Main Topic: UK Retailing at a Glance

Hosts: James Stanworth, Clyde Warden

Guest: Ryan Shu

After a recent trip to the UK, James and Clyde compare and contrast retailing with Greater China. Ryan Shu, an outstanding research student also visited Germany for a presentation, and then the UK along with James.

Retailing is quite different between East and West. One big difference is the clear historical links of retailing design, especially external building designs, in the UK. A big emphasis on a 19th century look,while in Greater China, the link to the past are temples, which themselves are often linked to fresh/wet markets, or, as is often the case in China, historical links simply do not exist, and everything is in flux.

Train stations are interesting retail locations in the UK.  Unlike in Greater China, the space is not very renao, much more integrated with the mainstream retailers like, Tesco and M&S.

Clyde discovered a very Asian looking shopping center, with lots of small shops in Glasgow. Paul, owner of The Booktree, gave us some great insights.

In the end, the gap between the UK and Greater China lies in the passion for business, the hunger to do the retailing.

Modernity should not be linked to box stores.

The Show:

Photos:

The dates on my photos are wrong (forgot to set it) and should read 2009.

• (1) Clyde's name used everywhere! (1) Clyde's name used everywhere!
• (2) Interior mall in Stirling, with the 19th Century look & feel. (2) Interior mall in Stirling, with the 19th Century look & feel.
• (3) Demographics of the suburbs. (3) Demographics of the suburbs.
• (4) A typical train station. (4) A typical train station.
• (5) Advertising in rail station. (5) Advertising in rail station.
• (6) Marks & Spencer and other retailers integrated into rail station. (6) Marks & Spencer and other retailers integrated into rail station.
• (7) In Edinburgh, some retailing kiosks. (7) In Edinburgh, some retailing kiosks.
• (8) Squares with some ice cream vans. (8) Squares with some ice cream vans.
• (9) Public marketing of museums in the UK is common. (9) Public marketing of museums in the UK is common.
• (10) The Scotland Parliament. (10) The Scotland Parliament.
• (11) But most interesting was the gift shop, with whiskey! (11) But most interesting was the gift shop, with whiskey!
• (12) Rail service has improved, with extras like first class waiting areas. (12) Rail service has improved, with extras like first class waiting areas.
• (13) Well designed rail cars. (13) Well designed rail cars.
• (14) Space for getting some work done on way to a meeting. (14) Space for getting some work done on way to a meeting.
• (15) Glasgow central rail station. (15) Glasgow central rail station.
• (16) Opens into a huger interior. (16) Opens into a huger interior.
• (17) Again, that 19th Century look and feel. (17) Again, that 19th Century look and feel.
• (18) Retailers mostly tucked into the buildings. (18) Retailers mostly tucked into the buildings.
• (19) Very few kiosks--here selling ties for those on their way to a meeting. (19) Very few kiosks--here selling ties for those on their way to a meeting.
• (20) A bit of the airport retailing feel. (20) A bit of the airport retailing feel.
• (21) Coffee and snacks were most common. (21) Coffee and snacks were most common.
• (22) Sit down eating on the second level. (22) Sit down eating on the second level.
• (23) Some prices for hair cuts. (23) Some prices for hair cuts.
• (24) Prices for some fast food. (24) Prices for some fast food.
• (25) The railway's advertising campaign using movie posters slightly shifted to emphasize saving money. (25) The railway's advertising campaign using movie posters slightly shifted to emphasize saving money.
• (26) Glasgow's high street shopping district. (26) Glasgow's high street shopping district.
• (27) We found a more familiar looking retail seen off from the main strip. (27) We found a more familiar looking retail seen off from the main strip.
• (28) Small shops with owners within--very much like what we see in Greater China. (28) Small shops with owners within--very much like what we see in Greater China.
• (29) Sunglasses outside, manga inside--Feels like Taiwan. (29) Sunglasses outside, manga inside--Feels like Taiwan.
• (30) Ah, Chinese (moved to another location). (30) Ah, Chinese (moved to another location).
• (31) Phone unlocking service. (31) Phone unlocking service.
• (32) Signs of people who need fast money. (32) Signs of people who need fast money.
• (33) And signs of customers who are decorating their homes. (33) And signs of customers who are decorating their homes.
• (34) low priced shoes--so many different stores is truly one-stop-shopping. (34) low priced shoes--so many different stores is truly one-stop-shopping.
• (35) Bakery looking a lot like Taiwan bread stores. (35) Bakery looking a lot like Taiwan bread stores.
• (36) There were quite a number of restaurants also. (36) There were quite a number of restaurants also.
• (37) Small cafes. (37) Small cafes.
• (38) Tattoo shop. (38) Tattoo shop.
• (39) Chinese food. (39) Chinese food.
• (40) The shop sizes are changeable, depending on store requirements. (40) The shop sizes are changeable, depending on store requirements.
• (41) A corner shop--perfect for an entrepreneur just starting out. (41) A corner shop--perfect for an entrepreneur just starting out.
• (42) A whole section with stores related to bedroom accessories. (42) A whole section with stores related to bedroom accessories.
• (43) Main entrance area. (43) Main entrance area.
• (44) The Windows restaurant at the end of a hallway. (44) The Windows restaurant at the end of a hallway.
• (45) Paul, the owner of The Booktree. (45) Paul, the owner of The Booktree.
• (46) Covent Garden--a Disney like imitation of what used to be a fresh market. (46) Covent Garden--a Disney like imitation of what used to be a fresh market.
• (47) London's fashionable West Side. (47) London's fashionable West Side.
• (48) The Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Scotland. (48) The Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Scotland.
• (49) Great service from ScotRail. (49) Great service from ScotRail.
• (50) Sleeper car rooms have a sing, and bunk beds. (50) Sleeper car rooms have a sing, and bunk beds.
• (51) Morning knock at the door and tea or coffee. (51) Morning knock at the door and tea or coffee.
• (52) Nice branding of the service. (52) Nice branding of the service.
•  

Bottom Line:

• Retailing reflects the local culture and we can see some strong contrasts between the UK and Greater China.
• While consumers do not live in the same compact spaces many do in Taiwan and Hong Kong, there are underlying cultural preferences on the Western side for more spacious retailing in contrast to the Eastern setting.
• Train service has undergone a lot of changes over the past decades, with service improving recently.
• Small scale retailing in the UK is often being run by the immigrant community, with a lot of entrepreneurial spirit like what we often see in China.