The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.

We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.

Online articles

The library provides full access to articles from leading business, finance and management journals.

• View the latest updates on trends and forecasts in the electrical retail industry

Access to articles is provided subject to suppliers’ terms of use.

Useful links

Association of Convenience Stores COVID-19 Resource Centre
Regularly updated hub from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) providing guidance for retailers. Resources include home delivery guidance, how to claim grants and compensation, guidance on employment law and colleague support and downloadable posters for display in store.

Retail outlook for 2021
White paper from KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank on the outlook for the UK retail sector in 2021. Discusses the impact on retail of the economy, regulations, consumer behaviour and technology and provides a prediction of retail sector growth in 2021. Published in December 2020.

Surviving the cash crunch: The impact of COVID-19 on the UK retail industry
Report from consultants Alvarez & Marsal in partnership with Retail Economics. Analyses the expected impact of the coronavirus pandemic on major U.K. non-food retailers. Published in April 2020.

Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Industry profiles and SWOT analyses

Industry profiles give an overview of market size in different countries or regions, the competitive landscape and provide a forecast of market performance. These profiles are available exclusively for ICAEW members and ACA students through the Library & Information Service.

Regional reports

• All markets
• Global

Asia

• China (including Taiwan)
• India

Europe

• France
• Germany

North America

• United States

If you’re looking for industry profiles for regions or countries not listed above, please contact the Library on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.

SWOT analyses examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for major companies operating in this sector are available.

• View the latest SWOT analysis reports

If you experience any problems accessing these resources, please see our online resources troubleshooting FAQ.

Other market research specialists

Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.

Euromonitor
A full listing of reference products and research reports for the consumer electronics sector from Euromonitor, with a range of global, country and company level reports. Each report provides a contents listing and a useful executive summary reporting on the key trends in each country report.

IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors. Topics include household appliance and television wholesaling; electronic and telecommunications equipment wholesaling; and electrical household appliance retail. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample report are available. The company also produces global industry researchreports.

Mintel
A full listing of reports covering the electrical goods retail market is available. Report summaries, table of contents and a sample report are available.

Need to find the latest news on this industry sector? We can carry out industry news searches using a range of trade titles and general business sources through our databases. To discuss your requirements, please contact the enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.

Office for National Statistics

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) from the Office for National Statistics collects financial information covering UK production, construction, distribution and service industries. Statistics available include:

• number of enterprises;
• total turnover;
• approximate gross value added at basic prices;
• total purchases of goods, materials and services;
• total employment costs;
• total net capital expenditure;
• total net capital expenditure – acquisitions;
• total net capital expenditure – disposals;
• total stocks and work in progress – value at end of year;
• total stocks and work in progress – value at beginning of year;
• total stocks and work in progress – increase during year.

The dataset Non-financial business economy, UK: Sections A to S includes statistics for:

• Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software in specialised stores (47.41)
• Retail sale of telecommunications equipment in specialised stores (47.42)
• Retail sale of audio and video equipment in specialised stores (47.43)
• Retail sale of other household equipment in specialised stores (47.5)

See Division 47: Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

Eurostat

Eurostat, the EU statistics hub, collates detailed Structural Business Statistics giving the latest figures for industry, construction, trade and services by sector and country. The indicators available include:

• number of enterprises
• turnover or gross premiums written
• production value
• value added at factor cost
• gross operating surplus
• wages and salaries
• social security costs
• gross investment in tangible goods
• gross investment in land
• gross investment in existing buildings and structures
• gross investment in construction and alteration of buildings
• gross investment in machinery and equipment
• number of employees
• number of persons employed per enterprise.

Statistics within the database are available for:

• Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software in specialised stores (G4741)
• Retail sale of telecommunications equipment in specialised stores (G4742)
• Retail sale of audio and video equipment in specialised stores (G4743)
• Retail sale of other household equipment in specialised stores (G475)

See database section ‘SBS – trade’.

Eurostat also compiles an annual survey of specialist statistics on the production of manufactured goods in the EU. Data within Prodcom Division 26 gives figures on the Manufacture of Computer, Electronic and Optical Products and Division 27 shows Manufacture of Electrical Equipment.

The Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) includes average employment costs within this sector which can be found in Table 14. Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.

The data includes average employment costs for sales and customer service occupations.

The annual Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), published by the Office for National Statistics, includes total employee and employment estimates for different industries for Great Britain and the UK. Figures are broken down to show full-time/part-time and public/private splits. The dataset Industry – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 2 includes statistics for:

• Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software in specialised stores (47410)
• Retail sale of mobile telephones (47421)
• Retail sale of telecommunications equipment (other than mobile phones) n.e.c. in specialised stores (47429)
• Retail sale of audio and video equipment in specialised stores (47430)
• Retail sale of electrical household appliance in specialised stores (47540)

Other regions

Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.

