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David Lonsdale

David Lonsdale

Herald Scotland

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The retail angle to the Chancellor's Spring Statement

The retail angle to the Chancellor's Spring Statement

With all eyes on tomorrow's Spring Statement, David Lonsdale of the Scottish Retail Consortium considers whether the intent to avoid tinkering...

02.03.2026 7

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Politicians must do their part to support Scotland's weary consumers

If you’re anything like me, you probably start each new year with a mixture of optimism and trepidation. Optimism for the opportunities ahead, and...

03.02.2026 2

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Scotland is 'one bad budget away from losing our high streets'

After last year’s UK Budget battering for Scotland’s retailers there was a palpable sense of trepidation and anxiety ahead of last week’s...

02.12.2025 9

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

A Budget isn't just for Christmas

Christmas is only a few weeks away and we’re well into the golden quarter of festive trading which is so crucial for many retailers. A fifth of...

04.11.2025 4

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Retail crime: 'Call it what it is - theft'

Scotland’s retailers are dealing with an epidemic of shoplifting. Official figures show there was a 17% rise over the last year to the end of...

07.10.2025 4

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

With inflation on the march, retailers need a break

As Parliamentarians return to Holyrood and Westminster this week after summer recess they’ll be greeted by ominous economic updates. Any...

02.09.2025 7

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Everybody's jumping on the pre-loved bandwagon

With more Scots than ever before purchasing pre-loved products it seems that second-hand is no longer seen as second-best. Those are the findings...

05.08.2025 4

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Labour has changed the retail landscape, and not for the better

Following Labour’s election victory a year ago Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the country that "change is here". Twelve months on much has...

08.07.2025 4

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Scotland's plea to John Swinney: 'Do no harm'

When First Minister John Swinney stands up tomorrow to present his programme for government we’ll know what his administration wants to do in its...

06.05.2025 10

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Scottish shop workers bear the brunt as retail crime surges

A quarter of a million Scots are employed in retail, almost one in ten people in work. It’s likely that includes a member of your family, a friend...

08.04.2025 10

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Taxing times as Scottish local authorities seek financial leverage

Buoyant household disposable incomes and confident consumers are critical to the health of the retail industry and all who rely on it, whether...

04.03.2025 4

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale

Resilience in spades - and Scotland's shopkeepers are going to need it

In the five years writing this column it’s never been difficult to find fresh issues or perspectives affecting Scotland’s shopkeepers. We’ve...

04.02.2025 10

Herald Scotland

David Lonsdale