ReThink Productivity Podcast

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends.August retail sales dipped 4.8% year-on-year despite stable footfall, with fashion and general retail taking significant hits. Consumers are demonstrating caution by making fewer transactions while spending slightly more per purchase, reflecting broader economic uncertainty and diminished confidence • Consumer confidence remains low at -19 according to GFK's Consumer Confidence Index • The savings ratio has reached its highest level since COVID, indicating people are saving rather than spending • Mortgage approvals have dropped 2.4% compared to last August's 15.5% rise • Upcoming November budget, rising unemployment, and global conflicts all contribute to consumer caution • Q4 forecast predicts October sales down 3%, November down 1%, but December up 1.5% • Food and drink remains strong at 25% of town centre sales • Health and beauty continues to perform well, showing opportunity for retailers #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Tom Coe, VP of Growth at Retail Insights, shares how data-driven solutions can tackle the perennial challenges of retail operations while empowering store colleagues to deliver better customer service • Retail Insight provides in-store operations analytics software for over 50,000 stores globally • The complexity of modern retail operations creates compliance challenges as colleagues juggle multiple responsibilities • Process execution suffers when labour models are tight and colleagues are overwhelmed with competing priorities • Date checking for fresh products exemplifies a mundane but critical process where poor execution leads to waste and financial loss • Smart systems can track inventory expiration dates and direct colleagues to check only specific items requiring attention • Data collected provides valuable analytics for head office teams to improve forecasting, ranging, and supply chain decisions • Successful AI implementation in retail requires balancing technological sophistication with practical simplicity • Data quality is essential for any effective retail technology solution • Future applications include democratizing analytics through conversational AI and enhancing root cause analysis #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text We recap the highlights from the Productivity Forum 2025, diving into key presentations and insights that left attendees buzzing with new ideas about retail productivity. • Alex Rezvan kicked off the event with insights on retail's evolution toward non-transactional, cultural spaces that are highly tech-enabled • Halfords shared their productivity journey and implementation successes • The Innovation Lounge featured eight partner companies showcasing technological solutions in a treasure hunt format • Harding Retail presented unique challenges of running shops on cruise ships with limited space and connectivity • Current insights session explored emerging retail trends and changing industry dynamics • Graham Wilson closed the forum with strategies for making change happen and engaging people effectively • Forum 11 is scheduled for September 2026 with registration already open Registration for next year's forum is now open. Register using the link below... https://rethinkproductivity.co.uk/productivity-forum/ #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Rob Bate, Co Founder at FrontlineXP, shares insights from his extensive retail experience and explains how FrontlineXP is working to improve the experience of customer-facing employees through innovative technology solutions • Frontline workers and operations teams are chronically underserved by technology and expertise • The genesis of FrontlineXP came from wanting to help retail operations teams improve profitability and performance • Successful transformation requires balancing technology, business process changes, and frontline worker experiences • AI differs from automation in its ability to learn, adapt, and make decisions based on multiple data inputs • Real-world AI applications are emerging in closed-loop workflows like Starbucks' drink preparation optimization • Clean, comprehensive data is essential for effective AI implementation - "eat your vegetables" before expecting results • Using AI primarily to reduce headcount in customer-facing roles undermines the service experience • Technology should enhance rather than replace human interactions in retail environments • Properly implemented AI can reduce employee stress, improve decision-making, and create more flexible scheduling • Bringing loyalty and omnichannel data to associates can enable personalized service that doesn't feel like forced upselling #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. July retail data shows positive signs with spending down only 1.4% compared to 8.5% in June, though footfall decreased by 1.7% as consumers remain cautious with their spending. The warm weather has encouraged more UK residents to holiday at home, redirecting spending into local economies rather than abroad. • Five key retail sectors (fashion, food and drink, general retail, grocery, health and beauty) all showed improvement in July • Fashion rebounded from being 10.8% down in June to just 3.2% down in July • Employment is up 0.7% year-on-year to 4.7%, with youth unemployment rising 14.1% • Interest rate reductions benefit mortgage holders but impact savers • The approaching "Golden Quarter" (Halloween through Christmas) will be challenging but crucial • Early and extended discounting is likely as retailers may over-order based on July's improved performance • Weather continues to be a significant factor in retail performance Looking ahead to August, if the good weather continues and staycations remain popular, we might see further improvements in retail spending figures #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text James Bolle, Rethink Productivity's Head of Insight Development, reveals how businesses can transform raw productivity data into meaningful insights that drive tangible improvements. His career-spanning mission has focused on helping organisations make better decisions through data analysis, quality processes, and contextualisation. If you've enjoyed this episode, visit the Rethink Productivity website for more podcasts and resources to help your organisation improve efficiency and productivity. #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productivity provided NotebookLM with his thoughts on the dynamic world of retail productivity, challenging traditional assumptions to uncover hidden costs and untapped opportunities in modern retail operations. Retail businesses face a productivity paradox where despite working harder and implementing efficiency measures, many find themselves "sprinting to stand still" as costs rise and operations grow more complex. Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productivity provided NotebookLM with crucial insights into navigating this challenging landscape through systemic changes rather than incremental tweaks. • Understanding true operational costs requires forensic analysis of processes like stock replenishment • Modern technology enables unprecedented insights - computer vision, ESL systems, and digital tracking reveal inefficiencies • Retail front ends must evolve beyond traditional tills to handle self-checkout, click-and-collect, and third-party parcels • Radical "what if" scenarios challenge sacred cows: stores without managers, remote field visits, and elimination of stock counting • Digital twins of stores, AI-powered inductions, and open banking represent the cutting edge of retail innovation • The productivity principle: get the right work done by the right role at the right cost • Critical approach: identify and eliminate non-value-added processes before attempting to digitize or automate them Link to the original article can be found here... ReThinking Retail #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Matthew Haywood, Owner of WFM Consulting, a seasoned retail expert with over 25 years of experience, shares his framework for effective workforce management through seven essential pillars. He dispels common myths about auto-scheduling while providing practical insights into achieving the elusive "right people, right place, right time" goal that transforms both customer and colleague experiences. • Understanding the five key challenges: mindset, capability, confidence, simplicity, and adoption • Exploring the seven pillars framework: operating hours, forecasting, labour deployment, contracted hours, availability, work assignments, and skill sets • Debunking the myth that auto-scheduling is a "magic button" solution – expect to achieve 80-85% automation at best • Recognising that small increases in flexibility across staff can make significant scheduling improvements • Challenging the assumption that part-time workers provide more scheduling flexibility than full-time staff • Publishing schedules at least three weeks in advance to improve colleague work-life balance • Viewing effective workforce management as an opportunity to reinvest hours strategically rather than simply cutting costs #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. The UK's summer heatwave has driven an 8.5% decline in high street retail sales compared to last year. This retail slump reflects a combination of weather impacts, calendar effects, and persistent economic headwinds affecting consumer spending patterns. • UK high street footfall down 3% during June's heatwave periods • Food spending up 4.1% while non-food spending increased only 2.2% • Average Transaction Value remained relatively stable (down just 1.1%) • Online spending holds steady at 26% of total retail sales since January • Rising inflation (now 3.6%) and increasing unemployment creating consumer caution • Post-COVID consumer priorities shifting toward holidays over retail purchases • UK domestic tourism seeing growth during hot weather, but spending benefits bars and restaurants more than retail #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Retail businesses face a productivity paradox where despite working harder and implementing efficiency measures, many find themselves "sprinting to stand still" as costs rise and operations grow more complex. Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productivity provided NotebookLM with his thoughts and insights into navigating this challenging landscape through systemic changes rather than incremental tweaks. Rethink Productivity provides crucial insights into navigating this challenging landscape through systemic changes rather than incremental tweaks. • All easy efficiency changes have already been implemented in retail • Labour costs are projected to increase significantly, with UK National Living Wage rising 40% over five years • The shrinking pay gap between frontline staff and supervisors creates talent retention challenges • Rising theft presents a security dilemma that often creates additional work for staff • Technology must drive standardized processes to remove subjective decisions • Self-checkout changes staff roles rather than simply reducing headcount • Process optimization should follow "stop, reduce, then digitize" methodology • Radical rethinking includes questioning traditional management structures • Businesses need granular understanding of their true end-to-end operational costs • Productivity improvement requires continuous analysis, adaptation and validation #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Tim Waterton, CRO at HappyOrNot, shares how their iconic smiley face terminals pioneered the micro-feedback approach that has collected over 2 billion pieces of customer feedback across 4,000 brands in 100+ countries. Their in-the-moment data collection method delivers higher response rates and more actionable insights than traditional surveys. • HappyOrNot started with simple four-button terminals and has evolved to include tablet kiosks, digital options, and intelligent signage • Real-time alerts notify staff when customer satisfaction drops, enabling immediate operational intervention rather than just retrospective insights • Micro-feedback approach uses emoji responses followed by maximum 1-2 follow-up questions, making it accessible and easy • Customers frequently provide positive verbatim feedback that identifies and recognizes excellent staff performance • Terminals placed at strategic points (like high-margin specialty counters) help protect revenue while improving experience • The system is designed for easy self-management with pre-configured devices that require minimal setup • AI applications include verbatim analysis, sentiment categorization, and correlation with sales, staffing and foot traffic • Future developments will enable organizations to interrogate connected data sources through conversational AI agents #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Productivity specialist Ed unveils the science behind different types of studies that transform raw data into powerful insights for businesses seeking to optimise their operations. • Activity studies break processes into elemental detail, identifying best practices and opportunities for simplification • Efficiency studies use rated activity sampling to categorise tasks as value-add, essential non-value add, or non-value add • Role studies follow specialists throughout their shift to determine how effectively their time is used • MTM studies break movements down to microscopic detail with predetermined time values, ideal for revealing small improvements • The right study depends on client needs, existing process knowledge, and desired outcomes • Successful studies require proper timing, representative sampling, inquisitive analysts, and thorough scoping • Real productivity insights often come from the frontline colleagues themselves during observation #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. The retail landscape continues to face challenges as May's data reveals decreased footfall and consumer spending across most sectors, with fashion retail experiencing a particularly steep decline of 3.6% year-on-year. • High street footfall down 2.5% with only retail parks showing a minimal increase of 0.2% • Overall spending in high streets down 1.8% year-on-year, worse than last May's 0.6% decline • Non-food retail sales dropped by 1.1% despite overall sales increasing by 1% • Fashion retail continues its two-year decline, dropping 3.6% in May • General retail, previously performing well, has now slipped to 0.7% down • Post-pandemic work patterns have fundamentally changed clothing needs with many consumers now maintaining just one wardrobe instead of separate work and casual wardrobes • Clothing and footwear experiencing deflation of 0.3% due to heavy discounting • Economic uncertainty and global geopolitical tensions contributing to consumer caution • Retailers shifting focus to increasing average transaction value rather than acquiring new customers • Creative marketing approaches including collaborations and limited editions becoming more important for driving sales #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Sue and Simon explore key retail trends reshaping operations: loyalty-based deep discounts, data-driven opening hours optimization, and the challenges of tech fragmentation for managers. Each trend reveals how retailers are balancing cost pressures with customer experience in an increasingly complex operational landscape. • Loyalty programs now offering "deep cuts" exclusively to members rather than broad price reductions • Promotional displays featuring loyalty prices create inventory management challenges when offers end • Data science and AI replacing gut-feel decisions about when to open and close • Managers struggling with fragmented technology, often needing to access five different systems for daily KPIs Join us for our 10th Productivity Forum on 11th September at Birmingham International Conference Centre. With over 150 registered attendees, innovation showcases, speakers, panels, and networking opportunities, it promises to be our biggest and best event yet. #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Gail, Rethink's Project Coordination Manager, reveals the secrets behind planning and delivering successful productivity projects across diverse industries and time zones. • Communication, proven planning processes, and a professional team of work-study engineers are Gail's "secret weapons" for keeping projects on track • Project setup involves three key steps: initial planning with clients, detailed scheduling, and ongoing support throughout the project • ReThink adapts its core project planning principles across industries from retail and hospitality to pharmacies and cruise ships • Matching analysts to projects considers previous experience, industry knowledge and geographical location • Client collaboration is crucial - quality setup conversations, clear communication channels and briefing on-site teams ensures smooth project delivery #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends and shopping behaviours from March to April 2025. Consumer confidence has taken a hit as Easter trading results reveal ongoing caution, with the GFK Index dropping from -19 in March to -23 in April 2025. Despite footfall increasing by 7.2% in April year-on-year, the combined March-April period showed minimal growth of just 0.2% when accounting for Easter timing differences. • Consumer confidence dropped across most age groups except 25-34 year olds • Retail parks saw 2.7% footfall increase while shopping centres declined by 0.7% • High street sales dropped 2.2% over the March-April period • Fashion sales down 5% in the first four months of 2025 • Clothing and footwear prices decreased 0.4% in April, suggesting retailer discounting • Overall inflation rose to 3.5%, driven by housing, utilities and communication costs • National Living Wage and NI increases took effect end of April, adding pressure to retailers • Recent cyber attacks on retailers highlight security vulnerabilities and potential additional costs • PWC research suggests declining consumer sentiment typically precedes behavioural changes by six months #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Discover the intricate costs associated with employee turnover and how they impact your business. Join us as we dive deep into the hidden implications and strategies for retention with Helen Seale founding partner at WH People • Understanding the alarming rise in post-pandemic turnover rates • Exploring the hidden costs beyond recruitment • The importance of effective training and onboarding for new employees • Strategies for creating a more engaging workplace culture • The role of leadership in employee retention #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Simon Hedaux, co-founder of Rethink Productivity, shares his expertise on implementing simple, actionable solutions to common workplace productivity challenges. Drawing from over 20 years of experience from the shop floor to productivity consultancy, Simon reveals how businesses can achieve quick wins through data-driven insights and practical process improvements. Listen to Episode 2 and Discover the People Powering Productivity. #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Focusing on the fundamental aspects of successful tech implementations, we explore the importance of team composition, data readiness, and fostering change within organizations with Paul Karnowski founding partner at WH People • Importance of having a dedicated project manager • Effective data preparation is crucial for success • Need for quick decision-making and transparency • Emphasising collaboration between vendors and internal teams • Cultivating an organisational culture that embraces change #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text Creating a vibrant workplace culture is essential for driving employee engagement and business success. Wendy Muirhead founding partner at WH People discusses the interplay between culture, visibility, and technology, emphasising the need for organisations to invest in their people while simplifying processes through effective Workforce Management (WFM). • Exploration of workplace culture’s impact on engagement • Wendy’s journey in establishing WH People • The role of leadership in cultivating organizational culture • Challenges of maintaining culture in larger businesses • Importance of communication and clarity of vision • Benefits of Workforce Management technology • AI’s influence on Workforce Management and employee engagement • Interrelation between culture, productivity, and retention • Investment in people as a strategic business imperative #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2025 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn