Retailing today is more complex and competitive than ever before - profit margins and like-for-like sales are being squeezed across mature domestic markets, international boundaries are shrinking, supply chains are getting longer, routes to market are evolving, consumer dynamics are constantly changing and the regulatory burden is intensifying. Ernst & Young’s Retail team brings together a worldwide group of professionals to help you achieve your potential – a team with deep technical experience in providing assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The team works to anticipate market trends, identify the implications and develop points of view on relevant industry issues. Ultimately it enables us to help you meet your goals and compete more effectively. It’s how Ernst & Young makes a difference.
Ernst & Young are associate members of the British Retail Consortium
The BRC is the lead trade association and represents the whole range of retailers, from large multiples and department stores to independents, selling a wide selection of products through centre of town, out of town, rural and virtual stores. Visit the BRC's website for news and information.
Annual Discretionary Income Study 2007/08
Jason Gordon, director of retail at Ernst & Young comments: “Many UK consumer segments are clearly feeling the pinch as big rises in household costs are far outstripping relatively modest wage inflation."
Read our press release, which highlights key findings of the survey and contains an appendix of the survey data.
Beyond the Margin
Welcome to the latest edition of Beyond the Margin – a retail specific magazine produced by Ernst & Young. The magazine focuses on many of the issues that retailers face and is a combination of articles, interviews and analysis. This edition focuses on trading through the downturn. We look at how bad the downturn is, when its likely to improve and how some retailers are managing to buck the trend. Sir Stuart Rose of Marks & Spencer shares his thoughts on the impact of the squeeze on consumer behaviour, and explains why M&S will succeed overseas, where once it failed. Angus Thirlwell of Hotel Chocolat, tells us what the downturn means for a smaller but highly innovative business. There is also a feature on restructuring, which includes our view on the importance of effectively managing cash flow and keeping all stakeholders on side, whilst David Jeyes, Corporate Banking Director at Barclays, gives us the banker’s take on the downturn. Finally, we highlight two of the retail sector’s rare bright spots – international expansion and multi-channel development. We examine how the tough trading conditions are impacting these growth channels, and how retailers can scale up their international and online presence. Download Beyond the Margin 6.6Mb, September 2008
Past issues are available from our library.
Retail and wholesale
Forgot User name or Password
Return to Login
