Developing a local retail strategy: A case study of Leicester

Retailing has experienced profound restructuring in recent years. The retail revolution has brought with it changes to employment practices and the organisation of retail businesses, the application of new technologies and shifts in the location of retailing activity, most notably through the growth of off-centre superstores. One consequence is that the retailing sector is now characterised by a particular set of problems which have a major impact on the retail workforce. This article uses evidence drawn from a study of issues concerning Leicester's retail sector to consider the need for, and the appropriate form of, sector-based strategies aimed at alleviating these problems in both Leicester and in other UK local economies.