"Quote...unquote"

This week’s choice quotes from the retail technology world…

“The impact and disruptive power of technology within the retail industry increasingly dominates the news agenda, and London’s contribution to this revolution has been on par with the likes of Silicon Valley. While Asos and Farfetch represent some of London’s internationally-acclaimed successes, this list highlights the brightest and best of our vibrant startup ecosystem. From supply chain to payments, in-store to digital, this list paints a bold picture of the future as told by local talent.” Eugene Fisher, Retail Tech Group Lead, Tech London Advocates

“If the UK is headed for a retail crisis, as some commentators are suggesting, then we are planning for a great crisis. We founded Naked Wines during the financial crisis of 2008 and proved that investing in acquiring customers and generating loyalty through great products and service, will drive profitable growth even in a tough market.” Rowan Gormley, Group Chief Executive, Majestic Wine

“When we opened our first store, we believed we could deliver a real point of difference in the UK High Street. This was a bold move in a challenging retail environment, but we knew that if we could capture the essence of our fun and liberating brand and bring it to life in-store, it could be a hugely successful move.” Simon Brown, MD and Founder of Joe Browns

“With the multiplication of technological innovations, phygital is imposing itself in retail trade. Even though many believed that e-commerce would sweep shops under the carpet, a hybrid of on and offline commerce is emerging. This reshuffling is opening the way to new alternative players and novel practices.” David Mingeon, Deputy Director General at Havas Paris

“We are extremely disappointed and sorry for any upset this may cause. The protection of our data has to be at the heart of our business, and we’ve fallen short here. We’ve taken action to close off this unauthorised access and though we have currently no evidence of fraud as a result of these incidents, we are taking this extremely seriously."

We are determined to put this right and are taking steps to do so; we promptly launched an investigation, engaged leading cyber security experts, added extra security measures to our systems and will be communicating directly with those affected. Cybercrime is a continual battle for business today and we are determined to tackle this fast-changing challenge.” Dixons Carphone Chief Executive, Alex Baldock

“This follows the pattern of recent CVAs, which were all very unsatisfactory. We are seriously looking at going to lawyers to challenge the clauses [in the restructuring deal]. The group message is that landlords are prepared to look at a CVA if it is a proper restructuring, but they are not prepared to be the only loser in this.” House of Fraser’s landlords consider derailing the retailer’s restructuring plans

“To those who seek to exploit the convenience of online shopping through fraud, remember this case. You will be caught. You will be prosecuted. And you will go to federal prison for a long time.” United States Attorney Josh Minkler

"The shift to digital payments in the new economy raises important questions about the role of different payment methods, and highlights the need to balance the convenience people want with security. As digital and online payments continue to grow, so too does the associated fraud. It’s vital that new technology is maximised to give people the reassurance they need as they change the way they spend.” Sarah Lewis, Head of ID and Fraud at Equifax