FY028 Inquiry Based Learning: Retail Industry and Sainsbury's Report

This report provides an inquiry-based analysis of the retail industry, focusing on Sainsbury's financial position and market strategies. It begins with an overview of current trends in the retail sector, including online sales, technological advancements, and the impact of Brexit and COVID-19. The report then analyzes Sainsbury's, examining its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). It covers the company's history, market share, and competitive landscape. Primary investigation and analysis are conducted to assess Sainsbury's performance in the market. The report concludes with recommendations for Sainsbury's to enhance its financial position, including leveraging technology, expanding online presence, focusing on environmental sustainability, and strengthening marketing strategies to address competition and customer retention. An action plan is also included, outlining steps to achieve the company's goals.

Inquiry Based
Learning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Trends in retail industry..............................................................................................................3
Analysis of the organisation........................................................................................................4
Aim of the report.........................................................................................................................4
Primary investigation..................................................................................................................5
Analysis.......................................................................................................................................6
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................6
Action Plan..................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERNCES:..................................................................................................................................9
Books and Journals:....................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Inquiry based learning is a form of learning that includes questions, scenarios and
problems. This report is based on inquiry based learning in Aldi that is one of the famous
organisation in retail industry of UK. In the report there is discussion related to current trends in
the retail market. Along with that there is explanation about the company. In the end of the report
there are various recommendations for the organisation.
MAIN BODY
Trends in retail industry
Retail industry as at boom and is serving various customers around the globe. The
company generated 5% to GDP. In UK also the industry is serving good. As per the data
collected by Retail Economics There is 3.4% growth in retail sales in UK. The sales made by
retail industry is around £394 billion. Retail industry provides employment opportunities to
around 2.9 million employees. There are various big companies that are part of retail industry.
There is one-third of consumer spending in retail industry. There is 19% of online sales in retail
industry. There are 306,655 retail outlets in UK. Also the online sales has risen by 324% since
last 10 years. As there are various opportunities seen in retail industry many new business are
emerging to earn profit. It is vital to provide quality goods to form a image in the retail industry.
There are less entry barriers in retail industry and and the amount of capital required is not that
much (A Bailey, 2018). As the industry is contributing to GDP there is support of government.
There are various strategies that are used by different companies to enhance the sales of industry.
In 2020 the retail industry faced various problems due to COVID 19. Things were
balanced due to online availability of companies. People purchased the essential products
through online mode. This online mode of shopping has created an impact and customers now-a-
days prefer to buy online that is impacting the performance of retail stores. There is
technological development and the company's have to adopt the trend. The needs and wants of
retail customers are also changing at a fast pace. There are various problems for the players in
retail market to understand those trends and change accordingly. Another major problem that
declined the sales was Brexit. In 2019 the sales in retail sector of UK declined. Various
fluctuations took place in the year. It is seen that buying decision of customers depend ion the
price at which the product and service is offered. Innovating the product is another challenge that

is faced by the company's that are part of retail industry. As the companies have global presence
as they have top serve various customers that live in different location. The political condition
has direct impact on the sales of the company.
Young population is contributing a lot to the retail industry. Efforts and strategies are
formulated by the individuals that make the industry successful. As the industry is at booming
stage it is important to serve the needs and wants of customers effectively. As it is dynamic is
nature there is requirement of good strategies that can help to retain customers. The main task is
to understand the recent trends and take innovative decisions so as the industry is able to perform
effectively (Kalsoom and Khanam, 2017). The retail stores should be organised so that the
customers are attracted.
The organisations are focusing on innovations and using updated technology so as to
attract more and more customers. It is important to serve the customers with latest products and
services so as establish good image in the market. They are also taking care of environment and
producing environmental friendly products. That will help to serve the customers better. It is also
important to serve the customers at both offline and online stores. There are various challenges
and opportunities that are present in the retain sector market. .
Analysis of the organisation
Sainbury's is second largest retail chain in united Kingdoms. The company has 16%
share in retail sector of UK. The company was founded by John James Sainsbury in 1869. The
company has around 1,428 stores. The company has its headquarters in London, England, UK.
The company provides employment opportunity to around 116,400 people. The revenue of
company is around £29.007 billion in 2019 (Russo and Adorno, 2018). There are various
competitors of the company. To compete company has establish various strategies and study the
current trends in the market. The company is able operate successfully as they regularly innovate
the products and services and satisfy the needs and wants of customers. The company analyses
the preference of customers and ten offer them food. The marketing strategy it also strong as that
helps to attract various customers.
Aim of the report
“To analyse the financial position of Sainsbury's.”
Primary investigation

