Kien Tan
@kientan74.bsky.social
Retail consultant and analyst by day, gym instructor and beer drinker by night.
All about shops, pubs, planes, gyms... and the views are mine, all mine.
All about shops, pubs, planes, gyms... and the views are mine, all mine.
🚕 I'm pretty ambivalent about VAT on Ubers, but the arguments on both sides are totally barmy:
Why does charging VAT "make women less safe"?
How do higher Uber fares "cut the cost of living"?
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/vat-...
Why does charging VAT "make women less safe"?
How do higher Uber fares "cut the cost of living"?
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/vat-...
December 4, 2025 at 8:39 AM
🚕 I'm pretty ambivalent about VAT on Ubers, but the arguments on both sides are totally barmy:
Why does charging VAT "make women less safe"?
How do higher Uber fares "cut the cost of living"?
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/vat-...
Why does charging VAT "make women less safe"?
How do higher Uber fares "cut the cost of living"?
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/vat-...
🚌 While this is a particularly egregious example, at least Delaney Street is only closed for a couple of weeks… compared with the diversions caused by the repeated prolonged closures in the City (eg King William St for 2+ years). And just wait till Oxford St pedestrianises…
December 4, 2025 at 6:53 AM
🚌 While this is a particularly egregious example, at least Delaney Street is only closed for a couple of weeks… compared with the diversions caused by the repeated prolonged closures in the City (eg King William St for 2+ years). And just wait till Oxford St pedestrianises…
🥪 I regret to tell you that the M&S Strawberries & Cream sando has spawned imitations. And they are not good. Yes, that is (sweet) mincemeat, crème fraiche and salted caramel in a tortilla wrap… 🤷♂️
PS Anyone know if this is/isn’t subject to VAT?
PS Anyone know if this is/isn’t subject to VAT?
December 3, 2025 at 8:08 PM
🥪 I regret to tell you that the M&S Strawberries & Cream sando has spawned imitations. And they are not good. Yes, that is (sweet) mincemeat, crème fraiche and salted caramel in a tortilla wrap… 🤷♂️
PS Anyone know if this is/isn’t subject to VAT?
PS Anyone know if this is/isn’t subject to VAT?
Rejoice all, because the worst Sainsbury’s in the world has now closed 🥲👋
Don’t believe me? 👉 x.com/kientan74/st...
Don’t believe me? 👉 x.com/kientan74/st...
December 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Rejoice all, because the worst Sainsbury’s in the world has now closed 🥲👋
Don’t believe me? 👉 x.com/kientan74/st...
Don’t believe me? 👉 x.com/kientan74/st...
I’m at one of those events where people are “business casual”, and, I kid you not, two-thirds of the men are wearing quarter-zips… Since when did quarter-zips become a thing?
Also Rishi: accidental style icon
Also Rishi: accidental style icon
December 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I’m at one of those events where people are “business casual”, and, I kid you not, two-thirds of the men are wearing quarter-zips… Since when did quarter-zips become a thing?
Also Rishi: accidental style icon
Also Rishi: accidental style icon
Budget speech: "permanently lower (business) rates for retail, hospitality and leisure... lowest since 1991... paid for by warehouses"
UKHospitality analysis of Valuations Agency data released later that evening...
Honestly wondering what the Chancellor meant by "lowest since 1991..." 🤷♂️
UKHospitality analysis of Valuations Agency data released later that evening...
Honestly wondering what the Chancellor meant by "lowest since 1991..." 🤷♂️
December 1, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Budget speech: "permanently lower (business) rates for retail, hospitality and leisure... lowest since 1991... paid for by warehouses"
UKHospitality analysis of Valuations Agency data released later that evening...
Honestly wondering what the Chancellor meant by "lowest since 1991..." 🤷♂️
UKHospitality analysis of Valuations Agency data released later that evening...
Honestly wondering what the Chancellor meant by "lowest since 1991..." 🤷♂️
Well, what the PM keeps banging on about seems to fit your second description. I mean it’s not a “lie” as such, just very selectively “pretending the economy was worse than it was” in order to spook/threaten the country into accepting more taxes. What would Bluesky have said if a Tory did this?
December 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Well, what the PM keeps banging on about seems to fit your second description. I mean it’s not a “lie” as such, just very selectively “pretending the economy was worse than it was” in order to spook/threaten the country into accepting more taxes. What would Bluesky have said if a Tory did this?
