The Retail Blogger

Welcome to the first post for The Retail Blogger! This is the informal blog for K3 Retail Business Solutions, otherwise known as The Retail People. We are pleased to have this forum to share what's going on, certainly from our perspective, in the world(s) of retail and retail technology.

This is where we will be pulling together some news and views from all over the show and sharing our take on things, or letting you know about the latest news from us. We are a Microsoft Dynamics provider (the UK's Largest, as it happens), so if you are interested in that area please keep checking back, as we will be posting the latest information about Dynamics - particularly NAV, (or Navision to some of us).

As a technology company we have to keep up with new releases of software, latest hardware developments and the constant stream of new products coming onto the market. Some are very good, some need a little work, but there are enough redeemable features for them to be considered useful, while others...well, you are better off saving your money. We'll be posting reviews on anything that really grabs out attention.

We look at technology within the scope of retail - however, we also look at the Retail Industry itself. Where and how are customers spending? What are leading retailers doing that struggling retailers are not? What are the core concerns for all retailers, are they the same concerns across Tier 1 to Tier 3 retailers? What about across the different sectors; do FMCG Retailers fear the same things as Fashion Retailers? Sometimes.

And one of those sometimes is now. 'The Credit Crunch', though sounding like a benign cereal, is in reality a 'bogeyman' that hovers over us all. Should there be fear within the Retail Industry or is there hope throughout all the gloom and negative prophecising that has been rumbling around for so long? Is it in fact a bogeyman, more myth than reality? In September it was reported, that retail sales were looking dismal. At the same time the BBC reported that sales were climbing, amidst all the hand wringing. This is supported by reports such  as Alliance Boots recently announcing that it is on track to deliver its profit and cash flow goals for 2008/09.  Is this the reality for all retailers? We want to hear from you and learn what your perspective is - on this and anything concerning the fields of retail and retail technology.

We hope you enjoy this blog.

The Retail Blogger