Retail Therapy

ROB JONES is a Director of Retail Influence Limited and a writer and consultant who has undertaken key assignments in the retailing sector. Rob started his career eliminating communications problems and thinking up performance tweaks for early global networks. These days it's big business retailing that gets the repair and tune-up treatment. Claiming he was pursuing an MBA, Rob has taken time out to acquire degrees in physics and molecular biology.DAN MURPHY is a founding Director of Retail Influence Limited. His career spans more than 20 years working with some of the UK's most successful retailers. Since 1997 he has worked as a consultant to the Boards of some of Europe's largest multiple retailers, helping to improve areas such as supply chain management and organisational structures. Most recently he has worked closely with two of Europe's largest LBO retail acquisitions, helping to deliver large scale turnaround programs.

'This book is very well written and entertaining, and it gets behind the scenes to show how large retailers operate, from customer relations to creative accounting. Why can't all business books be this much fun to read?' - Julian Richer, Chairman, Richer Sounds Ltd 'Retail Therapy is an excellent study of the issues confronting retailers and their suppliers. It is not a therapeutic read, it is a call for improvement. Retail Therapy provides some practical solutions so that retailers and suppliers can work together to deliver a better offer to their customers.' - Stuart Rose, Chief Executive, The Arcadia Group 'If you think this book is just another retail primer, think again. This is a stimulating book that places retail in the wider context of good business practice. It is based on common sense and observed practice, both traits that private equity investors value and are applying increasingly to the exciting world of retail. If this book has an underlying theme, it is that there really is a better way out there, something I have believed in all my career.' - David Williams, CEO, First Quench Retail (Thresher and Victoria Wine) 'These guys not only know their retail stuff, but are able to impart their extensive knowledge and experience of this complex and competitive sector in an entertaining way.' - Marketing '...a highly entertaining, commonsense view of how retailers could approach their business operations differently...Where it differs from most business books is that in learning the potential solutions from the anecdotes and case studies, it is actually an enjoyable read.' - David Phillips, Business development manager, supplies The Co-operative Group, Supply Management.com

• Preface; D.Williams Dan's Introduction Balancing the Tension between Competing Business Aims Planning Strategic Relationships Customers and the True Nature of the Retail Brand Employees Suppliers Finance