In general, Tesco is quite good at UX… Until it’s lunchtime, you’re trying to buy a meal deal, there’s a queue behind you at the self service checkouts, and it asks you to reset your password before you can get your Clubcard discount 🤦♂️
Went to Sainsbury’s instead!👌
Went to Sainsbury’s instead!👌
December 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
In general, Tesco is quite good at UX… Until it’s lunchtime, you’re trying to buy a meal deal, there’s a queue behind you at the self service checkouts, and it asks you to reset your password before you can get your Clubcard discount 🤦♂️
Went to Sainsbury’s instead!👌
Went to Sainsbury’s instead!👌
🎄 Will the Budget put a dampener on Britons' Christmas shopping plans? I discussed with Irina Anghel for @bloomberg.com, and you can read her report here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 30, 2025 at 8:26 AM
🎄 Will the Budget put a dampener on Britons' Christmas shopping plans? I discussed with Irina Anghel for @bloomberg.com, and you can read her report here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
🎅 Christmas shopping is starting earlier and earlier... or is it? I discussed with @amyborrett.ft.com for this weekend's @financialtimes.com. Read her report here: on.ft.com/487Czya
November 30, 2025 at 8:22 AM
🎅 Christmas shopping is starting earlier and earlier... or is it? I discussed with @amyborrett.ft.com for this weekend's @financialtimes.com. Read her report here: on.ft.com/487Czya
Perhaps they were never updated to the new software. e.g. for BA, it affects only 3 out of c.120 A320 family fleet: x.com/SimonCalder/...
November 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Perhaps they were never updated to the new software. e.g. for BA, it affects only 3 out of c.120 A320 family fleet: x.com/SimonCalder/...
Stolen from Paul Johnson on X, presented without comment 📈
November 26, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Stolen from Paul Johnson on X, presented without comment 📈
London still looks pretty cool in winter, eh?
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 AM
London still looks pretty cool in winter, eh?
Lidl is selling a £150 Reformer machine for Black Friday, and I can feel Pilates instructors all around the country wincing...
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Lidl is selling a £150 Reformer machine for Black Friday, and I can feel Pilates instructors all around the country wincing...
☕️ Greggs sausage roll with a Pret filter coffee in a Starbucks reusable cup… Dontcha wish you could smoosh all your favourite food-to-go places into one?!
November 21, 2025 at 8:16 AM
☕️ Greggs sausage roll with a Pret filter coffee in a Starbucks reusable cup… Dontcha wish you could smoosh all your favourite food-to-go places into one?!
📉 The key observation about today’s retail sales is that shoppers are “keeping their powder dry”: they started their Christmas shopping later, they’ve not bought new season’s fashions, they’re buying less food… What could turn the tide? 🤔
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
📉 The key observation about today’s retail sales is that shoppers are “keeping their powder dry”: they started their Christmas shopping later, they’ve not bought new season’s fashions, they’re buying less food… What could turn the tide? 🤔
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x
My comments: bit.ly/4ocye1x
I pity the poor copywriter who had to get this Lizzie Line poster past TfL’s lawyers, who insisted on caveats for the words “fast” and “greener”
November 20, 2025 at 6:34 AM
I pity the poor copywriter who had to get this Lizzie Line poster past TfL’s lawyers, who insisted on caveats for the words “fast” and “greener”
November 19, 2025 at 10:41 PM
🪟 In an A+ case of nominative determinism, I’m getting blinds fitted in my new flat tomorrow… by Kevin Window!
November 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
🪟 In an A+ case of nominative determinism, I’m getting blinds fitted in my new flat tomorrow… by Kevin Window!
🧾 …but maybe, maybe, if I’m at an expensive full service restaurant, like one of those logos here, maybe I don’t want to spend £50+ per head on dinner and then be forced to download an app and pay on my phone, just because you want me to “generate data”.
It’s called “hospitality” for a reason…
It’s called “hospitality” for a reason…
November 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
🧾 …but maybe, maybe, if I’m at an expensive full service restaurant, like one of those logos here, maybe I don’t want to spend £50+ per head on dinner and then be forced to download an app and pay on my phone, just because you want me to “generate data”.
It’s called “hospitality” for a reason…
It’s called “hospitality” for a reason…
And you're not even joking!
November 18, 2025 at 8:48 AM
And you're not even joking!
People in the UK: "Hold my coffee"
*yoy = inflation since Labour took office
(HT: @harvirdhillon.bsky.social)
*yoy = inflation since Labour took office
(HT: @harvirdhillon.bsky.social)
November 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM
People in the UK: "Hold my coffee"
*yoy = inflation since Labour took office
(HT: @harvirdhillon.bsky.social)
*yoy = inflation since Labour took office
(HT: @harvirdhillon.bsky.social)
🥪 Ahhh, well, it was good while it lasted, and definitely encouraged me to buy lunch at Pret more often (when I was near qualifying shops…). Long live the Pret meal deal…
November 17, 2025 at 5:47 PM
🥪 Ahhh, well, it was good while it lasted, and definitely encouraged me to buy lunch at Pret more often (when I was near qualifying shops…). Long live the Pret meal deal…
🇫🇮 Helsinki!
For the architecture (finnisharchitecture.fi/helsinki-air...) and the art (www.finavia.fi/en/airports/...)
For the architecture (finnisharchitecture.fi/helsinki-air...) and the art (www.finavia.fi/en/airports/...)
November 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🇫🇮 Helsinki!
For the architecture (finnisharchitecture.fi/helsinki-air...) and the art (www.finavia.fi/en/airports/...)
For the architecture (finnisharchitecture.fi/helsinki-air...) and the art (www.finavia.fi/en/airports/...)