ORGANIZATION AND
STRUCTURE OF THE RETAIL
SECTOR IN THE UK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is Retailing? 1
, o Size of Retail Sector in the UK 1
o Number of Employees 1
Types of Stores 1
Ownership of Retail Stores 3
Boots 4
Next 5
Conclusion 6
References 7
,What is Retailing? Size of Retail Sector in the UK
Retail is providing a service to customers to
The size of the retail sector in the UK
gain a profit. They do this by providing an
has increased rapidly over the years,
appropriate location of the business and
with over 300,000 retail outlets across
attractive products that are of high demand
the UK
whilst ensuring that they are able to supply the
product for the customers.
Types of Stores
There are many different stores available Number of Employees
across the UK. These stores provide the
As the number of retail outlets increase,
different purpose and cater to the different
so will the amount of jobs available for
needs of the individual. These include:
individuals across the UK. Currently, there
Online and physical stores are over 2.9 million persons working in
retail.
With the improvement of technology in
around the world, it has begun to play a major role in in the world of e-commerce and e-
Retailing. This gives people the option to shop online using the internet. There are many
advantages that come with being able to buy products online.
Convenience- this is one of the biggest advantages. It saves customers the time that they
would spend travelling to the store to buy the product, paying car charges and waiting in a
queue in checkout. Also, the product that they are looking for may not even be available and
that would just be time lost and wasted. However, buying online will include charges such as
delivery and shipping and depending on where the product and how quick you need it will
determine the cost.
Choice- as the customer, you can get a variety of options from anywhere across the UK and
the world. This is another major advantage which customers tend to enjoy.
Cost- many of the goods available in store, also follow the price that it is in stores and they
tend to be cheaper. However, since some store have to pay cost of the store premises and
sales staff, it tends to be more expensive for bricks and mortar stores but this is not the case
for online retailers.
Examples include Debenhams, Next, New Look, etc.
Debenhams online website Debenhams physical store.
1
, Clicks and Bricks
This is defined as the combination of brand having a physical store as well as a position
online in e-commerce. There are some stores that allow their customers to order online and
collect in person. This gives people the option to return what they bought to the store
physically to get a refund and also allowing you to see what you are buying physically and
still get it delivered by the company, which makes it easier for the customer if the items are
large. There are many advantages of clicks and bricks, these include:
Being able to utilize existing suppliers which ensure
problem free delivery.
Being able to use already established brand that
customers know and trust.
Giving customers the opportunity to buy more and
get better discounts
Examples include: Tesco, Argos, etc.
Hybrid Stores
These stores offer a combination of products in the same. This means offering different
experiences for the customer in one store.
Examples of hybrid stores are Lush, Fortnum and Mason, etc.
Lush Store Lush Spa
Service versus product retailing
Most shopping centres or streets have a wide variety of service retailers which include
banks, building societies, estate agents, cafes and restaurants. These organizations aim to
provide an effective extended marketing mix and the additional 7 P’s are now significant
(people, process and physical evidence).
Emerging Store Types
There are many different new store types that have recently join the scene of retailing. Some
of these are:
Shopping villages which are stores that provide designers brands and products at a
discount price. Examples include The Galleria Outlet Centre, Swinton Designer
Outlet.
2
STRUCTURE OF THE RETAIL
SECTOR IN THE UK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is Retailing? 1
, o Size of Retail Sector in the UK 1
o Number of Employees 1
Types of Stores 1
Ownership of Retail Stores 3
Boots 4
Next 5
Conclusion 6
References 7
,What is Retailing? Size of Retail Sector in the UK
Retail is providing a service to customers to
The size of the retail sector in the UK
gain a profit. They do this by providing an
has increased rapidly over the years,
appropriate location of the business and
with over 300,000 retail outlets across
attractive products that are of high demand
the UK
whilst ensuring that they are able to supply the
product for the customers.
Types of Stores
There are many different stores available Number of Employees
across the UK. These stores provide the
As the number of retail outlets increase,
different purpose and cater to the different
so will the amount of jobs available for
needs of the individual. These include:
individuals across the UK. Currently, there
Online and physical stores are over 2.9 million persons working in
retail.
With the improvement of technology in
around the world, it has begun to play a major role in in the world of e-commerce and e-
Retailing. This gives people the option to shop online using the internet. There are many
advantages that come with being able to buy products online.
Convenience- this is one of the biggest advantages. It saves customers the time that they
would spend travelling to the store to buy the product, paying car charges and waiting in a
queue in checkout. Also, the product that they are looking for may not even be available and
that would just be time lost and wasted. However, buying online will include charges such as
delivery and shipping and depending on where the product and how quick you need it will
determine the cost.
Choice- as the customer, you can get a variety of options from anywhere across the UK and
the world. This is another major advantage which customers tend to enjoy.
Cost- many of the goods available in store, also follow the price that it is in stores and they
tend to be cheaper. However, since some store have to pay cost of the store premises and
sales staff, it tends to be more expensive for bricks and mortar stores but this is not the case
for online retailers.
Examples include Debenhams, Next, New Look, etc.
Debenhams online website Debenhams physical store.
1
, Clicks and Bricks
This is defined as the combination of brand having a physical store as well as a position
online in e-commerce. There are some stores that allow their customers to order online and
collect in person. This gives people the option to return what they bought to the store
physically to get a refund and also allowing you to see what you are buying physically and
still get it delivered by the company, which makes it easier for the customer if the items are
large. There are many advantages of clicks and bricks, these include:
Being able to utilize existing suppliers which ensure
problem free delivery.
Being able to use already established brand that
customers know and trust.
Giving customers the opportunity to buy more and
get better discounts
Examples include: Tesco, Argos, etc.
Hybrid Stores
These stores offer a combination of products in the same. This means offering different
experiences for the customer in one store.
Examples of hybrid stores are Lush, Fortnum and Mason, etc.
Lush Store Lush Spa
Service versus product retailing
Most shopping centres or streets have a wide variety of service retailers which include
banks, building societies, estate agents, cafes and restaurants. These organizations aim to
provide an effective extended marketing mix and the additional 7 P’s are now significant
(people, process and physical evidence).
Emerging Store Types
There are many different new store types that have recently join the scene of retailing. Some
of these are:
Shopping villages which are stores that provide designers brands and products at a
discount price. Examples include The Galleria Outlet Centre, Swinton Designer
Outlet.
2
