ZD News Archives - Zachary Daniels

4th May 2023

14,357 Trees

We started our sustainability journey by planting trees. Now we’re sending them (and plants and flowers) to our clients, candidates and partners.

8th November 2022

Zachary Daniels’ Sets Its Sights on Changing Lives, One Position at A Time

New services. New insights. A new website and a new employee-owned structure. Now, bringing it all together, retail recruitment specialist Zachary Daniels rounds off its 10th anniversary year with a new ambition for its second decade.

12th May 2022

Recruitment Consultant

It’s our 10th birthday. We’d like to celebrate by finding some brilliant talent to join the team. You know how recruitment has a bit of a reputation? That it’s populated by hustlers and blaggers who talk a good game and don’t really deliver much? Those aren’t our kind of people. The ZD team want to

5th May 2022

Zachary Daniels is 10!

String out the bunting. Crack open the beers! And give us just a few minutes to get a little emotional. We’re ten years old, and co-founder and MD Danny Monfea has some thoughts (and feels) about that. “In 2012, two men and a dog (literally) saw an opportunity to create a very different recruitment consultancy.

24th January 2022

Zachary Daniels rewards staff by putting them in the driving seat

How do you retain staff, attract top talent and show clients you walk the walk? We have done it by giving our people a majority stake in the business. When retail changed, the world of retail recruitment changed with it. Yet thanks to a monumental effort from ‘Team ZD’, Zachary Daniels has more than weathered

15th December 2021

Zara owner Inditex posts record sales and profits

The Spanish owner of Zara has reported sales and profits at record highs, as it continues to bounce back from a hit at the start of the pandemic. Inditex said sales and net profits were higher than pre-pandemic levels in the three months to the end of October. Quarterly sales were 21 per cent higher

8th December 2021

Burberry launches rental and resale with My Wardrobe HQ

Burberry has added to its circular fashion drive, with plans to launch rental and resale via a new partnership with My Wardrobe HQ. Rentals including trench coats, handbags and scarves will be available from £41 a week. Burberry’s iconic trench coat with vintage check in cotton gabardine can set customers back over £1600. Now, fans

7th December 2021

HMRC criticised for IR35 rules

HMRC’s evidence into the House of Lords Finance Bill sub-committee inquiry into off-payroll working has been criticised by self-declared IR35 experts. Lord Bridges of Headley, chair of the sub-committee, asked the government to conduct a “wholesale reform of IR35” in October. The inquiry is a follow-up to the sub-committee’s report, Off-payroll working: treating people fairly released in April

5th December 2021

Superdry launches programme offering financial support for ethnic minority staff

Superdry has launched a new employment scheme to address financial barriers that may stop candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds from taking up roles at the business. The Growing Futures Programme provides support for candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds who are offered a job at the retailer’s Cheltenham Head Office, if there are financial obstacles that

2nd December 2021

‘We’re bigger than clothes’: Why Gymshark is opening its first flagship store

Online fitness brand Gymshark is opening its first permanent bricks-and-mortar store, in an effort to build trust with a more “tangible” presence. The flagship store will open in Regent Street, a major London shopping destination. The former J.Crew space extends to 18,000 square feet and has been acquired on a 10-year lease, with the aim

22nd April 2021

Why we’ve Decided to Plant Trees

OK, so the last year has been ‘interesting’, but we’ll never forget that it gave us the luxury of time. We had a rather rare opportunity to pause, to reflect, and to plan for a better, stronger future — not just for our business and our clients’, but for something bigger. The pandemic put climate

25th November 2020

The Curious Case of Pharrell Williams

In 2014 Pharrell Williams told GQ magazine he’s “the laziest person you’ve ever met. That’s a fact.” Maybe it is fact considering he was fired from three different McDonald’s for being lazy, but the music mogul has produced several hit tracks including ‘I’m a Slave 4 U’ (Britney Spears), ‘Happy’ (one of the world’s bestselling

17th August 2020

Very Group ‘well positioned’ for fashion bounce-back

Fashion has been the worst hit category by the Covid-19 pandemic at The Very Group, but the business is well placed to capitalise on any future spend, CEO Henry Birch, has said.

17th August 2020

Sainsbury’s is catching thieves with AI as it rolls out new “concealment detector” tech

Sainsbury’s is using artificial intelligence to catch thieves as it prepares to test new “concealment detector” technology across its store estate. Sainsbury’s has partnered with ThirdEye to roll out the concealment detector technology, which uses machine learning to detect and record when a shopper places an item in their pocket or coat.

