Summer 2024

From the Editor

Welcome to the summer Alert – it’s our first issue with Bira, which Retra became a part of earlier this year. I’d like to thank Bira CEO, Andrew Goodacre, and the rest of his team for welcoming me into the organisation, and, as far as the magazine is concerned, it’s pretty much business as usual. In this edition, we look at the worrying rise in retail crime, as covered in the first episode of Bira’s new podcast, High Street Matters, and report on why, despite the recent growth in the UK economy, indies still face a challenging time. I’d like to say congratulations to Retra member, Dacombes of Wimborne, for moving over to solar power – you can read all about MD Matt Renaut’s eco journey and ambitions in this issue’s Dealer Focus. Have a great summer and make hay, or in Matt’s case, energy, while the sun shines. Sean Hannam

Other stories & features in the latest Alert:

Editor's Interview – Sirius Buying Group MD, Steve Jones

The Road To Net Zero – AMDEA on a sustainable appliance future

Digital Marketing – Turn up the heat on outdoor events