Andrew Busby

Harry Was Right All Along Andrew Busby

'Harry Was Right All Along' is about the changing of the guard, of new retail replacing old retail and the implications it has for all of us; it's a tale of hope, passion and ultimately optimism of a brighter future for the High Street. The underlying motivation for writing this book is that whilst retail is undergoing a rapid period of evolution where the weak will not survive, it cannot achieve this all on its own; it requires support. The book shines a light on the crisis facing the High Street and to help put the challenges facing retail at the heart of the agenda for politicians, councillors, town planners, retailers, media and consumers. It is very much the author's personal account of what is happening in retail told through a series of narratives, and in doing so it offers a positive outlook whilst sounding a warning that change must be effected now if we are to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Retail is a sector like no other; it is part of the fabric of our lives, of our societies; our High Streets are the beating heart of our communities and have long depended on retail for their vitality and prosperity. The traditional retail model survived for decades but then came the internet, the smartphone and the age of the smart consumer......and everything changed. This book explores not only the profound changes affecting retail but the consequences of these changes, set within the socio-economic implications of a struggling High Street. However, rather than casting a dark cloud over the prospects for the sector, it points the way forward by going back over one hundred years to the days of Harry Selfridge and his philosophy which ironically is being touted today as the new retail model.