OPINION

RETAILER OPINION ON THIS FORTNIGHT’S HOT TOPICS

What do you think? Call Retail Express on 020 7689 3357 for the chance to be featured

PRODUCTS: Which new lines are attracting major sales?

“MRBEAST Feastables chocolate. He’s one of the biggest YouTubers, and Spar has got exclusivity on his range along with Asda. It’s driven huge footfall and attracted lots of age groups, but mainly the younger demographic.”

Ian Lewis, Spar Minster Lovell, Oxon

Pricewatch:

3,451

“WE’VE got Liquid Death flavoured water, and bubble tea. Both have a good following on social media. We’ve been posting it on our social media pages. It’s about keeping people excited. It keeps us relevant.”

Atul Sodha, Londis Harefield, Uxbridge , west London

MrBeast Feastables has driven huge footfall

TOBACCO: Are trading standards clamping down more on illicit sellers?

“I DON’T see it. Unfortunately, once isn’t going to change the bad behaviour. There are five or six retailers in my area who sell illegal products. One retailer was clamped down on by trading standards, but there’s still some in the area who do it.”

Five or six retailers in my area sell illegal products

STANDARDS: What new measures are helping improve customer service?

“EVERY three months, a supervisor reviews staff on shift. If the staff member fails, I have a conversation with them. It 100% leads to improvements. If an issue happens a second time, it escalates – not to penalise, but to help them.”

Amish Shingadia, Budgens Caterways, Horsham, West Sussex

“WE have a board up as a reminder to staff to uphold service, standards and smile to customers. We focus on providing good customer service, keeping a low wait time and ensuring the store has good availability, product range and displays.”

Amit Puntambekar, Ash’s Shop, Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire

It’s good for us as responsible retailers

Ferhan Ashiq, Levenhall Village Stores, Musselburgh, East Lothian

“IT’S rife around my area. The retailers that are doing it are not even bothered. There’s nothing clever about it. Some retailers do it very brazenly, they do not even hide the fact. It’s not just tobacco, it’s the vapes and laughing gas. I see no action being taken.”

Gaurave Sood, Neelam Post Office, Hillingdon

A supervisor reviews staff on shift

VAPING: Is your wholesaler helping you recycle products?

“ONE Stop helps collect the cardboard and plastic packaging from vapes that we put in the cage. They do the same with batteries. We use a third-party company to collect those. It’s good initiative that will benefit the environment, and it’s good for us as responsible retailers.”

Dee Sedani, One Stop Matlock, Derbyshire

“MY wholesaler has been helpful in providing more information. I know there are regulations coming in that will require us to be more responsible with recycling disposable vapes and electronics. However, I’m not too clear on what is required as there doesn’t seem to be much information out there.”

Anonymous retailer