French revolutionary Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac was recorded saying in 1794 that Britain was "a nation of shopkeepers" but, not so long ago, the demise of bricks-and-mortar retail seemed to be writ large. Online retail offered convenience for consumers, low overheads for brands and a far more efficient management of stock, with all goods in one warehouse rather than being scattered across shops. Global audiences could be reached without hefty rents, and cautionary tales about over-expansion…
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