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
🇭🇰 The Tai Po fire is a tragedy for Hong Kong - truly their Grenfell or worse, with 100s still missing.
But compare with the UK govt response to Grenfell: HK already 3 charged with manslaughter, and temp accommodation and a £30m+ immediate compensation fund set up in just one day.
HT: Jonathan Eley
But compare with the UK govt response to Grenfell: HK already 3 charged with manslaughter, and temp accommodation and a £30m+ immediate compensation fund set up in just one day.
HT: Jonathan Eley
(18:05) CE John Lee live press conference
- Fire at 7 buildings under control
- Death toll currently at 55
- 500 currently using 9 temporary shelters
- 1,800 units will be made available temporarily for displaced residents
- Thanks Xi Jinping for his concern
- Fire at 7 buildings under control
- Death toll currently at 55
- 500 currently using 9 temporary shelters
- 1,800 units will be made available temporarily for displaced residents
- Thanks Xi Jinping for his concern
November 27, 2025 at 1:06 PM
🇭🇰 The Tai Po fire is a tragedy for Hong Kong - truly their Grenfell or worse, with 100s still missing.
But compare with the UK govt response to Grenfell: HK already 3 charged with manslaughter, and temp accommodation and a £30m+ immediate compensation fund set up in just one day.
HT: Jonathan Eley
But compare with the UK govt response to Grenfell: HK already 3 charged with manslaughter, and temp accommodation and a £30m+ immediate compensation fund set up in just one day.
HT: Jonathan Eley
🛍️ In case you missed it (and journos will have got this at 3pm yesterday), this was my snap reaction to the #Budget and its impact on the high street
⚖️ tl;dr: short term easing of cossie-livs should help Christmas trading, but cost of doing business in 2026, well, not so much…
⚖️ tl;dr: short term easing of cossie-livs should help Christmas trading, but cost of doing business in 2026, well, not so much…
www.pwc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
🛍️ In case you missed it (and journos will have got this at 3pm yesterday), this was my snap reaction to the #Budget and its impact on the high street
⚖️ tl;dr: short term easing of cossie-livs should help Christmas trading, but cost of doing business in 2026, well, not so much…
⚖️ tl;dr: short term easing of cossie-livs should help Christmas trading, but cost of doing business in 2026, well, not so much…
Reposted by Kien Tan
The budget. Business rates.
The reduction in the multiplier to 38.2p BUT the removal of the 40% business rates relief PLUS an increase in the rateable value means a 45.9% increase in my business rates for next year.
Yay.
The reduction in the multiplier to 38.2p BUT the removal of the 40% business rates relief PLUS an increase in the rateable value means a 45.9% increase in my business rates for next year.
Yay.
November 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The budget. Business rates.
The reduction in the multiplier to 38.2p BUT the removal of the 40% business rates relief PLUS an increase in the rateable value means a 45.9% increase in my business rates for next year.
Yay.
The reduction in the multiplier to 38.2p BUT the removal of the 40% business rates relief PLUS an increase in the rateable value means a 45.9% increase in my business rates for next year.
Yay.
🍺 Pubs Budget impact because I have pub followers:
+ vague promises about licensing and business rates
- alcohol duty up by RPI in Feb
- living wage up 4%, 18-20yr olds up 8.5%
- zilch on HospitalityUK’s lower VAT ask
- personal taxes up means punters have less to spend
So, basically Not A Scrap…
+ vague promises about licensing and business rates
- alcohol duty up by RPI in Feb
- living wage up 4%, 18-20yr olds up 8.5%
- zilch on HospitalityUK’s lower VAT ask
- personal taxes up means punters have less to spend
So, basically Not A Scrap…
November 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
🍺 Pubs Budget impact because I have pub followers:
+ vague promises about licensing and business rates
- alcohol duty up by RPI in Feb
- living wage up 4%, 18-20yr olds up 8.5%
- zilch on HospitalityUK’s lower VAT ask
- personal taxes up means punters have less to spend
So, basically Not A Scrap…
+ vague promises about licensing and business rates
- alcohol duty up by RPI in Feb
- living wage up 4%, 18-20yr olds up 8.5%
- zilch on HospitalityUK’s lower VAT ask
- personal taxes up means punters have less to spend
So, basically Not A Scrap…
What does this OBR analysis miss?
