The retail technology week in quotes

Here are the comments that caught our eye this week.

“We would argue that UK retail isn’t dying, it’s simply changing the ground rules. Retailers have to listen, anticipate, re-group and adapt.” Country Manager for Jysk UK, David Ashton

“The Ocado deal may well offer this increasingly irrelevant old retailer (Marks and Spencer) a new lease of life, but the size of the discount on the equity raising will only stoke concerns that it has paid too much. Investors will have to wait until the back end of next year to see if the deal can start bearing the requisite fruit." Fiona Cincotta, Senior Market Analyst at City Index

“The blunt truth is that there is still no clear path out of the current political deadlock. If we are to make progress then politicians need to step up to the plate. It is not enough to say they are against no deal, they must use their votes in Parliament to find a Brexit deal that prevents this looming catastrophe. Once a deal is passed, the Government must then work toward a trade deal that provides for frictionless, tariff-free trade with the EU.” Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium

“There seems to be little sign of imminent improvement in shopper confidence; online retailers will now be hoping that the warmer weather forecast over the coming weeks may stimulate greater demand, especially for those selling seasonal fashion lines.” Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director, IMRG

“Digital transformation, store restructuring and resizing, the move to service-led, experiential retailing, and the need to innovate and compete with not just other retailers – but other entertainment, leisure and hospitality providers – illustrates a complex path ahead for the industry.

In support of all this change and complexity, retailers must consider any number of new innovations, formats, partnerships, or alternative business processes. Joined-up thinking is required at every decision point in order to deliver the retail experiences required to realise the demands of new era retail.” Matt Bradley, Event Director at RetailEXPO

"A new tax, particularly one that penalises modern shopping behaviour, will harm both consumers and retailers at a time when retailers are rightly focused on delivering the best value for shoppers.” Tom Ironside of the British Retail Consortium

“While I was taught it is gauche to make a big deal of one’s giving, such explanation has been called for by the numerous far more gauche letters I have been receiving…I do not intend to ever give such an explanation again. I owe shareholders staying within the law and not making decisions based on inside information, not explanations of my life and projects outside Overstock.” Patrick Byrne, CEO, Overstock