There is a sea of technological solutions that can make a local store run much more efficiently and smoothly. However, any technical innovations should not disrupt the most important assets of an independent convenience store - the close relationship with the community, flexibility and most importantly, personal touch.
Technology, when in-line with the exact needs of retail, can go a long way in making businesses’ operations much easier and hassle free. It isn't just an accessory; it's the secret sauce that can transform a mundane corner store into a powerhouse of convenience whose owner and staff have the data on fingertips as well as time and knowledge to serve shoppers personally.
Some recent tech solutions have made daily operations easier and smooth, thus freeing a lot of time and manpower.
For instance, Volumatic’s all-in-one cash handling solution not only validates banknotes and immediately identifying counterfeits but also counts and stores notes securely at point-of-sale (POS), reducing the risk of till snatches and shrinkage. It is already long-established at the POS in Tesco, Morrisons, the Co-op Food Group and Nisa stores.
Mike Severs, Sales & Marketing Director at Volumatic, says, “As the retail landscape continues to evolve, it is necessary for business owners to collaborate in identifying and implementing solutions that can uphold efficiency, accessibility, and customer satisfaction at the till-point."
There are many other new-age tech solutions that have already cemented their place in convenience channel. Snappy Shopper and Jisp are both prime examples.
Retailer Girish Jeeva, owner of Girish’s Premier store at Barmulloch in Glasgow, vouches for Snappy Shopper, saying that the service has helped the store’s home delivery orders to increase multiple times.
Jeeva says, “When we first started on the Snappy Shopper platform we were only doing £500 in sales per week but this has increased majorly reaching £10,000- £13,000 and is still growing to this day.
Image from Snappy Shopper
“Our 1p deals run in tandem with Snappy Shopper help our community grow and allow us to help our customer base during times when a lot may struggle such as the holidays. We have reached 500+ deliveries weekly and this is increasing week in and week out thanks to the service and experience we provide.”
While Snappy Shopper puts local stores on the map of quick delivery, Jisp’s Scan & Save helps them compete with nearby retail giants by arming them with supermarket-like loyalty reward schemes.
Once in store, shoppers simply scan, tap and redeem the vouchers at the till point. Scan & Save solution offers exclusive discounts funded by leading brands to shoppers while customer incentives and voucher redemption rewards increase the number of repeat shoppers for the store.
In the words of Jav Iqbal, owner of Nisa Local Feltham Road in Ashford, joining Jisp was “one of the best decisions” he ever made.
Another form of innovation is electronic shelf edge labels (ESELs). Like their bigger rivals, independent stores are also moving towards electronic labels to eliminate the need for manual updates and reduce the risk of errors. Such solutions not only ensure accuracy and efficiency but also enable store staff to focus on other more value-adding tasks.
Most recently, East of England Co-operative Society, one of the largest regional co-operatives in the UK, has signed an agreement with Pricer for a full-chain installation of digital labels across all 120+ of its food stores. The solution will enable the chains to centrally manage and control pricing, product information, and promotions across all electronic shelf labels in all connected stores.
While most stores are using one or more such apps, new-age retailers like Jeeva are stepping ahead to give their customers a complete supermarket-like experience. Apart from other innovations, his store also offers a complete immersive yet customised experience. The store’s FM Radio, powered by RETaiL AI Limited, plays tailored and personalised in-store promotions and advertisements alongside regular music and news bulletin.
Advanced sensors and digital devices are also being integrated in stores to provide real-time data and analytics about product inventory, pricing and customer behaviour. Such smart shelves can automatically detect when products are running low, send restocking alerts to store employees and update prices in real time.
Crime and beyond
While embracing new technology might be the need of the hour, some technological solutions are proving to be more than just a necessity and almost a survival tactic. Crime is one such realm where convenience retailers are increasingly taking refuge in technology and AI to save their businesses.
Veesion is one such AI solution for store owners that aims to eliminate shoplifting by recognizing suspicious behavior in customers. The software, once installed and integrated with the store’s CCTV, continuously analyses to spot distinct gestures and swift body movements associated with shoplifting. In case of any incident, store owners receive an alarm along with a short video clip of suspicious activity on their app, which allows them to act and deal with the suspected shoplifter.
Another interesting innovation here is Chirp Protect, which not only serves as a strong deterrent but also claims to provide real time visibility and alerts when theft occurs. This system basically has a range of tags designed to protect a variety of high-theft products such as alcohol, baby formula, detergents and meat and cheese.
