Sometimes in retail you’ve really got to wonder what’s going to come at you next? July & August were the months of the Swine flu crisis eroding consumer confidence.

Inspired by yet more sensationalist jounalism, the Swine flu pandemic panic swept across the country. Now, we all know that no more people are dying of Swine flu than normal seasonal flu, and if you’re vaguely healthy you don’t have much to worry about, yet this would be hard to believe from the headlines.

All year we’ve had to put up with all the scare stories about the economy terrorising everyone and now its another juicy story, with half the population smothering themselves in antiseptic handwipes (bet their sales results are wicked) As a result, footfall has been down, and as we all know you can’t sell stuff to people who aren’t in your shop. (although online retailers aren’t complaining !)

Flu in any of its forms is not going to quietly depart, so how many sick days can the nation take, hiding under the collective duvet trying to avoid it? Rising sick days isn’t a groovy prospect for retailers – It reduces customer service, possibly opening hours and sensationalist scare stories keep consumers away from usually crowded shopping areas, so most businesses would welcome a little more balanced reporting perspective.

So, where’s the good news ? Probably the best news around for importers & retailers is the recovery of the pound. In July 2008 the pound was worth $2.00, but by January of this year its value had sunk to $1.35 (which is a twenty three year low, just to put this in perspective) Earlier this month it recovered to $1.70, which is an absolute lifeline in a difficult year for smaller retailers and importers.

The big question now is whether the pound’s recovery will be a sustained one…?
Here’s hoping….!