rutherford's, Barkers and Browns to thrive? New independent department store Sandersons offers some clues.
