Kien Tan
@kientan74.bsky.social
Retail consultant and analyst by day, gym instructor and beer drinker by night.
All about shops, pubs, planes, gyms... and the views are mine, all mine.
All about shops, pubs, planes, gyms... and the views are mine, all mine.
Pinned
Kien Tan
@kientan74.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Right. Where are you at #Retail people? Surely you can’t all be hanging out on LinkedIn and Threads? The best retail bantz is gonna be here.
HMU if you want to be added…
go.bsky.app/ThbCH86
HMU if you want to be added…
go.bsky.app/ThbCH86
I swear this is why Microsoft is making everyone upgrade their PCs to use Windows 11 or whatever. My old laptop works fine, but I actually bought Office and can’t transfer it to a new laptop… and of course you can’t just pay once any more, you need to pay every year 😒
January 17, 2026 at 11:57 AM
I swear this is why Microsoft is making everyone upgrade their PCs to use Windows 11 or whatever. My old laptop works fine, but I actually bought Office and can’t transfer it to a new laptop… and of course you can’t just pay once any more, you need to pay every year 😒
Reposted by Kien Tan
Never thought I would find myself agreeing with Michael O Leary youtube.com/shorts/SSyAL...
‘Elon Musk is an idiot’ - Michael O’Leary | Newstalk
YouTube video by Newstalk
youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Never thought I would find myself agreeing with Michael O Leary youtube.com/shorts/SSyAL...
Ahhhh, you are right... Ironically, the next time I'm catching up with the author of that column, we're meeting in a pub whose website says... 🤦♂️
January 16, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Ahhhh, you are right... Ironically, the next time I'm catching up with the author of that column, we're meeting in a pub whose website says... 🤦♂️
Children and solos in pubs and other hospitality venues? Seems oddly un-hospitable to ban them… Hard agree with Glynn Davis in today’s Propel Opinion:
January 16, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Children and solos in pubs and other hospitality venues? Seems oddly un-hospitable to ban them… Hard agree with Glynn Davis in today’s Propel Opinion:
🛍️ Christmas turned out to be a damp squib for retail: according to @britishretail.bsky.social, food sales grew by a paltry 3.1% in December, while non-food actually declined
💡 But what does that mean for the sector in 2026? Join us next Thursday to find out. Register here 👉 bit.ly/4sBCsmO
💡 But what does that mean for the sector in 2026? Join us next Thursday to find out. Register here 👉 bit.ly/4sBCsmO
January 16, 2026 at 9:59 AM
🛍️ Christmas turned out to be a damp squib for retail: according to @britishretail.bsky.social, food sales grew by a paltry 3.1% in December, while non-food actually declined
💡 But what does that mean for the sector in 2026? Join us next Thursday to find out. Register here 👉 bit.ly/4sBCsmO
💡 But what does that mean for the sector in 2026? Join us next Thursday to find out. Register here 👉 bit.ly/4sBCsmO
People really, really don’t want this GLP-1 Nutrient Dense range, do they? …and it’s not like there’s any shortage of Mounjaro/Wegovy users in the City 🤫
January 15, 2026 at 7:20 PM
People really, really don’t want this GLP-1 Nutrient Dense range, do they? …and it’s not like there’s any shortage of Mounjaro/Wegovy users in the City 🤫
Ohmigod, same. Last year, exactly 6 months from accepted offer to completion on an empty flat.
(…which still doesn’t have a council tax band after almost a year, because the valuation office agency is *even slower* than all the councils and solicitors of north London)
(…which still doesn’t have a council tax band after almost a year, because the valuation office agency is *even slower* than all the councils and solicitors of north London)
January 15, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Ohmigod, same. Last year, exactly 6 months from accepted offer to completion on an empty flat.
(…which still doesn’t have a council tax band after almost a year, because the valuation office agency is *even slower* than all the councils and solicitors of north London)
(…which still doesn’t have a council tax band after almost a year, because the valuation office agency is *even slower* than all the councils and solicitors of north London)
Controversial, but I prefer Bosko to Tugboat! Even early Pale Fire was less hazy and more westie. But the Pressure Drop team have more recently been doubling down on hazy boys, because that’s what punters wanted, apparently. Interesting if that trend has peaked…
January 15, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Controversial, but I prefer Bosko to Tugboat! Even early Pale Fire was less hazy and more westie. But the Pressure Drop team have more recently been doubling down on hazy boys, because that’s what punters wanted, apparently. Interesting if that trend has peaked…
🛒 The irony of "Remarksable Value" is that there aren't actually that many Tesco price-matched products in M&S. Just enough for my mum to justify popping in for a pint of semi-skimmed and a sliced white loaf, but walk out with an outrageously expensive (but delicious) gastropub meal for 2 as well...