17th August 2020

Asda introduces high-tech carbon fibre delivery fleet with “stunning payload improvement”

Asda has launched a new fleet of high-tech carbon fibre delivery vans with “stunning payload improvement and a huge capacity increase”. Asda’s 25 new vans feature a large carbon fibre pod which is insulated by 5500 recycled plastic water bottles, constructed by UK firm Penso, on top of its usual Mercedes Sprinter chassis.

17th August 2020

What the shift of small retailers to online means for the sector

During lockdown, swathes of retailers turned to online as shops were forced shut. Retail Gazette found out how smaller, independent retailers opted for a platform on online marketplaces to adapt and to survive this new climate – especially as footfall continues to remain low.

17th August 2020

Snickers bars to be called Marathon again after nearly 30 years

Chocolate nostalgia fans are in for a treat after it was announced that the much-loved Snickers bars will be sold under their former name, Marathon, for a limited time. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Snickers was sold under the brand name Marathon until July 19, 1990.

17th August 2020

Retail sales rise despite fewer High Street visits

Retail sales rose again in July, but shops are still trying to make up lost ground, industry body figures suggest. They show the number of visits to High Streets is still down significantly as people shop online instead.

11th August 2020

The Ugg evolution

Drapers catches up with Ugg’s vice president Marco Ellerker to hear what’s next for the footwear brand.

11th August 2020

Asos calls on brands to improve UK manufacturing

The etailer is asking brands it stocks that manufacture in the UK to agree to four new commitments by the end of next year. Brands will be asked to sign the Transparency Pledge, which asks businesses to regularly and publicly disclose a list of manufacturing sites in their supply chains; to map and have visibility

11th August 2020

Drapers Investigates: The post-Covid high street of the future

Still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, retailers must now navigate a radically different trading environment.

11th August 2020

10 Types of Innovation: The Art of Discovering a Breakthrough Product

As venture capitalist Peter Thiel once put it, “competition is for losers”. It’s inevitable that every company must be out there battling for market share, but you don’t really want to be in a situation where the competition is so stiff that any potential upside is eroded away in the process—―a scenario known as perfect

11th August 2020

From Bean to Brew: The Coffee Supply Chain

There’s a good chance your day started with a cappuccino, or a cold brew, and you aren’t alone. In fact, coffee is one of the most consumed drinks on the planet, and it’s also one of the most traded commodities.

11th August 2020

How masks will instil consumer confidence in retail once more

Popping a mask into your pocket when you leave the house has quickly become the norm and now face coverings are helping retail get back on its feet, says Richard Mears, founder and CEO of Breathe Happy.

11th August 2020

Retail footfall boosted by reopening of hospitality venues

New data has shown that UK retail footfall improved to a decline of 39.4% in July as visitor numbers to shopping destinations were boosted by the reopening of cafes and restaurants after lockdown.

11th August 2020

Footfall edges up at Intu shopping centres

It was the first week of trading since mandatory face coverings came into force on 24 July. Intu, which owns Intu Trafford Centre in Manchester and Intu Metrocentre in Gateshead, collapsed into administration in June after negotiations with its lenders failed. The group’s shopping centres, held in separate operating companies, are continuing to trade.

11th August 2020

The most impactful fashion trends of the 2010s

As we prepare to enter a new decade, we’re looking back over some of the fashion trends that had the biggest impact on our wardrobes over the last 10 years. During the 2010s, the fashion world saw itself completely transformed with the advent of social media, influencers and eventually, a new awareness of sustainability, all

10th August 2020

5 Ways To Job Hunt During A Recession

Let’s face it. Nobody likes to job hunt. It’s time-consuming, filled with rejection, and quite frankly, sucks. These feelings are exacerbated by the fact that chances are you aren’t going down a LinkedIn rabbit hole because you want to. Maybe you were laid off or furloughed or realized six months into the job that your

10th August 2020

Hobbycraft online sales rise 200% since lockdown

Hobbycraft has recorded a 200 per cent surge in online sales since the Covid-19 pandemic struck the UK. The arts and crafts retailer also saw its adjusted EBITDA rise 21.9 per cent from £12.2 million to £14.8 million in the full year to February 16. Total revenue for the period was up 8.9 per cent

10th August 2020

Liverpool ONE launches virtual enlivenment programme during lockdown

The Liverpool ONE shopping destination has introduced a range of online initiatives to help families stay entertained during lockdown.

10th August 2020

Burberry opens first social retail store

Burberry has chosen Chinese technology hub Shenzhen as the location for its first social retail store. The company said the shop will blend the physical and social worlds in a digitally immersive retail experience to enable customers to interact with the brand and its product in new and exciting ways.

