How we solve your retail challenges
Looking and really seeing what customers see.
Then applying our years of retail industry experience. That’s our secret in a nutshell.
“I found Steve’s observations to be of great benefit when driving change, wanting evidence-based perspective to drive improvements and remind our internal teams of the ‘reality’ that customers can face in store.”
Mark Ibbotson – Asda COO, Walmart EVP Central Ops and Realty (2013-2020)
Disarmingly honest
We must warn you, we’re honest. Disarmingly honest. Not rude, we just prefer to save your time and think sugar-coating the truth helps nobody. We’re good at what we do, which means we uncover things that others miss and that doesn’t always make for comfortable reading.
The good news is we’re not here to spoil your day, we’re here to help your business and the industry we love great again.
With every project and report, you’ll receive our research findings and our perspective on what we’ve found, where the real problems lie – it’s not always what you think at first glance. You’ll also get our recommendations on where and how to make improvements. So you can deliver real meaningful change and ultimately, retail greatness.
Steve Dresser, CEO
"The man supermarket CEO's turn to" - BBC
Your six steps to retail success
1. Listen
Everything starts with a conversation. You share the problem, challenge or opportunity and we ask the questions that ensure we thoroughly understand the detail, the bigger picture and what’s at stake.
2. Discovery
It’s time to see what’s happening in store. We visit yours, your competition and some you may never have thought of. We look where others don’t and take hundreds of photos. If we see something in store, so can a customer.
3. Question
Using our retail experience and expertise, we consider why a problem exists and how best to approach an opportunity. We’re external, outside the politics and the historic reasons why, we just focus what is and isn’t working.
4. Research
Delving into our extensive image library, reports and wealth of retail knowledge, we consider, compare and review the store offers, promotions, packaging, store layout, operational delivery and functionality.
5. Review
We think, question and challenge. We go back to basics. No area is off limits to us and no idea or solution dismissed out of hand. We ask questions, some of them awkward. We challenge the norm and consider other approaches.
6. Findings
You receive your detailed report in the way that suits you best – webinar, voice call, presentation with image pack and/or written report, with observations, perspectives, insights and actionable recommendations.
Let's get started
Put us to the test and see how our experience, knowledge, research, fresh thinking, expert perspective and dry northern wit can transform your business.
We begin everything with a free strategy call and if we think we can help, we’ll tell you – if we don’t think we can help, we’ll also tell you. You’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain.
We begin everything with a free strategy call and if we think we can help, we’ll tell you – if we don’t think we can help, we’ll also tell you. You’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain.
We’re quoted by…
Why our clients come to us and return for regular updates
- Independent, unbiased, commercially-minded feedback
- Expert perspectives and insights – we know where to look and what to look for
- Recommendations you can act on, not impossible wishlists
- Bespoke reports, not boilerplates, tailored to your business needs
- More than 250,000 clear, high quality photos with more added every week
- A flexible, adaptable approach to ensure you get the support you need
Steve is one of the best retail operators I’ve ever come across. He operates in a level of detail beyond most people in the Retail business. He’s a truly customer centric leader, magnificent at process and challenges the status quo.. He’s a true force to be reckoned with and continues to be a good support to M&S and to me as CEO.
“I found Steve’s observations to be of great benefit when driving change, wanting evidence-based perspective to drive improvements and remind our internal teams of the ‘reality’ that customers can face in store.”
“His knowledge, ideas and suggestions, backed up with detailed reports, were shared in a meaningful, practical way that assisted us to improve our store operations for the benefit of our members, whilst also improving ways of working for colleagues.”
“Your integrity and honesty was deeply appreciated by me and the entire Tesco team.”
Steve's eye for detail is exceptional. His deep understanding of the market - what's happening now and, more importantly, what’s about to happen - is second to none - and it's always backed up by deep and rich analysis."
Get your retail insights the way that suits you best
Topline, detailed, photographic and bite-sized. We share our retail insights in a range of formats and structures to suit every budget and attention span.
StoreScape
Delve into more than 250,000 easily searchable images.
Reports Store
The latest innovations, seasonal events, offers, best practice and more.
Bespoke Retail Reports
Detailed bespoke Retail Reports with photos, insights and actionable next steps.
Blogs
Dip in for quick updates and retail insights written by Steve Dresser.
Retail by Email
Regular updates on the week’s retail environment, delivered to your inbox.