UK

Gov.uk provides general guidance on regulations for the sale of goods and services and data protection.

Brexit

Guidance on the impact of Brexit on the UK retail sector.

The benefits of Brexit: How the UK is taking advantage of leaving the EU
Policy paper setting out the Government's vision for number of sectors post-Brexit and how it plans to achieve these. Includes: Financial services; Professional business services; Legal services; Automotive; Aerospace; Retail and consumer goods; Hospitality; Food and drink; Culture; Aviation; Space; Rail; Roads; Maritime; Nuclear; Construction; Farming; Fisheries. Published January 2022.

Keep your business moving: Video explainers on new rules for doing business with EU
Suite of on-demand short videos from UK government for businesses on importing, exporting, rules of origin, tariffs, providing services to EU markets, Northern Ireland, data handling, hiring staff, and selling goods. Sector-specific videos also cover chemicals regulations, IP, emissions, waste, and Horizon funding.

Retail sector and the EU
Guidance for the retail sector on new rules from 1 January 2021. It covers importing and exporting, selling goods, trading with the EU, workforce, providing services, R&D funding, regulations, and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Consumer goods sector and the EU
Guidance from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy for the consumer goods sector on working with the EU from 1 January 2021.

Trade Tariff

The Trade Tariff is a useful Gov.uk database listing tax, duties and licenses for the import and export of goods between the UK and other countries. The database is searchable by product or commodity code and results can be filtered by date and country. Information also includes links to relevant conditions and regulations.

See import and export information for:

• electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles

Croner-i Business Focus

Business Focus is a resource that provides practical information on many small business trades and sectors. Its Mini Business Opportunity Profiles provide a general introduction to more niche business areas, including:

• Second-hand white goods retailer

To find out more about Business Focus, please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.

Atom Content Marketing guides

The Start Up Donut from Atom Content Marketing provides practical information on starting up and running a number of small business types. Guides cover a range of areas including market research, current trends, regulations, products and services, promotion and pricing. They include:

• Electrical shop

We can produce reports on this sector using selected information from the FAME company database. Reports are available for:

• Retail sale of information and communication equipment in specialised stores
  UK SIC (2007) Code 47.40
  Includes computers, peripheral units and software; telecommunications equipment; audio and video equipment.
• Retail sale of electrical household appliances in specialised stores
  UK SIC (2007) Code 47.54

Summaries of the three types of report we can produce are given below. You can find further information, a sample report, pricing details and an online order form on our industry sector reports page.

We also operate a bespoke reports service with results tailored to your specifications. Please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com to discuss your requirements.

Key players report

Our key players report looks at the top companies (by turnover) in any one of the segments within this sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures. The reports provide data on 11 comparative fields for the last available year, including:

• turnover;
• profit margins;
• returns on shareholder funds;
• solvency ratios
• number of employees.

Our reports enable easy comparison of the top companies in this sector against each other and against the sector median, average and standard deviation in each of the 11 fields.

Mailing list

A separate mailing list report is also available with address and contact details for the top companies in any of the segments within this sector.

Market reports

Our market reports look at the aggregated data for the top companies (by turnover) for any of the segments within this sector across all the fields usually found in a company report. The reports include data for the last 10 years* and enables easy comparison of trends for the whole sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures.

*Please note the number of companies for which data is aggregated will vary for any given year.

The market reports include sections on:

• key financials and employees;
• profit and loss account;
• balance sheet;
• cash flow statement;
• financial ratios;
• financial trends and changes;
• profitability trends and changes.

We offer benchmarking reports that can be used to inform your own business strategy or help you identify value-added services to offer to your clients.

Contact the enquiry team directly on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com for a report tailored to your own specific requirements.

Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.

• Cue Entertainment
• Electronics Weekly
• ERT
• Get Connected
• Independent Electrical Retailer
• TWICE: This Week in Consumer Electronics

The websites of trade bodies in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.

UK

• Associated National Electrical Wholesalers (ANEW)
• Association of Wholesale Electrical Bulk Buyers (AWEBB)
• Electrical Distributors Association (EDA)
• Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers' Association (RETRA)

Europe

• ERA Europe

Americas

• Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) (US)
• Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) (US)

Oceania

• National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) (Australia)

Articles and books in the Library collection

• View a list of articles and books in our collection on the electrical retail industry

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.