Boots and Woolworths get makeover

We spend more than £1 billion a year in Woolworths, but growth has been slow

With long queues at the tills, retailing would seem to be a good business at this time of year.

But with a slowdown in the growth of consumer spending and cut-throat competition, many famous name stores are struggling.

As internet shopping continues to gain market share, traditional retailers face trouble on the high street.

Supermarkets are setting their sights on extending their offerings of non-food to make up for slow growth in their core groceries market.

A combination of sharp retailing skills, low-prices and 'one stop' convenience has proved a winning formula.

Newer, specialist retailers, focusing mercilessly on one product category, such as greeting cards or perfumes, have also prospered, leaving the biggest losers as the traditional general retailers.

Boots and Woolworths are two of the oldest and best-know names in British shop-keeping.

They are also two companies which have struggled to maintain market share in recent years.

Adam asked Robert Fox, managing director of MyBrand, what he would do to liven up the brands and encourage shoppers to return.

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