M&S launches 30 new value-tier products
The retailer has expanded its 'Remarksable Value' and 'Dropped and Locked' ranges to reinforce its position as the UK's fastest-growing grocer for families
www.thegrocer.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 8:49 PM
🛒 The irony of "Remarksable Value" is that there aren't actually that many Tesco price-matched products in M&S. Just enough for my mum to justify popping in for a pint of semi-skimmed and a sliced white loaf, but walk out with an outrageously expensive (but delicious) gastropub meal for 2 as well...
My favourite veggie Ethiopian is Gwada in Dalston (actually run by an Italian-Ethiopian couple, so injera, shiro wat, gomen and tiramisu!), which I prefer to the more famous Andu.
For mixed veggie/omnivore groups, Ottolenghi is pretty reliable
For mixed veggie/omnivore groups, Ottolenghi is pretty reliable
January 14, 2026 at 4:47 PM
My favourite veggie Ethiopian is Gwada in Dalston (actually run by an Italian-Ethiopian couple, so injera, shiro wat, gomen and tiramisu!), which I prefer to the more famous Andu.
For mixed veggie/omnivore groups, Ottolenghi is pretty reliable
For mixed veggie/omnivore groups, Ottolenghi is pretty reliable
🚇 Niche PSA for people living or working in Camden... TfL currently has no plans to fix the escalator at the tube station 🤦♂️
January 14, 2026 at 8:44 AM
🚇 Niche PSA for people living or working in Camden... TfL currently has no plans to fix the escalator at the tube station 🤦♂️
Yes! It was sort of Portuguese… making Mediterranean food trendy even before Moro opened around the corner on Exmouth Market later in the 1990s
January 13, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Yes! It was sort of Portuguese… making Mediterranean food trendy even before Moro opened around the corner on Exmouth Market later in the 1990s
Reposted by Kien Tan
The pub as the third place.
With thanks to @boakandbailey.bsky.social
retiredmartin.com/2026/01/13/y...
With thanks to @boakandbailey.bsky.social
retiredmartin.com/2026/01/13/y...
YOUR FRIEND IN DIFFICULT TIMES
An excellent read, as always, from Boak and Bailey about the state of the pub this week. I recommend reading this BlueSky thread; The comments reflect on the vital role of the pub as a social space…
retiredmartin.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:02 AM
The pub as the third place.
With thanks to @boakandbailey.bsky.social
retiredmartin.com/2026/01/13/y...
With thanks to @boakandbailey.bsky.social
retiredmartin.com/2026/01/13/y...
Reposted by Kien Tan
Kien is always fascinating. Retail matters so much. All human life is there.
While the conclusion is not wrong, a lot of the evidence in this column is incorrect. CRR data only counts closures: yes 35 “outlets” a day closed, but 25 also opened. So not all high streets are suffering, some are booming - and they are usually where the local population has money to spend (1/3)
Latest from me, on an eternally overlooked, sniffed-at issue that is politically huge www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
January 13, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Kien is always fascinating. Retail matters so much. All human life is there.
Thank you for the shout out 🙏
I’m glad my random thoughts are interesting!
I’m glad my random thoughts are interesting!
January 13, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Thank you for the shout out 🙏
I’m glad my random thoughts are interesting!
I’m glad my random thoughts are interesting!
Reposted by Kien Tan
This. My former MP who I still follow has:
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
January 13, 2026 at 10:51 AM
This. My former MP who I still follow has:
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
This. My former MP who I still follow has:
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
January 13, 2026 at 10:51 AM
This. My former MP who I still follow has:
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
8k FB followers
5k Threads
3k Insta
2k X
1k Bluesky
Guess where they/their constituency team spend most of their time - and so they should!
Reposted by Kien Tan
🧙♂️Games Workshop, which sells minature Warhammer figures for people to paint, is now worth £6.2bn.
It had a turnover of £565 million last year.
