‘Retail’s 12 gifts of Christmas – and beyond’

An uncertain trading environment hasn’t stopped the retail industry from giving back to communities, customers and staff. Here are just a dozen examples of how retailers are making a difference.

1. Making employees owners

The most striking recognition this year of the vital contribution of frontline staff to retail was when entrepreneurs Gary and Catherine Grant, founders of The Entertainer, transferred ownership of the business to its 1,900 staff.

Gary Grant said: “We’d like to send our sincere thanks to all our employees, who have worked hard to make The Entertainer what it is today.”

While such eye-catching initiatives may be uncommon, many retailers encourage employees to benefit from company success through share schemes.

Just this month, it was revealed that staff at DIY group Wickes who participate in the save-as-you-earn scheme will share £14.1m of shares after a rise in the price – some will make a profit of £22,327.

Many retailers run similar schemes, giving their staff a true sense of ownership, no matter what role they hold.

2. Helping consumers manage the cost of living

While some of the inflationary burden has eased for consumers, many still struggle to make ends meet. Food price growth overall has proved sticky, but grocers have ensured customers have access to value for money.

Sainsbury’s, for instance, is offering a Christmas “festive feast” that feeds six for around £2.30 per person through its Aldi price-matching scheme and Nectar programme to reward loyal customers. Aldi itself has been promoting a Christmas dinner for £1.47 per person.

They’re not alone in offering value. Asda has been lowering prices as part of its return to value and wider turnaround efforts, while Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and Tesco have all reduced prices over the year too – typically on staple lines.

According to market monitor Worldpanel by Numerator, the cost of a Christmas dinner this year will be slightly less than in 2024 and “just under one third of all spending is on promotion as supermarkets find ways to shield shoppers from the impact of price rises”. It all goes to help consumers have a happy Christmas.

3. Creating job opportunities in a tough climate

Joblessness – especially among the young – is on the up. Even though retail employment numbers overall have fallen, the industry continues to open the doors of opportunity for many.

In October, M&S said its Marks & Start employability programme had reached a five-year record high for the number of candidates completing the programme and, vitally, those offered a permanent paid job – 88%. Over its lifetime, the scheme has supported about 12,000 young people.

Amazon is also creating jobs, including in areas where employment is much-needed. The company has just opened a new fulfilment centre in Hull – one of four planned by 2027 –  creating 2,000 jobs, including for robotics technicians, safety experts and mechatronic engineers.

As new technology transforms retail and the world, the industry provides career opportunities far beyond the shop floor – and a start in stores can still lead talented people to a seat at the boardroom table.

4. Combating digital exclusion

It’s not just staff who benefit from retailers’ involvement with new technology. Some people are cut off from the tech that is part of everyday life – a problem that electricals giant Currys is addressing.

Currys, an ongoing supporter of the Digital Poverty Alliance, this year began donating £1 from every refurbished phone or laptop sold online to the cause.

The initiative also brings sustainability benefits, Currys chief people, communications and sustainability officer Paula Coughlan said: “We are thrilled to see the convergence of two of our strategic priorities – promoting the use of refurbished technology and raising funds to help tackle digital poverty. By supporting this cause, we are giving tech a longer life and ensuring that more families have access to the tech they need.”

5. Acting on hygiene poverty

Another retailer responding to concerns about access to the type of products it sells is Boots, which is helping to minimise hygiene poverty − lack of access to essentials such as shampoo, toothpaste and deodorants – because of a lack of money. The issue affects 4.2 million adults.

Boots is a founding partner of The Hygiene Bank, which aims to relieve the problem. For every kilo of product, such as unused and in-date toiletries, donated by customers through 600 in-store deposit points, Boots also donates one full-size product to the charity. So far, 1.7 million products have been donated.

6. Inclusive style

Standard clothing doesn’t suit everyone. People using feeding tubes or stoma bags, for instance, have often faced challenges, but retailers are increasingly stepping up to the plate.

Asda’s George apparel business, for instance, launched a 28-line new adult adaptive collection in September in response to an appeal by breast cancer campaigner Nicky Newman. The initiative followed earlier collections for children with specific needs, such as autism.