10th August 2020

John Lewis launches ‘better jobs’ supplier framework

John Lewis has launched its “better jobs” framework for its 120 UK manufacturing suppliers after a successful trial.

10th August 2020

Drapers’ SS21 footwear buying guide: ‘Do remember, they can’t cancel the spring’

This quotation is the name of a painting created by artist David Hockney during lockdown, and is the reason why you need Drapers’ new-season buying guides.

10th August 2020

Aldi could launch online offering imminently as its logistics operator prepares to “seize the opportunity which e-commerce offers”

Aldi could be on the verge of launching an ecommerce arm in the UK as its logistics operators says it has the systems in place to “seize the opportunity which e-commerce offers”. Armstrong Logistics, Aldi’s long-term logistics partner, has built and launched a dedicated home delivery division which it says will become a “major part

10th August 2020

Retail sector braced for mental health crisis as shop workers struggle with abusive customers and threat of redundancy

The UK retail sector is braced for a mental health crisis among shop workers as staff grapple with anxiety over contracting Covid-19, the looming threat of redundancy and an increased likelihood of being subjected to violent and abusive attacks at the hands of customers.

10th August 2020

UK shoppers plan to spend £9.3bn on post-lockdown treats

UK consumers are planning to spend £9.3bn ($12bn) on treating themselves post-COVID-19, new research has found. With restrictions easing and non-essential shops, restaurants, and pubs reopening after the coronavirus lockdown, shoppers are planning to hit the high street to treat themselves, with 92% of respondents planning to spend on the high street, according to a

10th August 2020

The World’s Tech Giants, Ranked by Brand Value

The pandemic has businesses everywhere on the ropes, with many firms filing for bankruptcy since lockdowns began. Despite the uncertainty, tech giants and major digital retail brands are still thriving—and some are running circles around those that are less pandemic-proof.

10th August 2020

Rishi Sunak’s planned online sales tax is a tax on disability

The Tories have adopted a “your country needs you” approach to Britain’s pandemic. It is our civic duty to get back to normal – to go shopping, eat out, use public transport and go out to work. Now the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is floating the idea of an online sales tax in England to nudge

10th August 2020

Argos to stop printing its catalogue after 47 years – and one billion copies

Once the most printed publication in Europe, the iconic Argos catalogue is set to be discontinued – although it’s not quite the end of the road for people circling things they want at home

10th August 2020

Mandatory face masks hit footfall

Footfall across all retail destinations in England rose just 2.5% week-on-week, compared with more than a 4% increase in each of the other UK nations. Footfall rose 4.8% in Wales, 4.7% in Scotland and 4.5% in Northern Ireland, according to the latest data from Springboard. It became mandatory to wear face masks in all retail

7th August 2020

Sunday trading reform doomed as MPs line up in opposition

Plans to liberalise Sunday trading hours for big stores such as supermarkets look likely to be abandoned in the face of parliamentary opposition.

29th July 2020

Analysis: Forget fast fashion, is slow fashion the future?

As modern slavery allegations blight the world of fast fashion and the world pauses to think about the impact of consumerism in lockdown, is this the turning point to change the fashion industry for the better?

29th July 2020

Why sustainable manufacturing makes economic as well as ethical sense

The COVID-19 pandemic is simultaneously impacting global manufacturing demand and supply chains, workforce availability, energy use and CO2 emissions.

29th July 2020

Employment in retail during Covid-19

The UK’s retail industry was suffering prior to the Covid-19 crisis, so it’s no surprise that the pandemic has caused the industry to go haywire in its wake. With coronavirus cases continuing its steady decline and social life slowly coming back to normal, furloughed workers are now able to return to work part-time. However, the

29th July 2020

UK’s full economic recovery could take until 2024, says EY report

The UK’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis could take 18 months longer than expected with hopes of a V-shaped recovery fading fast, according to a leading economic forecaster. Britain’s economic output is not expected to return to its 2019 level until the end of 2024, the EY Item Club said on Monday in its

29th July 2020

Comment: Ideas to optimise the Covid-19 store experience

Vending machine-style click-and-collect points, appointments booked through and self-check-out tills will be all the rage as retail adapts to life after Covid-19, says Andrea Smith, associate director at architecture, planning and design firm CallisonRTKL.

29th July 2020

Milan Fashion Week Digital: the Drapers Verdict

In just over a month, we have witnessed an evolution of digital fashion shows. Milan gave perhaps the biggest nod back to the way things were – that is, by showing new collections, on models, walking on runways.

