New York, NY: Bloomsbury | Macmillan (2021)

First Edition. Signed on bookplate.
As new in dust jacket.

A fascinating insight into how retailers can recover and thrive in retailing’s “new normal.” This book offers a comprehensive analysis of new forces which are changing the way we buy products and experience brands. It includes in-depth interviews with some of the most innovative players—from John Lewis in the UK, to Nike and Patagonia in the US—to draw out key learning points for the rest of the industry, across the globe. It also provides essential guidelines for governments, as they strive to rebuild society in the wake of recent catastrophes.

The traditional retail industry has been devastated by the twin effects of the internet and the Coronavirus lockdown. Huge numbers of prestigious brands have gone under, or are a shadow of their former selves. The world economy has gone into deep recession, with reduced employment and incomes across broad swathes of society. Many discretionary products have simply become too expensive for ordinary people to buy on a regular basis. High streets and shopping malls lie half empty, causing a vacuum at the core of our societies.

There is an urgent need to regenerate our local shopping centers, in order to create new hope in depressed areas. So how can retailers and brands respond to this crisis? Fortunately, new shoots of recovery are emerging from the wreckage of the old order—new brands, new technology, new ways of providing value, and new and innovative methods of creating excitement to draw in consumers, all of which have the potential to kick-start the retail economy.

Mark Pilkington is an experienced retailer and consultant, now based in the UK. After graduating from INSEAD, he joined Courtaulds, eventually becoming CEO of Gossard. While there, he coordinated the initial launch of the Wonderbra. He has worked on joint ventures with M&S (marksandspencer.com), and has consulted extensively in the Middle East. His is currently a consultant for major retail groups in Europe, the U.S., the Middle East, and Asia.