Higher business rates on large supermarkets. Higher NLW, esp on 18-20 year olds.
What do we think that will do to grocery prices?
Higher business rates on large supermarkets. Higher NLW, esp on 18-20 year olds.
What do we think that will do to grocery prices?
energy bill discounts doing the heavy lifting on bringing down inflation next year
November 26, 2025 at 1:39 PM
What does this OBR analysis miss?
Higher business rates on large supermarkets. Higher NLW, esp on 18-20 year olds.
What do we think that will do to grocery prices?
Higher business rates on large supermarkets. Higher NLW, esp on 18-20 year olds.
What do we think that will do to grocery prices?
I’ll ask again. How does salary sacrifice tax work for DB pensions? Nice fat guaranteed pensions, no tax?
Looking forward to seeing how this applies to public sector workers with final salary pensions. How much extra National Insurance will NHS staff have to pay?
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I’ll ask again. How does salary sacrifice tax work for DB pensions? Nice fat guaranteed pensions, no tax?
🛍️ Back on (my) topic, the main thing for retail and other high street businesses is... nothing.
BRC, UK Hospitality and others calling for:
- Lower VAT for hospitality
- VAT refunds for tourists
- Business rates reform and reductions
That'll be a no, then...
BRC, UK Hospitality and others calling for:
- Lower VAT for hospitality
- VAT refunds for tourists
- Business rates reform and reductions
That'll be a no, then...
November 26, 2025 at 1:17 PM
🛍️ Back on (my) topic, the main thing for retail and other high street businesses is... nothing.
BRC, UK Hospitality and others calling for:
- Lower VAT for hospitality
- VAT refunds for tourists
- Business rates reform and reductions
That'll be a no, then...
BRC, UK Hospitality and others calling for:
- Lower VAT for hospitality
- VAT refunds for tourists
- Business rates reform and reductions
That'll be a no, then...
Stolen from Paul Johnson on X, presented without comment 📈
November 26, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Stolen from Paul Johnson on X, presented without comment 📈
The irony is that nobody is listening to her, everyone is just pouring over that OBR doc
November 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The irony is that nobody is listening to her, everyone is just pouring over that OBR doc
This is going to be an anticlimax, isn’t it?
November 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM
This is going to be an anticlimax, isn’t it?
Reposted by Kien Tan
In a LinkedIn first, I've just seen my first *obviously sponsored* post from one of my mutuals.
How do I know? I've been approached by two different (possibly AI-generated?) people from the sponsor asking if I'd like to do a "collaboration, ad or paid partnership" with them 🙄
Don't do it, kids...
How do I know? I've been approached by two different (possibly AI-generated?) people from the sponsor asking if I'd like to do a "collaboration, ad or paid partnership" with them 🙄
Don't do it, kids...
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 AM
In a LinkedIn first, I've just seen my first *obviously sponsored* post from one of my mutuals.
How do I know? I've been approached by two different (possibly AI-generated?) people from the sponsor asking if I'd like to do a "collaboration, ad or paid partnership" with them 🙄
Don't do it, kids...
How do I know? I've been approached by two different (possibly AI-generated?) people from the sponsor asking if I'd like to do a "collaboration, ad or paid partnership" with them 🙄
Don't do it, kids...
Reposted by Kien Tan
Budget day at last.
November 26, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Budget day at last.
London still looks pretty cool in winter, eh?
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 AM
London still looks pretty cool in winter, eh?
Looking forward to seeing how this applies to public sector workers with final salary pensions. How much extra National Insurance will NHS staff have to pay?
November 25, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Looking forward to seeing how this applies to public sector workers with final salary pensions. How much extra National Insurance will NHS staff have to pay?
Lidl is selling a £150 Reformer machine for Black Friday, and I can feel Pilates instructors all around the country wincing...
