These are very interesting, and certainly difficult, times for the retail industry, as technology means that our shopping habits are changing more rapidly. With more people shopping online and fewer people physically going into stores, retailers are having to think again about how to create the perfect customer experience and live up to demand.

Sadly, many of us are also generally shopping less, returning lots of the products that we buy online. We might choose to buy them in various sizes to see which one fits, or choose lots of outfits to see which one takes our fancy. This can mean serious trouble for the retail industry, with job cuts in many stores. Some shops are even reporting profit warnings and are shutting down branches or going into administration. There are many challenges for smaller retailers too, as many consumers have less disposable income. It will be a telling time for retail, and we will need to see which directions it takes in future.