It comes with a small cubed “Hub” which is attached above or close to the exit. If a tagged product is taken too close to the Hub, the alarm goes off and the staff is alerted.
Retailer Neil Godhania, owner of Neil's Premier in Peterborough, mentions in a recent social media post how Chirp Protect installed in his store is showing “outstanding” results.
Godhania writes, “Since implementing the system, it has not only served as a strong deterrent but also provided real time visibility and alerts when theft occurs. While we understand that eliminating shoplifting entirely is improbable, Chirp Protect has undeniably reduced its impact on staff, time, and profit loss.”
On the other hand, face screening apps can alert the store owner even before the crime has happened.
Facewatch is one such system wherein store owners can log images of shoplifters and abusers so that when the same person visits again, the system sends an alert. Using Facewatch, the staff can avoid conflict much before the shoplifters (who are mainly repeat offenders) have even picked the products.
In the words of multi-estate retailer Dave Hiscutt, after Facewatch being installed in his stores, the offenders are now repeatedly being turned away at the point of entry, as a result of which they have reduced targeting his stores altogether.
Apart from Facewatch, Hiscutt’s stores are also equipped with StaffSafe, a communicative intervention security solution through which trained operators keep eyes on store through CCTV and speak through speakers. If needed, operators take control of threatening and potentially dangerous situations in real time, thereby reassuring the staff and alerting the emergency services too where required.
Soon joining in this league is AURA’s Retail Response, an app that promises to enable rapid provision of vetted SIA security officers to specific locations. The app is scheduled to be launched by the end of April or early May.
Alex Booth, Managing Director at AURA, told Asian Trader, “We have established a network of SIA licensed security officers who work for security companies the length and breadth of the UK.
A retailer or shop manager can download the AURA Retail Response App and request ad-hoc and rapid security guard attendance at the press of a button in times of need.”
Emphasising that the app does not intend to replace the police, Booth stated that having a registered security guard, turning up in a security vehicle with a security vest, can hugely help in certain situations.
Word of Caution
No matter how much technical upgrade is required or how urgently, retailers simply can’t afford to let innovations distract them from their main business goals.
A clear example of tech not able to catch the pulse of retail is self-checkout tills. Leading retail giants, who several years ago had enthusiastically taken the leap of faith in technology, are now ripping out self-checkout booths, saying they are more of a source of frustration rather than an aid to shoppers.
When cashier-less technology made its debut, it was hailed as the future of retail. For shoppers, self-checkout was supposed to provide convenience and speed. Retailers hoped it would usher in a new age of cost savings.
However, the tide is now turning as many retail giants are pulling a screeching U-turn. Supermarket chain Booths has axed almost all of the self-service tills in its stores, saying the decision was in response to feedback from customers who were finding the self- checkouts slow and frustrating to use.
Self-checkout in some cases has caused more trouble than it's worth. Archie Norman, chairman of Marks & Spencer, last November said shoplifting was becoming more common among middle class customers because of faulty checkouts as some shoppers started duping retailers by logging in cheap product and walking out with a much more expensive item.
Clearly, the UK seems neither content nor ready for self-checkout tills to take over. Let's not forget that many older people live on their own and for some, a chat at the checkout may be their only social interaction.
Similarly, going completely cashless also does not seem to be a very great idea, particularly in the light of outages in recent weeks, when some stores were even forced to remain shut as they were unable to take contactless or card payments.
In the mid of March over a span of three days, McDonald’s, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Greggs’ have all had to close stores or found themselves unable to deliver orders because of problems with payment systems. The coincidence led to speculations that the companies were victims of a cyber-attack, but each of them later stated that the outage was due to a software update.
Apart from its vulnerability, the outage also once again showed the importance of accepting cash as payment. Additionally, both card and mobile payments will undoubtedly continue to rise over the next decade and beyond, but it is evident from recent industry reports that consumers still want the choice of how to pay for things, and that very much includes cash.
Severs from Volumatic says, “As cash handling experts, we regularly encourage retailers to offer their customers the choice to use cash as well as other payment methods, and the element of choice for customers extends to this too – while some shoppers are happy to use self-checkouts, others prefer to be served by a person.”
Clearly, there is absolute necessity for convenience retailers to strike a balance between embracing technology and maintaining personal interactions and community activities alike.
Moving forward, successful integration of technology should complement business operations, ensuring that convenience stores continue to thrive in an evolving retail landscape while nurturing their uniqueness. The future of retail might be tech and AI, but good old-fashioned human touch and common sense are here to stay for a long time to come.
Independent retailers are demanding tougher police action, more bobbies on the beat and harsher punishments as shoplifting levels reach an all-time high, a new survey reveals.
A whopping ninety-one per cent of respondents to a survey conducted by the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) called for more police patrols on streets, while a similar number - 90 per cent - said that shoplifters should be handed harsher sentences.
Seven out of 10 respondents (72 per cent) said their stores had experienced shoplifting, break ins and damage to property, while they and their staff had been physically or verbally threatened.
Just under half of respondents (47 per cent) said they and their employees had been threatened or had suffered abuse and violence when asking for proof of age ahead of selling an age-restricted product.
Forty-four per cent reported that they and their staff had faced abuse or violence because they had refused to make a proxy sale – selling an age restricted product to a customer buying for a minor.
The results of the Fed’s survey came as new figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed that shoplifting was at a record high, with almost half a million offences recorded last year.
According to the ONS, 469,788 offences were logged by forces in the year to June 2024 – a 29 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
The ONS added that this figure was the highest since records began – in March 2003.
“Inadequate responses from the police and a slap on the wrist for offenders means that shoplifting is soaring, and offenders are becoming more aggressive and brazen,” said Fed National President Mo Razzaq.
“From the responses we received, it is clear that real action is needed by police, by courts and by the government to stem the overwhelming tide of crime against retailers and their staff. Everyone deserves to feel safe at work and for their businesses to be protected against criminals.
“Fed members are also sending a clear message that one of the catalysts for verbal and physical abuse in stores is asking for proof of age before selling an age restricted product. If the government presses ahead with its plans to phase out smoking and vaping through a progressive ban to gradually end the sale of tobacco products across the country, independent retailers will be subject to even greater levels of violence, abuse and theft.”
Calling for action from the government and not just words, Mr Razzaq continued: “Without effective deterrent, criminals and opportunistic members of the public will continue to commit crimes.”
According to Ministry of Justice statistics, during the year to March 2024, 431 fines were handed out for retail theft under £100, while Home Office statistics for the same period show that 2,252 cautions were accepted for shoplifting.
PayPoint has announced a new partnership with Leeds Credit Union (‘LCU’), a financial cooperative with 37,000 members, enabling them access to its CashOut service, effective immediately.
The partnership will mean that LCU customers can access their cash and savings across any of PayPoint’s UK network of 29,000 retailer partners. This represents an unprecedented growth in accessibility and the first partnership of its kind for LCU. Historically customers have needed to visit one of LCU’s four branches to withdraw money.
Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward, affordable financial services. As a mutual there are no shareholders, so it is owned by its members and always has the interests of the members at the heart of everything it does. The credit union prides itself on providing members with the most appropriate services based on their circumstances.
“Our partnership with Leeds Credit Union will enable its customers to access their funds more easily than ever before," said Jo Toolan, Managing Director of Payments at PayPoint. "We’re committed to pursuing these kinds of partnerships, which enable credit unions to offer a more competitive and technologically advanced service, while simultaneously making the lives of customers that little bit easier through enhanced access.”
Greg Potter, Head of Marketing & Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, said: “Increasingly, we’re looking at ways that we can apply technological solutions and partnerships to add value to the experience of our members using Leeds Credit Union. This partnership is demonstrative of our determination to grow in their best interests and will make access to funds something that can be done at any of a number of PayPoint locations in the UK.”
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A Philip Morris logo is pictured on a factory in Serrieres near Neuchatel, Switzerland December 8, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Marlboro-maker Philip Morris said Tuesday it planned to close down its two production sites in Germany, citing falling demand for cigarettes among Europeans.
"In recent years, demand for cigarettes in Europe has fallen significantly," the company said in a statement, adding that it saw the same trend for roll-your-own tobacco.
"This trend is expected to continue in the coming years," the company said.
Many smokers have been shifting to e-cigarettes, or vapes, and heated-tobacco devices.
Philip Morris employs 372 workers at its factories in Berlin and Dresden. Both sites are scheduled for closure next year.
The tobacco giant said it would begin discussions with labour representatives to find "fair and socially responsible solutions" for staff.
Nisa retailer Prem Uthayakumaran has made significant donations totalling £3,500 to two local community organisations through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.
The funds will provide essential support to groups within the communities that his stores serve, helping them continue their invaluable work.
The first of these generous donations was a £1,000 contribution from Broxbourne Service Station in Hertfordshire, directed to the Lea Valley Karate Academy. The funds will enable the academy to purchase much-needed equipment, ensuring that young people and adults in the local area have access to high-quality resources as they develop their skills in martial arts.
