Industry experts set up one-stop shop to advise UK retail sector

AN ALLIANCE of Scottish industry experts has been formed to provide key advice to Britain's retailers.

The Retail Gap has brought together senior strategists from a range of sectors, including legal, marketing, technology, e-commerce, franchising, public relations and property management.

David Kaye, who is head of the retail sector group with legal firm Harper Mac- Leod, has been instrumental in creating the alliance.

"The UK retail world is changing faster than ever," he said. "New technologies, new markets and new consumer trends are introduced every day.

"No one company could offer the skills and experience we have in The Retail Gap and we don't know of any other collective venture offering a service like this. It has been a troubled couple of years in the sector, which hopefully makes the scope of what The Retail Gap can offer to support retailers throughout these difficult times all the more appealing."

He says the alliance can help firms raise finance, create a franchise, develop a strategy for foreign markets or seek out property for expansion.

The Retail Gap will focus on five main areas: brand development, property, people management, business systems and global positioning.Retailers have offered support for the concept behind The Retail Gap. They included industry veteran Richard Boland, whose 38-year career included key roles with a number of FTSE100 and private equity sponsored retail concerns.

Boland, who has focused on non executive and mentoring support since retiring from corporate life in 2007, said: "The ingredients are all there for The Retail Gap to be a powerful and positive force in retail. The vision is bold, the quality and experience of the members is excellent and the concept is fresh."

Other members of The Retail Gap collective include strategic sales consultancy JST PreSale World, business performance experts Dove Nest Group, franchising specialist AMO Consulting; and PR and social media agency Holyrood Partnership.