Tech

2018 Retail Predictions – Including Social Media And Re-Structures

In any industry, trends come and go. Some are predicted, to become a big hit and then part of the norm, whilst others seem to spring up out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly.

But what is predicted for the retail sector in 2018? Despite the fact that The Independent believes the industry will have a fight on its hands to survive and revenues will flatline amid fears over the impact of Brexit and cautious spending by consumers, there is some positive news on the horizon.

Social media and technology

Social media and technology continue to be at the forefront of growth in many sectors, not just retail. Instead of it continuing to be a pretty one-dimensional experience, the use of technology such as augmented and virtual reality should make it feel much more like a real-life experience.

There is a whole raft of in-store technologies that retailers have adopted at great cost, such as touch screens to allow clients to select goods to be sent to changing rooms, but if the back-office systems or a lack of staff training don’t allow for this to happen seamlessly, then it’s a wasted investment. Stores that have implemented such technologies need to revisit how they work in reality and make sure that they’re making the most out of them.

Sense marketing

Of course, the retail sector has a whole raft of tools in its armoury to provide customers with an in-store experience that they can’t get from shopping online. That experience can be created through clever use of music, lighting, and scent marketing, where aromas are used to enhance and influence the mood of shoppers to entice them to buy more. Companies such as these can advise retail businesses on where to start with sense marketing.

So, 2018 is going to be tough for retailers, but by engaging in social media and technology trends, as well as exploring marketing avenues, for example, stores can stay ahead of the curve. Price is always been a key issue for retailers and will continue to be so. Getting the balance right between price point and service is difficult and must be monitored and addressed, if necessary, to stay competitive.

Finally, retailers may need to consider taking a lead from other sectors and branching out into secondary revenue streams.

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Lifestyle

Wedding Traditions From Around The World

Marriage ceremonies take place every day all around the world, but not all ceremonies are as would expect them to be here in the UK. Here are some weird and wonderful wedding traditions from across the globe. Maybe you like one so much, you could incorporate it into your own wedding ceremony:

In the Philippines, traditional wedding ceremonies feature some rather adorable feathered friends. The bride and groom release two doves after the vows, which represent hope for a long and peaceful life together in matrimony. Check with your venue to see if such an event could take place. For stunning Hotel Wedding Venues in Gloucestershire, 

In Italy, confetti didn’t traditionally mean small scraps of paper thrown at the happy couple, but rather small sugary treats, mostly sugared almonds, that is common to be given as wedding favors to the guests. Modern Italian weddings have now introduced ‘coriandoli’, small scraps of paper like our confetti. 

San-san-kudo in Japan means the traditional sharing of sake at a wedding ceremony. The couple marrying each other takess several sips from each of the three sake cups, with the parents following suit. It’s a symbol of binding families together.

Fancy getting a sweat on at your ceremony? Couples in Germany must prove their ability to work together by sawing a log in half in front of the wedding guests! It is meant to represent a couple working together to overcome life’s obstacles. Phew!

A strange gift is being presented to the groom’s mother-in-law in Korea. According to Korean tradition, the groom must give her wild ducks or geese. As these animals are monogamous in life, they are used to represent the groom’s good intentions and loyalty. Thankfully, in modern ceremonies, the real animals have been replaced with wooden replicas! 

Deliciously sounding croquembouches are served at French weddings. This is a tower of cream-filled pastries dipped in sweet sauces instead of a wedding cake. They look amazing as a centrepiece when decorated with fruits, glazes, and nuts. A rather less appealing tradition is that of ‘La Soupe’. Food leftovers are mixed together in a bowl, which the couple must eat as a sign of good luck!

 

This tradition sounds like fun – Indian brides’ sisters steal the groom’s shoes as he enters the ceremony, and he must bribe the sisters for the return of his footwear before he is allowed to leave. 

This is one tradition you definitely want to avoid. In a traditional Kenyan ceremony, when the newlyweds leave the village, the bride’s father must spit on the top of his daughter’s head and then the chest so as not to invite bad fortune upon them! 

At a wedding reception in Guatemala, a white bell is filled with rice and flour and broken as the newlyweds enter the party. It is a symbol of good luck, wealth, and happiness. 

A beautifully romantic tradition is found after wedding ceremonies have taken place in South Africa. The parents of both the bride and groom take fire from the fireplace of their own homes and take it to the new abode of the newlywed couple. The couple then use these flames to light the fireplace in their married home together.

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Entertainment

The Ultimate Experience Day Treat

There are loads of activities available for those who want an action-packed, adrenaline-fueled experience. If you can imagine it, then there’s probably a company selling it as an experience. However, not all experiences are equal. Here are some reasons why the only experience you need in your life is to drive a tank for a day:

  1. Not something you do every day

Ok, you could say this about any number of experience events, but seriously, a tank? Bungee jumping and zorbing are so popular last year and chances are there are dozens of people in your workplace who have done that already. Yawn! How many people can you name who have driven a tank? Exactly.

  1. Respect

Earn some serious respect and admiration from friends, family members, and colleagues after a day of tank paintball battling. You’ll be ‘the one’ People will look at you in a new light, hold doors open for you, and bring you coffee to your desk. Well, you’ll earn some kudos anyway. It might not get you that job promotion, but it wouldn’t hurt, right?

  1. Pure Excitement

Some experiences are a mixture of 90% fear and only 10% real fun. Take bungee jumping or skydiving, for example. Unless you’ve got nerves of steel or are totally crazy – part of you won’t want to make the jump. You’ll feel sick, and dizzy, and your knees will wobble. Ok, so the feeling of accomplishment is pretty cool, but why not cut out all the scary stuff and just focus on pure, unadulterated joy? There is nothing to fear on Tank Driving Days, just the sheer thrill of big roaring machines and lots of mud. Still not sure?

Tanks are Cool

Yes, you can choose an experience day driving a small hovercraft, a digger, or a Segway, but they’re just not as cool as a tank. Everyone loves tanks, whether they’re young, old, male, or female—tanks are just cool. Imagine two photos—one with you on a Segway and one with you in a tank. In which photo are you going to look way more epic?

  1. 2-in-1

Why restrict yourself to one activity when you could do two? Like tanks? Like paintball? Put them together and you’ve got an outrageously good time for all involved.

  1. Educational

Driving a tank will teach you new skills and a bit about the unique world of tank warfare. While these are skills you might not easily be able to bring back into the workplace (take note, driving instructors), they give you a chance to try something totally different, unusual, and highly unique.

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