This page provides a listing of, and links to, some of the media commentary produced by members of the Institute for Retail Studies on various retail related topics.
December 2013
Haggling at travel agent can beat web – comment by Leigh Sparks, Scotland on Sunday, 22nd December
Castle Douglas bucks trend as high street thrives – uses data from report by Leigh Sparks and the Local Data Company, ITV News, 17th December
Fortunes are mixed on high streets – report on work by Leigh Sparks and The Local Data Company, Edinburgh Evening News, 17th December (and Aberdeen Evening Express, Dundee Courier, Gourock Telegraph and others)
Scotland’s High Streets in Crisis – interview with Leigh Sparks about the report with the Local Data Company, ITV News, Borders, 17th December
The Future of Retail – discussion of a report by Leigh Sparks and the Local Data Company, BBC Reporting Scotland, 17th December
Scotland’s high streets and town centres – discussion of a report by Leigh Sparks and the Local Data Company, BBC Radio Scotland Newsdrive, 17th December
Scotland’s high streets thriving or surviving – discussion of a report by Leigh Sparks and the Local Data Company, BBC News Scotland, 17th December
No quick fix to beat crisis in nation’s town centers – discussion of a report by Leigh Sparks and the Local Data Company, The Scotsman, 17th December
Fresh fears raised over future of high street – discussion of a report by Leigh Sparks and the Local Data Company, The Herald, 17th December
Period of retail austerity to continue – report of a presentation by Leigh Sparks to the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club, Dundee Courier, 17th December (and Stirling Observer)
Retailing in the run-up to Christmas – interview with Leigh Sparks on BBC Newsnight Scotland, 16th December
Retailing and Retail Change and Performance – interview with Leigh Sparks on BBC Radio Scotland Business Weekend, 15th December
Deck the Hauls – comment by Leigh Sparks on the Christmas retail sales and discounts, Daily Record, 14th December
Food prices in an Independent Scotland – interview with Leigh Sparks on BBC Newsnight Scotland, 12th December
Two in three shops begin sales before Christmas – comment by Leigh Sparks, The Scotsman, 12th December
November 2013
Interviewed for Newsdrive BBC Radio Scotland on Black Friday, 28th November.
October 2013
Interviewed and took part in phone discussion on Call Kaye BBC Radio Scotland programme about how our high streets are changing, 30th October.
More shops opening but they are changing our high streets – comment by Leigh Sparks, Herald, 29th October, and More shops opening that closing in Scotland – comment by Leigh Sparks, Scotsman, 29th October
Ryanair to relax passenger baggage restrictions – comment by Leigh Sparks, The Scotsman, 26th October.
High street faces rising threat from online sales – comment by Leigh Sparks, The Scotsman 17th October
Analysis: Retailers must get used to fluctuations in volatile climate. Comment on Scottish Retail Sales figures by Leigh Sparks, The Scotsman, 16th October.
Lunchtime with John Beattie – Radio Scotland comment by Leigh Sparks on the pricing comparisons and consumer behavior around local shops and large stores, 2nd October.
September 2013
Town centres are not all about retail – commentary piece in The Scottish Grocer, September 2013, http://www.scottishgrocer.co.uk/2013/09/saving-town-centres-its-not-all-about-retail/
August 2013
Good Morning Scotland- Radio Scotland interview with Leigh Sparks on issues with loyalty cards, 22nd August
July 2013
Lunchtime with John Beattie – Radio Scotland comment by Leigh Sparks about the horsemeat scandal 6 months on and the report for the Scottish Government, 17th July.
Town centre builds “should be first choice” – comment by Leigh Sparks in The Scotsman, 3rd July.
June 2013
Councils to ‘blame’ for death of high street – comment by Leigh Sparks in The Telegraph, 10th June
May 2013
Analysis: Town centres are the heart of places and just too important to be left to the whims of the market – Commentary piece in the Scotsman by Leigh Sparks on a report saying one in four Scottish shops will close, 28th May
Ikea’s 70% surcharge – Daily Mail comment by Leigh Sparks on IKEA’s pricing, 25th May.
April 2013
Tesco put expansion plans on shelf amid US retreat – Scotsman comment by Leigh Sparks on Tesco’s figures, 18th April
Lunchtime with John Beattie – Radio Scotland comment by Leigh Sparks about Tesco’s withdrawal from the USA and their results generally, 17th April.
Billy Connolly lends face to manbags and mousemats – Scotsman comment by Leigh Sparks about celebrity branding and retailing, 13th April.
March 2013
Lunchtime with John Beattie – Radio Scotland comment by Leigh Sparks about performance of John Lewis, 7th March.
February 2013
Secrets of Poundland success – comment on Poundland by Leigh Sparks, Sunday Post, 17th February, p28-9
January 2013
The battle to save our high streets – comment by Leigh Sparks , HeraldScotland, 20th January
We still have Swede dreams – comment on IKEA’s 25th anniversary in the UK by Leigh Sparks, Sunday Post, p26, 6th January
Charity Shop Boom in Recession – comment by Leigh Sparks, Scottish Sun, p23, 6th January.
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