One of the most successful of the discount groups, Kwik Save started in food and then moved into durables. Their stock control system, operated through its central computer at the Prestatyn warehouse, is regarded as sophisticated and effective. Their shares enjoy a substantial premium. But our...

The post‐VAT recovery in retail sales was sharply reversed in January, with preliminary DTI figures showing a 2.6% fall in the retail index. Not surprisingly retail prices showed a very different picture. The retail price index had one of its sharpest increases in January, rising from 188.2 in...

The retail electrical goods sector registered an estimated £1,400m turnover for 1973, but is at the moment facing problems. The general downturn in consumer expenditure on durable goods is a factor, plus the reduced disposable income of the middle and lower income groups. But supplies from...

The domination of people's working lives by machines, the deterioration of the environment, the inhumanity of conveyor‐belt production — all are factors which threaten the quality of life. Must retailing, with its tendency towards large‐scale operations, massive merchandising, and a...

With over 4,000 retailers and a probable current turnover of £230m., Spar Vivo's performance over the past few years has been impressive. Its success is due, primarily, to three factors: an imaginative and colourful approach to promotions; a persistent and developing policy of own‐brand...

The growth in retailer advertising in recent years has been “explosive”, jumping from £16.9m in 1972 (total Press and TV advertising expenditure) to £31.7m last year. In some ways retailers are in an enviable position in that they can rapidly measure the results of their advertising. But...

An extensive range of non‐food products; the buying power of a continental‐based organisation; a computerised approach to stock control — these are features which tend to distinguish the Makro self‐service wholesaling group from the normal run of C‐and‐C operators. Its latest depot,...

The formulation of a retail strategy involves defining the external areas, such as markets and competition; and internal sectors, which include finance, merchandising and logistics. The company must then decide on whether to adopt a market‐based or a competitive‐based strategy; it should...

Much has been written about the use of electronic cash registers at the point of sale as part of a system for improving stock control. MacFisheries, with 72 supermarkets in the South and Midlands, approaches the problem from a different angle. They use an MSI portable recording system which is,...

The word “transport” suggests an image of juggernauts, diesel fumes and transport cafes. But for some time now there has been an increasing appreciation of the role of transport and its far‐reaching effects on overall company planning — not only in relation to costs but also in its...