Which makes it more valuable than
🔨Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, Screwfix, worth £5.5bn.
It had a turnover of £12.8 billion last year
It had a turnover of £565 million last year.
Which makes it more valuable than
🔨Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, Screwfix, worth £5.5bn.
It had a turnover of £12.8 billion last year
January 13, 2026 at 10:27 AM
🧙♂️Games Workshop, which sells minature Warhammer figures for people to paint, is now worth £6.2bn.
It had a turnover of £565 million last year.
Which makes it more valuable than
🔨Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, Screwfix, worth £5.5bn.
It had a turnover of £12.8 billion last year
It had a turnover of £565 million last year.
Which makes it more valuable than
🔨Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, Screwfix, worth £5.5bn.
It had a turnover of £12.8 billion last year
@keithbeard.bsky.social awaiting BLF’s verdict…
January 13, 2026 at 10:44 AM
@keithbeard.bsky.social awaiting BLF’s verdict…
📉 The point here is that the "slowest growth" headlines were driven by food sales. Non-food retail actually *declined* in December 2025. Ignoring Easter/Black Friday phasing effects, it was the worst decline for over a year...
How does "cozzie livs" affect retail? Now you know 👇
How does "cozzie livs" affect retail? Now you know 👇
📉 Non-food retailers faced a distinct chill, with sales slipping 0.5%. Many shoppers clearly held their nerve, bypassing the pre-Christmas rush to wait for the Boxing Day clearance. Gifting items, in particular, underperformed expectations in a crowded market.
January 13, 2026 at 9:58 AM
📉 The point here is that the "slowest growth" headlines were driven by food sales. Non-food retail actually *declined* in December 2025. Ignoring Easter/Black Friday phasing effects, it was the worst decline for over a year...
How does "cozzie livs" affect retail? Now you know 👇
How does "cozzie livs" affect retail? Now you know 👇
*straightlaced, dammit
January 12, 2026 at 10:34 PM
*straightlaced, dammit
Let this be a warning to you, @starflyergold.bsky.social & @economybeyond.bsky.social!
January 12, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Let this be a warning to you, @starflyergold.bsky.social & @economybeyond.bsky.social!
👕 I'm probably not their target customer any more, but I used to buy a lot of Superdry... They may have needed to change, but their new look collections and stores are so strait-laced and vanilla, will they really attract teenagers?
From @retailweek.bsky.social: www.retail-week.com/people/super...
From @retailweek.bsky.social: www.retail-week.com/people/super...
January 12, 2026 at 10:28 PM
👕 I'm probably not their target customer any more, but I used to buy a lot of Superdry... They may have needed to change, but their new look collections and stores are so strait-laced and vanilla, will they really attract teenagers?
From @retailweek.bsky.social: www.retail-week.com/people/super...
From @retailweek.bsky.social: www.retail-week.com/people/super...
This is such a bizarre premise.
Lots of people eat tofu (China, Japan, most of SE Asia); lots of people eat tempeh (especially in Indonesia).
They're not in competition; they're not trying to be meat; they're not "alt" meat or meat replacements; they're just proteins that happen to be vegan 🤷♂️
Lots of people eat tofu (China, Japan, most of SE Asia); lots of people eat tempeh (especially in Indonesia).
They're not in competition; they're not trying to be meat; they're not "alt" meat or meat replacements; they're just proteins that happen to be vegan 🤷♂️
The meat-free sector is going through changes: natural plant proteins are rising as vegan alt meats struggle
Will tofu or tempeh take the crown?
Will tofu or tempeh take the crown?
Tofu vs tempeh: which will win battle of the soy blocks?
The meat-free sector is going through changes: natural plant proteins are rising as vegan alt meats struggle. Will tofu or tempeh take the crown?
www.thegrocer.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 8:40 PM
This is such a bizarre premise.
Lots of people eat tofu (China, Japan, most of SE Asia); lots of people eat tempeh (especially in Indonesia).
They're not in competition; they're not trying to be meat; they're not "alt" meat or meat replacements; they're just proteins that happen to be vegan 🤷♂️
Lots of people eat tofu (China, Japan, most of SE Asia); lots of people eat tempeh (especially in Indonesia).
They're not in competition; they're not trying to be meat; they're not "alt" meat or meat replacements; they're just proteins that happen to be vegan 🤷♂️