When the data is collected by the researcher it is called primary investigator. The data
collected is first hand and it is reliable (Müller-Christ, 2019). It is important to take the point of
view of employees and internal stakeholders of the organisation. As the market is dynamic it is
important to know about the position of company through primary investigation. Along with
that future is uncertain so it is important to take care of the strategies that are formulated by the
organisation.
SWOT Analysis of Sainsbury's
Strengths
 The company has taken right expansion
decision and now has achieved a
position of second largest chain of
supermarkets in UK. The company has
always grabbed the opportunities and
become successful.
 Sainsbury's conducts roper research
about customers needs and wants and
innovates the product accordingly to
satisfy them. Along with that the
marketing strategies of company help
them to attract the customers.
Weaknesses
 There are various competitors of he
company. Along with that they get
tough competition with online stores.
So the company sets prices that are
lower that then the competitors and that
reduces the profit margin of the
company (Harris, 2017).
 The company launches various
programmes to attract and engage
customers, but still there is less
switching cost and Sainsbury's is
unable to retain the customers.
Opportunities
 The products offered by company are
also used by rural people. This shows
the market covered by company is
large (Liu and et. al., 2019). This
shows the company has taken
opportunity of serving customers in
remote villages.
 The company also partners to explore
Threats
 The biggest threat faced by company is
that of competition. There are direct
competitors of the company like Lidl,
Aldi, and Asda.
 Entering global market is a treat for
company. This is the challenge that is
faced by Sainsbury's.

new markets.
Analysis
Saisbury's has focused on market and always taken new opportunities that have benefited
the company. Grabbing opportunities bring challenges also. The company is able to attract
various customers and planning to retain them. As the company also provides employment
opportunities to various individuals. The company works to accomplish the vision. There are
various stakeholders of a company and to become successful it is important to serve them all
effectively. The company conducts regular research and tries to identify the needs and wants of
all the stakeholders and make efforts to satisfy them (Singh and Kaushik, 2020). It is importance
for company to get ready for the uncertainties that may arise in future. Saisbury's focus on key
points that is derived through steering wheel that are customer, Finance, people and operations
of the company. as all of these are important in the organisation as they help to become
successful. As managing finance is vital for every organisation and that helps to become
successful. Along with that customers for whom the organisation operates (Kreuzer and
Dreesmann, 2017). Most importantly the company manages its operations as that is required to
satisfy all the other stakeholders related to company. The operations and productivity of the
company depend of the employees so it is also important for an organisation to satisfy the
employees and keep them motivated. So, Sainsbury's do efforts to satisfy all the key areas and
that helps the company to achieve success.
Recommendations
Sainsbury's is operating effectively and is able to gain profit. The company is
successfully operating in retail sector. There are some recommendation for the company that are
explained further. As the technology advancement is common now-a-days, Sainsbury should
also use updated technology to attract more and more customers. This helps company to
establish strong image in the market. By focusing on technology company can reduce the cost of
operations (Heindl, 2019). Also it is time when there is trend of online selling. Sanisbury's
should take care of this factor. The company should make efforts to have presence online. It is
vital to use digital platforms as that attracts more customers. The sales of organisation will also
enhance by selling goods and services through online platforms. COVIOD 19 has impacted the
performanxce of retail stores so it is time to enhance the sales by serving the customers online.