29th July 2020

Sainsbury’s is launching a virtual queing system to help vulnerable shoppers social distance

Sainsbury’s is introducing a virtual queuing system across its UK stores helping vulnerable customers avoid crowds when grocery shopping. Sainsbury’s has partnered with Ufirst to roll out its new virtual queuing system, which it is set to trial at five UK stores in Pimlico, Leicester North, Watford, Newham Royal Warf and Uxbridge until mid-August.

29th July 2020

Goodbye Piccadilly, farewell Leicester Square: Where are retail’s new property hotspots?

People are travelling less, working from home more and less inclined to congregate in busy public spaces – will this change where retailers want to open stores?

29th July 2020

Better CX: How grocery retail can evolve post-lockdown

Six months since the pandemic began, Covid-19 has forced evolution by necessity in grocery retail. Before lock-down, the rise of discount retailers, online retailing and digital disruptors like Amazon were already pressuring incumbent grocers to digitally transform their offerings. Amazon’s acquisition of Wholefoods in 2017 was a major catalyst for the global FMCG market and

29th July 2020

Six Steps to a More Ethical and Sustainable Supply Chain

Consumers are more conscientious about their purchases than ever before. They expect organizations to meet a certain set of ethical standards, and supply chains aren’t exempt from scrutiny. To meet these expectations, companies must enact significant changes that ensure environmental stewardship, decreased damage, and sustainable sourcing, manufacturing and product distribution.

29th July 2020

Asda rolls out high-tech trolley cleaning machine which can kill 99.9% of bacteria in 15 seconds

Asda is trialing a trolley cleaning machine which will kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria in a matter of seconds. Asda’s superstore in Morley will be testing the new high-tech machine which uses electrostatically charged mist to cover the trolleys in anti-microbial liquid. The technology, developed by WasteCare group, ensures the entire trolley is covered

29th July 2020

Gousto to create 1,000 new jobs as sales surge in lockdown

Gousto will create 1,000 new jobs as part of ambitious plans to ramp up its expansion following a surge in sales. The recipe box provider wants to increase its customer fulfilment capacity threefold by 2022 and will build “multiple” new warehouses to service increasing demand.

29th July 2020

Will licensing fix fashion’s exploitation crisis?

Industry leaders argue that there are too many loopholes in current anti-slavery legislation, and a licensing system would raise standards across the UK’s garment factories.

29th July 2020

An online sales tax is not the answer for UK high street

Amazon is one of the highest profile tax avoiders in the UK, which has led to calls for an online sales tax to be introduced. The corporate tax structure of Amazon has meant that in the 2017-2018 tax year it only paid £4.6m in taxes on a sales of £2bn. As the high street continues

29th July 2020

Deliveroo sparks IPO speculation after appointing new CFO

Deliveroo has sparked fresh speculation that it is considering an Initial Public Offering (IPO) after appointing a new chief financial officer. Ex-Expedia executive Adam Miller will join Deliveroo as its new finance chief bringing a nine-month search to an end, according to Sky News. On Wednesday, Deliveroo’s founder and chief executive Will Shu informed staff

29th July 2020

‘We realised we were a necessity’: how a high-street baker used Google to keep serving his community

The bright yellow signage of Uncle John’s Bakery stands out like a beacon on West Green Road, in the north London suburb of Tottenham. Famed for its lovingly made Ghanaian sweet bread and other regional specialties such as drop doughnuts and meat pies, the bakery has served London’s African-Caribbean and wider community for 25 years.

29th July 2020

Retail sales near pre-lockdown levels in June

UK retail sales were near pre-lockdown levels in June, as the reopening of shops released pent-up demand. The amount of goods sold last month increased by 13.9% compared to May, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

22nd July 2020

The Works hires property consultants to expand store estate

The Works has appointed property consultancy firm GCW as it seeks to expand its store estate across the UK. The craft and stationery retailer hopes GCW could help it find stores to launch across the south east of England. The Works currently has 530 stores trading across the UK, and is considering opportunities in towns

22nd July 2020

Brits prefer “caring” approach from retailers, new research finds

New research by social media platform Twitter has found that Brits are expecting brands to have a more “caring” tone of voice in their messaging post-pandemic. At least 1000 UK users were surveyed in June and only seven per cent were found to be satisfied with businesses continuing with their regular tone of voice. Twitter

22nd July 2020

The North Face unveils limited edition t-shirts crafted from single-use plastic collected in the Alps

The North Face brings a new collection straight from the heart of the Mountains. Bottle Source has been produced from 18,000kgs of plastic bottles collected from waste streams in the Alps. The limited edition Recover Tee embodies the ethos of the brand, enabling exploration through safeguarding our epic wilderness.

