The Retail Sector: Q2 2018 – A Year of Operational Change and Digital Developments

Over the previous quarter, Norman Broadbent Interim Management have been asked to deliver a number of senior Interim solutions that have in turn, highlighted the investment priorities currently echoed across the Retail sector.

The outlook for the remainder of 2018 looks turbulent, and it is proving increasingly difficult to measure consumer sentiment as customers are behaving more erratically, often changing their habits on how they feel on the day. With the Bank of England raising interest rates in November 2017, and with predictions of more increases to come, consumer caution could increase further still.

Ecommerce has been cited as a key area of investment in 2018, followed by mobile and customer service/experience and employee training. Ecommerce is also expected to grow as a percentage of overall retail sales, therefore shaping many investment decisions. Norman Broadbent have witnessed an increase in demand for digital specialists in this field, and have subsequently been engaged on multiple occasions to source Interim Ecommerce Directors and Programme Directors, who can lead platform builds while bridging the gap between technology and the business. T

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