All Columnists articles – Page 23
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Analysis
Peter Harding - Retail technology consultant
Question. Where should the site manager/operator spend most of their time? Answer. In the shop, looking after customers and ensuring that stock levels are correct and that the store is well merchandised, promotions to the fore. This is one view of the retailing concept. Never before has ’retail is detail’ ...
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Analysis
UKPIA: Christ Hunt
As I write this column the focus of our attention has been on the uncertainty about the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland. Fortunately this has been resolved, as the loss of Grangemouth would have posed significant consequences for fuel supply in Scotland. The agreement should open up ...
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Analysis
Merril Boulton: Duty deferment - a game changer
The Regeneration Forum hosted by the PRA last month, was extremely illuminating and not just in terms of the information aired, particularly the presentation about duty deferment (of which more later). But it was also notable in showing what an uphill struggle organisations like the PRA have in getting government ...
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Analysis
Shop Talk with Tracy West
Sometimes it would be nice to know what the future holds. Whether the recession is well and truly behind us, for example, or even what the weather will actually do. In its 2013 Local Shops Report, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) includes a section on the future. It projects ...
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Analysis
Merril Boulton: Leading by example
Firstly, many congratulations to all the finalists and winners at last month’s glittering awards ceremony (full report starts on page 45). Particular praise goes, of course, to this year’s Forecourt Trader of the Year winners, Zuber and Mohsin Issa of Euro Garages, who were too modest to come up on ...
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Analysis
Kevin Eastwood - BOSS executive director
Criminals who operate on UK forecourts come in all shapes and sizes, from individual drive-off offenders to organised gangs who steal fuel in bulk. At BOSS we recognise the need to match these shapes and sizes to have a strong deterrent effect or, failing that, to identify, apprehend and bring ...
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Analysis
Shop talk with Tracy west
I’ve been doing one of my favourite work things lately, which is going out and about visiting convenience retailers and I’ve seen some fantastic stores and brilliant products. As I write this, I am chowing down on some Cherry Madeira cake, which is delicious. It’s a great big slab of ...
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Analysis
David Charman: chairman CWA
The summer has been kind to forecourt operators this year. Blasting sun and hot temperatures have meant that our sites have been a magnet for drinks, ice creams and BBQ necessities; but have the standards at our sites been enough to interest and keep customers interested in all aspects of ...
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Analysis
Shop Talk with Tracy West
Like most other retailers, I suspect you are running lots of offers in your store. The thinking goes that the cash-poor, so-called savvy consumer is always looking for a bargain. But, and it’s a big but, new research says that perhaps there are just too many products being promoted which ...
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Analysis
Surprising development
Well, what a pleasant surprise for a change. Just when the industry was going about its business and had given up expecting any kind of assistance in ensuring fair trading, up popped a European Commission inquiry into alleged oil-price fixing (see News Extra, page 10). How did we know? Because ...
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Analysis
Brian Madderson: chairman PRA
In March 2012, Bloomberg reported that a commission appointed by the G20 nations’ finance ministers called for stricter regulation of price-reporting agencies (now confusingly referred to as PRA by the media) to prevent the manipulation of oil markets. At that time, a consultation document published by the International Organisation of ...
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Analysis
Peter Harding - Retail technology consultant
Something that has been on my mind for some time, and is a fascinating new technology, is 3D printing. Yes, the ability to print items in 3D ie solid. This technology allows users to print a solid object from a CAD drawing. What? I hear you say. The ability to ...
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Analysis
Chris Hunt: UKPIA director general
As I write this, our never-ending winter seems to be continuing, although some sections of the media have become excited because temperatures might approach the dizzy heights of 14oC! I’m sure that this is the sort of weather the Chancellor would have preferred not to have seen on the grounds ...
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Analysis
David Charman: chairman CWA
This year has been a tough year for car washing. Unsettled weather and tough competition have meant the pressure is really on to capture wash business when the sun does shine. Our industry has been on the back foot for so many years that we have lost sight of the ...
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Analysis
Merril Boulton: Pricing deterrent
Having recently driven from the top to the bottom of France and back again, one of the main things I can vouch for apart from the beautiful weather! is the relatively low price of fuel. How nice it was to be speeding along miles and miles of empty autoroutes, ...
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Analysis
Merril Boulton: Welcome relief
So lobbying does work or government U-turns on tax are right on trend at the moment! But the fact there will no longer be a fuel duty tax rise in August is a great relief to the industry and motorists alike. Plaudits must go to everyone involved in the campaign ...
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Analysis
Merril Boulton: Happy birthday to us!
Welcome to our silver anniversary issue. Yes, unbelievably Forecourt Trader is 25 years old, and in celebration the team has pulled the stops out to create this bumper issue. There have been many imitators of Forecourt Trader such as Service Station, Forecourt Retailer and Forecourt News. But no magazine ...
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Analysis
Merril Boulton: OFT brush-off
It wasn’t quite the response he was looking for, but at least the Office of Fair Trading didn’t completely slam the door in Brian Madderson’s face when considering whether to conduct a market study into road fuel retailing (see News Extra). Brian and his team at the RMI have ...
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Analysis
Merril Boulton: Pricing woes
It was the perfect moment to make a submission to the Office of Fair Trading for an investigation into the UK fuels market. Diesel prices have hit record levels, crude prices are on their way up, refineries are faltering and putting pressure on supply; and independent fuel retailers are struggling ...