22nd July 2020

Superdrug’s new initiative to combat cyberbullying

Superdrug has unveiled its anti-bullying pledge to help combat online trolling on social media. Following a spike in “unacceptable negative messages” while highlighting emerging talent on its platforms, Superdrug has partnered with youth organisation Ditch the Label to remind social media users users to #BeKind online and create a bully-free zone.

22nd July 2020

Kim Kardashian West Is Worth $900 Million After Agreeing To Sell A Stake In Her Cosmetics Firm To Coty

In what will be the second major Kardashian cashout in a year, Kim Kardashian West is selling a 20% stake in her cosmetics company KKW Beauty to beauty giant Coty for $200 million. The deal—announced today—values KKW Beauty at $1 billion, making Kardashian West worth about $900 million, according to Forbes’ estimates.

22nd July 2020

Online Gaming: The Rise of a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

From tabletops to virtual reality, how we play games is changing with the times. In just a few short decades, the world of online gaming has exploded in popularity. Estimated to reach $196 billion in revenue by 2022, it is now considered to be one of the fastest growing industries on the planet. The infographic

22nd July 2020

Hammerson works with Red Ant to launch ‘Crowd Checker’ website feature

Hammerson has worked with retail technology partner Red Ant to launch a new feature on its destination’s websites to help customers plan their visits. ‘Crowd Checker’ provides shoppers with live updates on how popular a centre is in real time, so that they know when to visit to beat the crowds. The feature is currently

22nd July 2020

Covid Boosted Retail Subscriptions Up To 145%: The New Retail Therapy?

Subscriptions is now perhaps the default way we consume music and premium video content. Is it possible that will happen for retail as well?

22nd July 2020

Royal Mail delivers record number of parcels

Royal Mail delivered 308 million parcels between 30 March and 28 June – up 38% on the same period last year.

22nd July 2020

How People and Companies Feel About Working Remotely?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one-third of the U.S. workforce, and half of all “information workers”, are able to work from home. Though the number of people working partially or fully remote has been on the rise for years now, the COVID-19 pandemic may have pressed the fast-forward button on this trend. With

22nd July 2020

From ‘BIC For Her’ To BIC For Them – How Cancel Culture Got BIC Back On Track

2012 wasn’t a great year for BIC. Despite fifty-plus years of global success (with the 100 billionth sold in 2006, the BIC ‘Cristal’ is the best-selling pen in the world), one product launch got the brand canceled overnight. I am, of course, talking about BIC For Her—the pink and purple pens marketed to women as

10th July 2020

Ocado is relaunching its app after being forced to scrap it in March due to 1000% jump in traffic.

Ocado is relaunching its app months after being forced to shut it down and turn away new customers as it was pushed to breaking point. In mid-March, the online grocer reported a jump in site traffic of more than 1000 per cent, days before lockdown was imposed in the UK.

10th July 2020

Stylist reveals how to shop for clothes when you can’t try anything on

Shops may be (slowly) opening once again, but shopping right now is still quite a different experience to the pre-coronavirus style we’re used to. From socially distanced queues and one-way systems round the aisles to closed-off changing rooms, it’s going to be challenging to buy clothes without immediate buyer’s remorse.

10th July 2020

What can retailers do with their spring 20 stock mountain?

Retailers face being left with mountains of unsold spring and summer stock. What can they do with all that excess inventory? Sitting in empty shops and piling up in distribution centres, excess stock has become a multibillion-pound problem for fashion retail as the coronavirus pandemic continues to decimate trade.

10th July 2020

Pinko: expanding in a pandemic

Pietro Negra, CEO of Italian womenswear brand Pinko, tells Drapers why he is persevering with opening new UK stores and his ambitions in China. Pietro Negra founded the Pinko brand in the late 1980s with his wife, Cristina Negra. He lives in Fidenza, Parma, in northern Italy. Pinko has seven points of sale in the

7th July 2020

Stores to still drive 80% of retail transactions by 2025

Despite the growth in popularity of ecommerce and the effects of the coronavirus lockdown, new research has found that physical stores will still heavily influence retail transactions.

20th May 2020

Central England Co-op records rise in harassment towards staff

Central England Co-op has branded a rise in violent offences and people threatening to cough and spit in the faces of staff working through the coronavirus pandemic as “totally unacceptable”.

14th May 2020

Luxury retailers urge industry to rethink discounting

A consortium of luxury players, including Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Erdem, have joined forces to urge the fashion industry to reconsider its approach to seasonality and discounting after the coronavirus pandemic.

Blog Category: ZD News

Categories:

Blog Category:
ZD News