Matt Walton
mattw-retail.bsky.social
Matt Walton
@mattw-retail.bsky.social
Senior Data Analyst within retail, focusing on furniture and floorcoverings.

All views are my own.

Should probably get a new headshot (it's still 2017 for me)
Was interviewed by the BBC Toast podcast, talking about the demise of Homebase. If you would like to listen to it, it is available on the link below.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Sliced Bread - Toast - Homebase - BBC Sounds
Why did the DIY chain Homebase have to close all of its stores?
www.bbc.co.uk
June 30, 2025 at 4:47 PM
All done in 1:57:03. An over 40 PB. Very happy with the time and how it all went.

Note for next time, bring plasters.
May 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
If you would like to follow along to the absolute kaleidescope that is my taste in music

www.last.fm/user/Mattwalton3

Everything from Liberty X to Mariachi to Dolly Parton to black metal.
May 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Getting ready for the Birmingham Half if you want to follow along on the Great Run app, I'm lucky number 3588.

Side note - it is way harder to find a purple running vest than it needs to be.
May 4, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Impressed with the IKEA Oxford Street store. Very much like a scaled down IKEA rather than its previous order & collect stores, has a greater chance of success. Still very busy in the final hour of trading. Will be interesting to see if this holds up over time. Promising start though.
May 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
New Order - Yes
All other uses of Blue Monday - No
Blue Monday is a piece of crap pseudo science originally part of a travel company's press release to sell holidays.

Can we all try to avoid rewarding marketeers, using this term, which tries to sell goods by parasiting on the back of real mental health campaigns.
January 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Please join us on the 29th January (next Wed) at 2pm for a 30 minute webinar on retail's performance over Christmas 2024. The winners & losers, key trends, our latest consumer data and our forecasts for 2025.

If you would like to join us, please register on the link below
bit.ly/GDRetailJanW...
January 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Matt Walton
Not trusting ONS' seasonal adjustments, the best way to look at the retail data today is combining Nov and Dec (due to way Black Friday period spilled into Dec last year). Value up 2.2% on last year. In £ terms, it is what a lot of retailers (but not me) would declare to be a 'record Christmas'.
January 17, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Five days in and the Sephora Bluewater launch is still going strong
December 1, 2024 at 3:27 PM
More personal post but always honoured to even be considered to officiate this level of game.

If I could go back in time and tell 11 year old me one thing after being crushed at not making the year 7 team, it would stay the course. It really works out.
November 21, 2024 at 6:52 PM
Read Richard Hyman's and my thoughts on the factors behind Homebase collapse and what is next from the Retail Gazette

bit.ly/3OddNSt
Homebase in administration: What went wrong and what next? - Retail Gazette
Homebase is preparing to appoint administrators as The Range eyes a deal to acquire some of its stores.
bit.ly
November 15, 2024 at 12:26 PM