Retail Review: What's In & Out In 2024

📰 Industry News

Here's a roundup of this week's top headlines shaking up the UK business world.

• From March 2nd, tube and rail fares in London will go up by 4.6% from next March, Sadiq Kahn has said. The hike matches the rise in regulated train fares for England's mainline railway. (Sky News)

• TalkTalk is to cut hundreds of jobs as the debt-laden broadband business scrambles to strip out £120m in costs. (The Telegraph)

• The UK inflation rate has gone up for the second month in a row, with prices rising at their fastest pace since March. Inflation hit 2.6% in the year to November, according to official figures. (BBC)

• Energy companies have promised to spend almost £70bn over five years to help rewire Great Britain’s electricity infrastructure in the global race to shift from fossil fuels to clean electricity. (The Guardian)

🛍️ From Glossy Lips to Jellycat Toys: A Year in British Retail

John Lewis’s 2024 How We Shop, Live and Look report is here, and it’s a fascinating snapshot of what Britain’s been buying (and skipping) this year. From downsized Christmas trees to shaped trays straight out of a Pinterest dream, let’s dive into the quirky retail trends that defined 2024.

What’s Out?

1. Lipsticks and Postcards
   Glossy over matte, it seems. Lip glosses, balms, and oils now dominate 50% of lip product sales, leaving traditional lipstick with a mere 2% uptick this year. Meanwhile, boxed Christmas cards suffered a 23% slump—no surprise when a first-class stamp now costs £1.65.

2. Gazebos and Big Trees
   A wet British summer saw gazebo sales collapse by 25%, while sales of Christmas trees over 6ft shrank by 13%. Blame it on smaller homes or tighter wallets - smaller trees are having their moment, with sales up 55%.

3. The Old School Ice Cube
   Retro charm couldn’t save this one: sales of standard ice trays plunged 39%. Apparently, no one wants boring ice in their Negroni anymore.

What’s In?

1. The Rise of ‘Trayscaping’
   Shaped trays (+106% in sales) are the backbone of this Instagram trend. Picture a scalloped-edge tray, an artisan mug, and a perfectly placed croissant - chef’s kiss.

2. Curtain Tiebacks & Maximalism
   In a throwback to 80s decor sales of curtain tiebacks more than doubled. Forget minimalism; ruches and tassels are back, darling.

3. Bum Bum Cream and Sequin Fever
   Brazilian Bum Bum Cream became the biggest beauty launch in John Lewis history. Meanwhile, the Taylor Swift effect saw searches for sequin dresses surge by 357% during her UK tour. Sparkle is mandatory.

4. Novelty Salt & Pepper Shakers
   Believe it or not, novelty shakers became a 2024 obsession, with sales skyrocketing by 1,040%. Think mushrooms, birds, and quirky designs that make your dinner table a conversation starter.

Conclusion: A Nation Redefining Its Shopping Habits

From maximalist interiors to sustainable downsizing, 2024 showed us that Britons are leaning toward comfort, convenience, and creative self-expression. Whether it’s your trayscaped coffee corner or a mini Christmas tree, this year’s trends are as practical as they are Pinterest-perfect.

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📦 CPTPP: UK Joins Asia’s Trade Club - Does It Deliver?

The UK has officially signed up to the CPTPP - a big-name trade pact with Asia-Pacific powerhouses like Japan, Australia, and Canada. Ministers call it a Brexit breakthrough, but is this just a shiny new membership badge or a real game-changer for UK businesses? Let’s unpack what’s in it, what’s not, and what it means for the future.

What you need to know:

1. A Trade Boost (But Not Much)
   The UK is the first non-founding member of this £11 trillion club. But the projected GDP boost? A modest 0.08% over 10 years. Compare that to the 4% Brexit hit, and it’s more of a trickle than a torrent.

2. What’s New?
   We already had trade deals with most CPTPP countries. The only newbies are Malaysia and Brunei, which comprise less than 0.5% of UK trade. Tariffs will be cut on 95% of goods traded, helping key industries like machinery and pharma.

3. The Catch
   The UK will lower tariffs on Malaysian palm oil, raising deforestation concerns, and Canadian farmers gain more access to UK markets. Meanwhile, unions fear multinationals could challenge domestic policies, though experts say this is unlikely.

What Does It All Mean?

In the short term, CPTPP membership is more symbolic than practical, but it’s a strategic move to tie Britain to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, like Vietnam. The real intrigue lies in what happens next - will China join, or even the US? For now, it’s a post-Brexit headline, but whether it delivers remains to be seen.

🍛 Leveraging Cultural Moments: Deliveroo’s Gavin & Stacey Masterstroke

Deliveroo just pulled off a masterclass in cultural marketing with their latest billboard campaign, and it’s lush. Featuring a takeaway order slip referencing the iconic Gavin & Stacey curry night (yes, the one with nine poppadoms), it’s a cheeky nod to the British sitcom that still holds a special place in our hearts.

Why is this genius?

1. Timing: The campaign drops just as the UK eagerly awaits the Christmas Day finale of the much-loved Gavin & Stacey sitcom, ensuring it hits peak nostalgia.

2. Cultural Relevance: The ad plays directly into a shared moment of UK pop culture - everyone remembers that legendary scene.

3. Relatable Humour: Who hasn’t over-ordered on a takeaway? Deliveroo taps into the joy (and excess) of a proper festive feast, while giving fans a subtle wink. If you know you know.

By embedding themselves into a beloved cultural moment, Deliveroo isn’t just promoting takeaways - they’re delivering warm, fuzzy nostalgia alongside your chicken bhuna and mushroom rice. Marketing done right: relatable, witty, and unmistakably British.

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