UK Consumers

What Are We Eating ? How Food Branding Copes With Modern Trends

Bob Chaundy | Posted 14.05.2013 | UK Lifestyle
Bob Chaundy

Horsemeat in Spaghetti Bolognese, pig meat in beefburgers - the food scandals this year have been less about health, more about honesty. Consumers have been once again shocked at discovering that what they thought they were eating turned out to be something different.

Is it Time for Brands to Change Loyalty?

Josh Morse | Posted 13.05.2013 | UK Tech
Josh Morse

We now shop across a variety of channels and our loyalty to a retailer is more and more difficult to retain. These changes in both behaviour and technology beg the question - do retailers even understand loyalty anymore?

Four Alternatives to a Primark Boycott

Christine de Leon | Posted 30.04.2013 | UK
Christine de Leon

Some have suggested a consumer boycott of Bangladeshi garments at these retailers, but a boycott could be counter-productive because doing so could jeopardise the job security of the garment workers. The best course of action is to put consumer pressure on Primark. We can't shift our society's addiction to cheap fashion overnight, but we can insist that as the buyers, Primark must put pressure on their supply chain to adhere to the basic tenets of a safe working environment.

Big Six Backlash Boiling Over

Seth Freedman | Posted 17.04.2013 | UK Politics
Seth Freedman

The heat is on energy companies now more than ever, with public anger stoked by near-weekly revelations of egregious behaviour by Big Six firms and their peers. Tuesday's Energy and Climate Change committee grilling of power providers was an eye-opening spectacle.

Protect Your Surfaces!

Nick Revell | Posted 07.04.2013 | UK Comedy
Nick Revell

Imagine a world where everyone had enough, a world with no famine ot poverty and where every child had access to free education. Admittedly, there is a superficial attraction, but think again: a fair world would be a world with no need for charity and glamorous fundraising events.

Personalised Pricing - A Step Too Far?

Simon Robinson | Posted 22.03.2013 | UK Tech
Simon Robinson

Retailers need to ensure that any personalisation strategy they do use to target consumers is fair and when they get this right, the result is beneficial for both parties.

Ice, Lycra and Nike Plus - Getting Gamification and Engagement Right

Kent Valentine | Posted 20.02.2013 | UK Tech
Kent Valentine

Nike knows that somewhere deep inside, some of us would love to be the guy who runs through the ice, to conquer the cold on a Tuesday. And it knows that if we were that guy, we'd buy more shoes.

THE 'UGLY' SIDE OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT: E-COMMERCE AND THE PARCEL BOOM

Dr Stephen Dakin | Posted 06.01.2013 | UK
Dr Stephen Dakin

At the risk of offending those who are tender in years or innocent about the ways of the world, the business of delivering Christmas presents does not rest on the shoulders of a jolly, fat man dressed in red and white and pulled in his sleigh by an eight-strong team of flying reindeer.

Can You Guess What British Students' Favourite Brand Is?

The Huffington Post UK | Lucy Sherriff | Posted 25.10.2012 | UK Universities & Education

Students have named their favourite brands of this year, with YouTube taking the top spot and traditional favourites being snubbed for healthier alter...

Double-Dip Recession To Be Declared Over

PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted 25.10.2012 | UK

The longest double-dip recession since the 1950s is to be declared over by official figures amid warnings about the underlying health of the economy. ...

Don't Be Afraid to Take On the Law

Stephen Hill | Posted 03.12.2012 | UK Lifestyle
Stephen Hill

Taking on a solicitor is like seeing Goliath through the eyes of David for many. There has been a tendency in the past to believe that a lack of legal knowledge will render impotent any complaint against a solicitor, but recently released figures suggest that the public's attitude to this difficult area has grown in confidence.

The Rise of the 'ROBO' Shopper

Steve Rothwell | Posted 24.11.2012 | UK Tech
Steve Rothwell

There's a new breed of consumer on today's high streets that indicates a sea change in the shopping behaviour. UK consumers are evolving into a nation of 'ROBO' (research offline, buy online) shoppers according to Ofcom's latest Communications Market report.