Additionally, a £2,500 donation was made by Eastfield and Cross Road Service Stations to the Mansfield Town Ability Counts Football Club. The club, which provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in football, will use the funds to support their programs, enhancing the experience for current players and making it possible for even more participants to join.
In July 2024, Prem donated £1,000 to Voice of the Vale – a group of young performers at Nottingham Trent University. This followed further self-donations from Prem to Broxbourne Organisation for Disabled and to Mansfield Under 12s Football Club in 2023.
Prem Uthayakumaran said: “Supporting the communities around my stores has always been important to me, and through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity, we’re able to make a real, tangible difference. The Lea Valley Karate Academy and Mansfield Town Ability Counts Football Club both play vital roles in their respective communities, and I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to their success.”
Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity enables retailers to donate to local good causes through the sale of Co-op own brand products in their stores. A percentage of sales from these products goes into a MADL fund, which retailers can then use to make donations to charities, schools, sports clubs, and other community groups.Kate Carroll, Head of Charity at Nisa, said, “We are delighted to see retailers like Prem using their MADL funds to support such worthwhile local causes. Both the Lea Valley Karate Academy and Mansfield Town Ability Counts Football Club provide vital services to their communities, and donations like these enable them to continue their important work. At Nisa, we are incredibly proud of our retailers’ commitment to making a difference locally.”
Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity has been helping retailers like Prem Uthayakumaran give back to their communities for over 15 years, and with each donation, they help foster stronger, more Connected local areas.
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A selection of disposable vapes with bright and colourful packaging are seen in a convenience store, on January 29, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The decision to ban disposable vapes by June 2025 has sparked strong reactions across the vaping and retail sectors, with key industry figures voicing concerns about the impact on public health and called for a balanced approach to support smokers switching to vaping as a safer alternative.
A spokesperson of Elfbar, the leading disposable vape brand, highlighted the role of the product in smoking cessation, citing that “nearly three million people in Britain have quit smoking using vapes in the last five years,” with single-use vapes comprising over 60 per cent of the UK market.
The brand warned of unintended consequences, noting, “Our concern is the potential impact on the majority of single-use vapers – adult smokers…pushing them to the black market and illicit products.”
Liam Humberstone, technical director at Totally Wicked, also pointed out the public health benefits of disposable vapes, noting they’ve served as “a key entry point for many smokers seeking an easy-to-use, effective alternative.”
While recognising environmental and youth access issues, Humberstone said “proper regulation, enforcement, and education are vital in addressing these concerns and … it’s crucial to ensure that adult smokers continue to have access to safer alternatives to cigarettes.”
James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, welcomed the government’s intention to provide businesses with enough time to prepare for the changes, but added: “This is still a challenging timetable for retailers and their supply chains.” He called for strict enforcement against rogue sellers post-ban to prevent black-market sales, which “undermine legitimate retailers.”
Mo Razzaq, national president of the Federation of Independent Retailers, suggested an alternative approach to an outright ban, advocating for a recycling scheme akin to that for single-use drink containers. “An outright ban will simply send many vapers towards unorthodox and illicit sources,” he said, highlighting the risk posed by products that may not comply with UK health standards.
Consumer advocacy groups echoed these concerns. Mike Salem of the Consumer Choice Center criticised the government for pushing through the ban during Stoptober, a campaign month encouraging smokers to switch to vaping. “Announcing such a policy…seriously damages governmental and NGO efforts in reaching a smoke-free society by 2030,” Salem said.
The UK Vaping Industry Association’s director general, John Dunne, cautioned that a ban might exacerbate black market sales, saying, “Bans are not the answer as we’ve seen in other parts of the world…they will only boost the black market.”
Dunne advocated for stronger enforcement and proposed a licensing scheme for vape retailers to help control sales to minors and ensure environmental compliance, calling for “fines of up to £10,000 and £100,000 for retailers and distributors respectively who break the law.”
The Independent British Vape Trade Association’s chair Marcus Saxton also voiced concerns about the ban's potential to mislead the public on vaping’s relative safety.
“Banning an entire category of vapes is likely to fuel public misperceptions about the relative safety of vaping to smoking. Adults using single use disposable vapes outnumber those that are under 18 by several times. Consequently there needs to be clear messaging from government to encourage those adults not to simply revert to smoking,” he said.
Saxton criticised the absence of an importation ban in the new legislation, arguing that it will lead to increased illicit trade.
The government has laid legislation to introduce the ban and, subject to parliamentary approval, businesses will have until 1June 2025 to sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban coming into force.