There has been a more rapid shift towards online retail in the last two years, accelerated by the Coronavirus pandemic which changed consumer behaviour and led to a focus on the convenience of ecommerce.
As a result, many retailers offer generous returns policies; however, they are having to rethink this as they are faced with challenges including high volumes of product returns, increasing pressures from inflation, higher transportation costs and labour shortages.
Erin Brookes, Managing Director and Head of Retail & Consumer, Europe looks at the challenges of generous returns policies and analyses how these issues can be addressed in this Retail Week article.
To learn about how we can help retailers, visit our consumer and retail pages and check out our latest report on changing consumer values. Or, contact us to see how we can help you transform your consumer and retail business.
Activist pressure starts with underperformance
June 18, 2026
Shareholder activism is accelerating, and the root cause is consistent: sustained operational underperformance relative to peers. In a feature for CFO.com, A&M Managing Director Ron Orsini outlines a more disciplined path: close performance gaps early, build a credible value creation plan, and retain control of your strategy before activists define it for you.
Jay Frankl and Annie Peabody featured in The Deal’s Activist Investing Today Podcast
June 11, 2026
Jay Frankl and Annie Peabody discuss current M&A activism trends in The Deal’s Activist Investing Today podcast, highlighting insights from A&M’s US Activist Alert (AAA) report.
Turning AI Investment Into P&L Impact: What Sets Leaders Apart
June 10, 2026
The latest piece from A&M's Corporate Transformation Services team breaks down the three patterns emerging across industries, and the four fundamentals that separate the organizations turning AI investment into real P&L impact from those stuck in pilot mode.
Daniel Schmeltz Shares Why Enterprise AI Still Isn't Delivering Financial Returns in CFO Dive Feature
May 7, 2026
Companies are investing billions in AI, but most struggle to convert adoption into measurable financial returns. Managing Director Daniel Schmeltz explains why real AI ROI depends on operating model redesign, not more pilots or tools.
