2018 in preview: James Butcher, Solutions for Retail Brands

James Butcher, managing director of Solutions for Retail Brands (S4RB), gives us his three predictions for 2018.

1. The East Midlands has for a long time been a centre of technology and innovation. I predict that with an increasing focus on ‘big data’ and advanced analytics, we will begin to see the expansion of the East Midlands as a centre of expertise.

2. With the continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit – the challenge of recruiting high skilled individuals is only going to rise. People are now less certain about migration, and are generally wary of change. I understand that this is a growing concern, but I feel many businesses are perhaps erring on the side of caution until the political climate stabilises. Consequently, I think we’ll see companies with ambitious growth plans working harder in 2018 to offer exciting and challenging roles across all sectors, with a stronger focus on developing close, innovative teams.

3. For the retail sector, the trend will definitely shift from shopper experience towards a closer focus on product quality. While the need for a great customer experience will never go away completely, the rise of online shopping, click-and-collect and convenience means that brand loyalty is being eroded. Products will have to stand on their own merit to ensure customer retention and 2018 will be crucial for retailers to ensure they deliver on brand promise – be that price, values or quality.