Ewan MacDonald-Russell

Wed, Oct 11th 2023 at 12:50 pm - 2:00 pm

Ewan is Head of Policy & External Affairs of the Scottish Retail Consortium.


Club members please log in for more information.

The guest speaker was Ewan MacDonald-Russell, son of Rotarian and club President-Elect, Alan MacDonald. A graduate of St Andrews University, Ewan is Head of Policy and External Affairs for the Scottish Retail Consortium, leading on policy, on food and drink issues, collaborating with stakeholders, members and colleagues for development relevant to Scottish matters. In his work he is involved with all the biggest retailers. His talk followed three main points: how retail was transformed in the past; its present state during this cost of living crisis; its future which will include fewer shops. Ewan explained that over 258 thousand Scots work in the retail industry. The Smartphone has changed almost everything in the industry since now the consumer has immediate access to information eg relative prices that it never had before, and retail has had to adapt to a changing market with many more online outlets and fewer High Street premises. This change required new and greater customer service provision along with ever more efficient supply chains. Ewan gave the example of Debenhams which was reliant on big premises with high heating costs and high rents, needing lots of sales staff - typical of the decline in big shops which are now unlikely to return. Covid caused huge volatility in retail prices and some businesses did not survive. Currently, the financial situation is complex -high prices have been caused by the Ukraine invasion, food prices are especially high, and everything is further complicated by increases in the cost of fuel. What will happen next? Because consumers have less money they will prioritise convenience and cost, using multi-channels ie online and local, shops in the High Street will need compelling reasons to stay there, competition will be fierce. There will be winners and losers and not all will survive. What will help the situation: economic growth, consumer spending, business cost being cut, greater stability

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Planning the year ahead

more  

International links with Foundation to form Rotary's service avenue for improvements in International Understanding.

more  

Foundation links with International to form one of Rotary's major avenues of service.

more  

Fellowship golf event for Rotarians from all over the world over the Old Course St Andrews

more  

Entertainment activities for Club members

more  

Rotaract St Andrews is a University based club sponsored by the Rotary Club of St Andrews. Check out Rotaract St Andrews Facebook page for more info

more  

In general terms the purposes of this committee are ...

more  
Banner image of Rotary St Andrews Scotland

... see what the media says about us

more  

Some of the interesting projects that have been supported by the Rotary Club of St Andrews

more  

Links with environmental issues

more