What Can the Banks do to Make Us Love Them?

Steve McKevitt | Posted 12.11.2012 | UK
Steve McKevitt

Today it was Customer Service Day at my branch of Bank of Scotland. I know this because my visit - or if you will, 'customer experience' - was out of the ordinary. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that not only was it different to the other 300 or so visits I've made, but it was also the singular occasion when it was different in any respect at all.

Charlie Thomas

Burberry Is Still Strong Despite Expected Profits Dip, Claim Analysts

HuffingtonPost.com | Charlie Thomas | Posted 11.09.2012 | UK

The slowdown in Chinese consumers buying British fashion has led to Burberry warning investors its profits may be lower than expected. Burberry, o...

Barclays Named The 'Most Complained About Bank'

Charlie Thomas | Posted 11.09.2012 | UK

Barclays Bank was the most complained about financial institution, racking up 23,703 complaints in a year, according to data from the Financial Ombuds...

Consumers Are The Driving Force

Alistair Niederer | Posted 15.10.2012 | UK
Alistair Niederer

In one of my recent blogs I explored the increasing importance of the customer experience, particularly because customers are now also publishers - they can easily tell their friends how good or bad your service is at the push of a button.

It's a Complete Myth That Banking is Free

Peter Vicary-Smith | Posted 15.10.2012 | UK
Peter Vicary-Smith

The time for action is now. There must be significant changes to the structure and culture of the banking industry. Only then can we start the long road to restoring public confidence and properly protect consumers from a repeat of the financial crisis.

Mobile Phone Stores 'Not Telling Whole Story' Over Prices

PA | Posted 15.08.2012 | UK

The vast majority of mobile phone stores are misleading customers about the possibility of price increases on so-called fixed contracts, according to ...

Tesco's Browse-And-Scan Virtual Fridge Leads The Way

The Huffington Post UK | Charlie Thomas | Posted 08.08.2012 | UK

Supermarket giant Tesco has stolen the march on its rivals in the battle for convenient shopping by trialling virtual fridges at Gatwick's north termi...

Don't Ask Your Doctor... Ask Your Supermarket

Dr Sneh Khemka | Posted 24.09.2012 | UK Lifestyle
Dr Sneh Khemka

When you use your loyalty card, every item you buy, and how and where you paid for it, is instantly stored in a databank of your purchase history, alongside the personal information you willingly gave when you eagerly signed up. Unlike when you visit your doctor, it's hard to lie to a database about your weekly alcohol intake or if you eat your five a day.

Airline's 'Crafty' Credit Card Fees To Be Included In Ticket Price

PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted 05.07.2012 | UK

EasyJet and Ryanair are among 12 budget airlines that will no longer add last-minute fees on customers paying by debit card, the consumer watchdog has...

Flawed Wills and Costly Consequences

Jane Lee | Posted 09.07.2012 | UK Lifestyle
Jane Lee

Given the degree of fascination with tabloid media and gossip magazines have with the demise of celebrities, you could be forgiven if you believed that death was no longer the taboo subject of old.

Beginners Guide to the Smart Metering Programme

Tara West | Posted 26.06.2012 | UK Tech
Tara West

If the phrase 'smart metering programme' means nothing to you, then it is time to get reading. This is your beginners guide and will take you from novice to being pretty well informed on the new government programme. Why is this important? The scheme is set to take off in 2014 and will be rolled out to every home and small business in the UK - you can't hide from it!

High Street Gloom As Empty Shops Reach All-Time High

PA | Posted 22.03.2012 | UK

The number of empty shops hit an all-time high last month amid a post-Christmas series of retail failures, according to a new survey. Town centre v...

Tesco Boss Pays Price For Sales Slump

Posted 15.03.2012 | UK

Tesco's UK boss will step down later this year as the supermarket group bids to revive its domestic business following a disastrous winter. Long-se...