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Lidl is selling a £150 Reformer machine for Black Friday, and I can feel Pilates instructors all around the country wincing...
🪁 I can’t believe Downing Street “sources” are still flying Budget kites… do they realise there are less than 24 hours to go?
They’ve literally blocked out the sun already… ☁️
They’ve literally blocked out the sun already… ☁️
November 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
🪁 I can’t believe Downing Street “sources” are still flying Budget kites… do they realise there are less than 24 hours to go?
They’ve literally blocked out the sun already… ☁️
They’ve literally blocked out the sun already… ☁️
Reposted by Kien Tan
💿 Crowdsourcing the answer to this...
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
a hand is holding a discman device in front of a table
ALT: a hand is holding a discman device in front of a table
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
💿 Crowdsourcing the answer to this...
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
Reposted by Kien Tan
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
🛒 Guess what's gonna happen to grocery prices that are already going up, GUESS
Anti-inflationary Budget, my arse...
Anti-inflationary Budget, my arse...
UK supermarkets set to be hit by higher business rates after Treasury U-turn
Chancellor expected to use Budget to include large retail premises in the top band of the property-based levy
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:31 PM
🛒 Guess what's gonna happen to grocery prices that are already going up, GUESS
Anti-inflationary Budget, my arse...
Anti-inflationary Budget, my arse...
💿 Crowdsourcing the answer to this...
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
a hand is holding a discman device in front of a table
ALT: a hand is holding a discman device in front of a table
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
💿 Crowdsourcing the answer to this...
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
I'm moving flats, and I have boxes of CDs, haven't used in years, mostly from 1990s/early 2000s. Nothing mega valuable: mostly mainstream chart stuff and some obscure folk/country/blues etc. Books will find a good home via Oxfam/other, but what to do with CDs?
My 75 year old mum put all these symptoms down to "old age"... Only an insistent GP surgery persuaded her to get tested.
Please don't wait to check, especially if you or your loved ones are older.
Please don't wait to check, especially if you or your loved ones are older.
I’m gonna keep sharing these ovarian cancer symptoms whenever I see them.
I will add - from personal experience - diarrhoea and fatigue.
Get it checked! Remember, there’s no routine screening for ovarian cancer.
I will add - from personal experience - diarrhoea and fatigue.
Get it checked! Remember, there’s no routine screening for ovarian cancer.
November 23, 2025 at 2:25 PM
My 75 year old mum put all these symptoms down to "old age"... Only an insistent GP surgery persuaded her to get tested.
Please don't wait to check, especially if you or your loved ones are older.
Please don't wait to check, especially if you or your loved ones are older.
🍫 This smells of sour grapes... Tony's doesn't own the monopoly (or trademark) to chunky chocolate. They're not the only ones who source fairtrade or otherwise. They're about as "punk" as another private equity-backed business I can think of...
Tony’s ‘calls in’ Morrisons and M&S over ‘dupe’ chunky chocolate bars
'If you dupe our design, what about our sourcing model too?' Tony's said, inviting both retailers to participate in its Tony's Open Chain sourcing scheme.
www.thegrocer.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
🍫 This smells of sour grapes... Tony's doesn't own the monopoly (or trademark) to chunky chocolate. They're not the only ones who source fairtrade or otherwise. They're about as "punk" as another private equity-backed business I can think of...
☕️ Greggs sausage roll with a Pret filter coffee in a Starbucks reusable cup… Dontcha wish you could smoosh all your favourite food-to-go places into one?!
November 21, 2025 at 8:16 AM
☕️ Greggs sausage roll with a Pret filter coffee in a Starbucks reusable cup… Dontcha wish you could smoosh all your favourite food-to-go places into one?!
📉 The key observation about today’s retail sales is that shoppers are “keeping their powder dry”: they started their Christmas shopping later, they’ve not bought new season’s fashions, they’re buying less food… What could turn the tide? 🤔
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
📉 The key observation about today’s retail sales is that shoppers are “keeping their powder dry”: they started their Christmas shopping later, they’ve not bought new season’s fashions, they’re buying less food… What could turn the tide? 🤔
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x