Partner viewpoints

Moshe Winegarten, chief revenue officer, Ecommpay

2023 has been a challenging year as retailers adapt to a rapidly changing economic environment. Consumer spending habits are more cautious, while businesses place a greater emphasis on ecommerce for their growth opportunities.

Ecommpay has seen a steady increase in demand for alternative payment methods as retailers seek to maximise their online presence. Three-quarters of consumers would abandon a purchase if their preferred checkout method were unavailable, making payment optionality essential.

Brexit, along with rumours of Visa and Mastercard fee increases, has fuelled interest in alternative payment methods. Open banking is an attractive option for merchants and a viable way to expand into new markets.

In addition to an uncertain economy, UK businesses lost up to £4bn to fraud. Ecommpay has developed a range of award-winning risk control measures using technologies like graph analysis to stop multiple chains of fraud without decreasing conversion. Our commitment to innovative security measures has paid off, with clients enjoying fraud-to-sales ratios of under 0.2%.

Despite a tricky economic backdrop, I remain optimistic about the future of retail and congratulate everyone featured on this year’s Retail 100. As businesses seek to reduce costs, grow efficiency and increase revenue, Ecommpay will always be here to help.

Gemma Banks, senior director of international marketing, Klaviyo

The Retail 100 isn’t just a list; it’s a celebration of industry resilience, vision and innovation. It showcases leaders and organisations that dare to be different, challenge the norms and embody values that transcend profit margins.

This year’s edition of the Retail 100 report serves as a testament to the extraordinary leaders and brands that – amid technological innovation, evolving consumer preferences and unforeseen global issues – transform challenges into opportunities.

Shifts in how consumers shop are never-ending, but one thing persists: people are the most important part of retail. The Retail 100 leaders humanise retail by prioritising the needs of their employees, championing sustainability and diversity, understanding their audience deeply, and harnessing data to foster long-term relationships with customers. 

On behalf of Klaviyo, congratulations to all the aspirational individuals and brands featured in the Retail 100. Your dedication to reshaping the retail landscape inspires us to continue iterating on the software and services that Klaviyo customers, especially those featured in this report, use to power smarter digital relationships. The future of retail looks bright in your capable hands.

Samina Hussain-Letch, head of industry relations, Square for Retail

In an industry as diverse as retail, it takes a wide range of leadership styles to ensure that businesses continue to innovate and grow.

This year’s report focuses on leaders that are disrupting traditional retail models, as well as strategists, who are looking to adopt new technologies and ways of thinking.

In a market as technologically advanced as the UK, there are so many resources available to retail businesses, but it takes strong leadership to evaluate and determine what is the best solution to run and ultimately grow your business. 

At Square, we hear consistently from our sellers that they want to implement operational efficiencies that will positively impact their sales performance and free up resources, so they have more time to focus on providing the best experience for their customers. As an all-in-one PoS system, Square for Retail allows you to sell in store and online, manage your inventory and vendors, give your customers flexibility with multiple payment form options and gain clarity on your business performance through advanced reports. 

Congratulations to all of those who have made the list. To be able to deliver growth and innovation in such a challenging period is to be commended.