The company has to make presence in the market and that can be effectively done of the
company serves the environment (Gladun and Buchynska, 2017). All the resources that company
gets are from the environment so it is responsibility of company to optimally use the resource
that are provided by the environment. This also helps business as the company gets support of
government if they take care of environment. For success of an organisation it is vital to get the
support of government. Regular research is required to know about the trends in the market as
that will help to provide the latest goods and services to all the customers. The company should
make efforts and use the finance at appropriate place. As money is required by business at every
level. So the company should take proper care and take decisions wisely while spending money.
This can be done by knowing about the benefits and disadvantages before investing ion a new
product. The major threat that is faced by Sainsbury's is from competitors (Wargo, 2021). No
doubt competition is present at every level the company should formulate strategies that help
them to attract and engage the customers towards the business. The company should give offers
and discounts that will help to make the visit of customers. Another problem that is faced by
company is that of retaining customers. Sainsbury's should give loyalty points to the customers
as that enhances the number of visits of the customers. This competition factor can not be
eliminated by the company so they should prepare themselves for the competition. That can be
done by enhancing the marketing strategy of the company. The sales has direct connection with
the marketing of the department. The company should focus to serve customers better than the
competitors. Sainsbury's should maintain the quality of products that are offered by them as that
also helps to attract more customers and gain loyalty. All these factors will help the company to
earn more revenue and gain a powerful image in market.
Action Plan
Action plan includes the steps that are taken by organisation to achieve the set goals and
targets of the organisation. It help the company to attain the position that the6y want to. The
Action plan formulated by Sainsbury's is to enhance there financial position and that will be done
if the company is able to enhance its sales (Piercey, 2017). As mentioned above there is relation
between sales and marketing of the company. The company should improvise the marketing
strategy and enhance its presence online. This will help the company to attract more customers.
Promotions will help the company to enhance its sals. Another way is of giving offers and

discounts along with offering quality products to customers that will help the company to retain
the customer.

CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded the inquiry based learning helps to solve
problem and draw conclusion of a scenario. This report talks about the current trends in retail
market along with the challenges faced by the same. Saisbury's is selected to evaluate the report.
There is discussion about the c0omopany its strength, weakness. That helps to give
recommendation to the company.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Piercey, V.I., 2017. A Quantitative Reasoning Approach to Algebra Using Inquiry-Based
Learning. Numeracy: Advancing Education in Quantitative Literacy, 10(2).
Wargo, J.M., 2021. “Seeing” Difference Differently: Inquiry-Based Learning as a Site/Sight of
Intersectional Justice in English Language Arts. Language Arts, 98(3), pp.135-148.
Gladun, M. and Buchynska, D., 2017. Tools for inquiry-based learning in primary
school. Відкрите освітнє е-середовище сучасного університету, (3).
Heindl, M., 2019. Inquiry-based learning and the pre-requisite for its use in science at school: A
meta-analysis. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 3(2), pp.52-61.
Kreuzer, P. and Dreesmann, D., 2017. Museum behind the scenes–an inquiry-based learning unit
with biological collections in the classroom. Journal of Biological Education, 51(3), pp.261-272.
Singh, J. and Kaushik, V., 2020. The study of the effectiveness of the inquiry-based learning
method in chemistry teaching learning process. Adalya Journal, 9(4), pp.234-237.
Liu, Q., and et. al., 2019. Library user education as a window to understand inquiry-based
learning in the context of higher education in Asia: A comparative study between Peking
University and the University of Tsukuba. College & Research Libraries, 80(1), p.8.
Harris, G., 2017. Implementing inquiry-based learning through collaboration. Teacher
Librarian, 44(3), p.26.
Müller-Christ, G., 2019. Inquiry-based learning in business administration. In Inquiry-based
learning–undergraduate research (pp. 261-269). Springer, Cham.
Russo, A. and Adorno, D.P., 2018, September. An inquiry-based learning path to introduce
modern physics in high-school. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1076, No. 1, p.
012007). IOP Publishing.
Kalsoom, Q. and Khanam, A., 2017. Inquiry into sustainability issues by preservice teachers: A
pedagogy to enhance sustainability consciousness. Journal of cleaner production, 164, pp.1301-
1311.
A Bailey, L., 2018. The impact of inquiry-based learning on academic achievement in eighth-
grade social studies.