The retail sector accounts for almost one-tenth of the UK's businesses, with retail sales annually reaching almost £300 billion in 2010, accounting for almost a third of consumer spending in the UK. Retailers are also major employers, employing more than 10% of the UK workforce. Retail and wholesale is therefore a significant force in the UK economy. The sector has experienced considerable growth in recent years, although that growth has slowed recently, and in some areas is in decline. The sector is also sensitive to major changes in economic fortunes, not least to changes in interest rates and VAT increases. Shop-based retailing is facing increasing competition from online retailing, which looks set to continue to account for a greater share of the sector year on year.
Retail and wholesale businesses, therefore, require the full gamut of legal services, whether they are trading from premises or only virtually. We are able to provide our retail and wholesale clients with access to the full range of expertise necessary to allow them to run an efficient and competitive operation. Our experience in all of Scotland's retail locations gives us considerable credibility in relation to property matters, but we can also help our clients in relation to operational matters, ranging from employment and pensions, to tax and finance, to data protection, intellectual property and branding matters, competition, internet retailing, terms and conditions, and much more besides.