Asda is not the only retailer to be catering to the needs of such shoppers. Primark does too, and extended its range this year as it seeks “to make adaptive, fashion-forward clothing accessible to as many people as possible”.

7. Standing up for staff

The last few years have brought an increase in crime and abuse of shopworkers. As such a people-oriented industry, retail has acted decisively to protect staff.

It’s not just practical steps, such as the introduction of bodycams, but efforts to change the mindset that leads to abuse. This year, retailers, through industry charity the Retail Trust, staged the “Let’s respect retail” campaign designed to “end abuse and make shopping enjoyable again”.

The stories of staff affected by abuse, combined with support from the bosses of big-name retailers, such as fashion giant H&M and wellness specialist Holland & Barrett, led to widespread coverage of the campaign in the run-up to Christmas – a time that, sadly, often brings a rise in abusive behaviour in stores.

8. Providing the skills for future success

At present, many young people are unemployed, but retail has a great track record of preparing them for the world of work by equipping them with knowledge and skills.

This year, the Fashion Retail Academy marked 20 years of educating students for retail industry careers, backed by some of retail’s biggest names.

Arcadia, Marks & Spencer, Next and Tesco were the academy’s founding partners. Two decades on Asos, Harrods, Next, Primark, River Island and TK Maxx all contributed to the shopkeeping school’s anniversary scholarships and bursaries fund to “help ensure that opportunities to study for a career in fashion retail remain accessible to all, regardless of financial background”.

9. Supporting people who protect the nation

Global instability and war in recent years are a stark reminder of the invaluable contribution of the armed forces, and retailers have continued to support personnel, their families and veterans.

Last month, Tesco, the biggest private employer of veterans, renewed its backing for the Armed Forces Covenant – it was the first retailer to support it in 2014 – and struck a new three-year partnership with Help for Heroes.

Tesco UK chief executive Ashwin Prasad said: “Military personnel bring a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge that are an asset to any business, and we are honoured to have thousands of veterans, reservists and members of the wider armed forces family working across our stores, centres and offices.”

10. Sharing time as well as money

As well as frequently providing direct help, retailers make it easy for their customers to support good causes through their involvement in micro-donations platform Pennies, which enables shoppers to give a few pence when they spend.

Retailers including B&Q, Debenhams Group, Hobbycraft, Lidl, Poundland, Superdrug and Topps Tiles are among the retailers that have teamed up with Pennies.

The platform celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. Since launch, Pennies has generated 300 million micro-donations, raising £75m for 1,100 charities as diverse as Age Concern and the Alzheimer’s Society to British-Ukrainian Aid and NSPCC.

Retailers don’t just provide money or facilitate donations; some share the time and expertise of staff with charities. John Lewis Partnership, for instance, allows partners to be seconded to a UK-registered charity of their choice for up to six months, either full- or part-time. Causes such as food banks and animal rescue centres are among those to have benefited.

11. Healthcare for the homeless

“Should’ve gone to Specsavers”, the famous strapline goes. Not everybody might feel they can, such as the homeless, so the retailer reaches out to them

Working with partners such as Crisis, The Big Issue, Vision Care, Simon Community and Every Youth, Specsavers seeks to fulfil its purpose of improving sight and hearing by “removing barriers and delivering care where it’s needed most”.

Since 2022, Specsavers has helped more than 6,000 people experiencing homelessness through initiatives such as pop-up clinics in community centres and a ‘charity VIP’ scheme enabling anyone affected by homelessness to access free eye and ear care.

12. Making life fun

Perhaps retail’s biggest gift comes from what it exists to do – provide products that are life-enhancing as well as essentials. The Christmas turkey (or plant-based alternative) and celebratory bottle of fizz on the table, the crackers at the placemats, the stylish looks for dates and parties, books that divert you from doomscrolling, technology that makes life easier, homewares and decorations that enhance the home, engaging in-store experiences such as restaurants and cookery lessons, sports and leisure clothing and equipment for recreation, wellness and beauty products to keep you fit and looking good… the list goes on.

Thanks to retailers and the variety and value they provide, every day is Christmas for consumers.

Best wishes from all of us at Retail Week for a happy Christmas and new year.