The Retailer Winter 2018/19

Much of this work aligns with objectives Government support as well. Indeed, reporting on charitable work is one of the ways the Retail Industry, through the Better Retail BetterWorld project, is supporting the UN Sustainability Goals. As well as the direct support for the Government and public bodies, through providing space in store, and communications channels to customers, much of this work helps to support broader public initiatives, for example in encouraging food waste reductions or more active and healthy lifestyles. It’s not just money and products either. Over 12,000 hours of volunteering was provided by the industry last year in Scotland – worth £120,000 to those charities who were supported by retail workers. That’s people from all aspects of the industry being supported in giving up time to help good causes. Of course, there are good business reasons for this. By putting time and effort into supporting good causes, retailers get better more engaged colleagues. The teambuilding benefits of fundraising events, the sense of place which running charity events in store brings, or just the camaraderie of forcing the manager to dress up, all help to create better more productive workplaces. Those benefits are real but are ancillary rather than the core reason for supporting these causes.

There can be little doubt the retail industry continues to face challenging times. Trading is challenging, and we’re seeing year-on-year reductions in the number of shops and shop workers. It’s also true the industry continues to evolve and embrace new technology and ways of serving customers. It’s a dynamic, every changing, highly competitive industry which is adapting to a complex world. Yet for all the change, that determination tomake a difference to the local community remains undimmed. Cynics might look at retailers trading in the run up to Christmas Eve and think there was something of Mr Scrooge about them. In fact, the end of Dickens wonderful story is more apposite, with the determination tomake sure Christmas is a time of generosity and kindness the priority. No doubt in another century’s time, a very different retail industry will still be working throughout the year to help good causes, charities, and tomake a real difference.

the retailer | winter 2019 | 11