The best help for retailers is self-help, says Allan Leighton Speaking at the launch of Pandora's flagship store in London's Oxford Street, Mr Leighton, who became chief executive of the company earlier this year, downplayed all talk of a high street downturn, insisting that Pandora's future in bricks and mortar was assured. "The thing about retail is you get great locations, great products, great people and do great marketing, and you do well," he said. Even when times are tough, you still do well. Retail is very simple really. You just have to keep doing it day in day out. Mr Leighton has forecasted 3pc-5pc like-for-like growth in the UK business over the next year. "Pandora is in a great sweet spot, affordable luxury," he argued. That puts us in the mass market. If you ask me, Pandora could be the most popular jewellery business in the world. Mr Leighton criticised the recent high street review by self-styled Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, denying that the UK high street was in crisis. "If you look at the high street, there are charity shops, pound shops," he said. It's not as if there's nothing in them. If you walk down most high streets, they're all full. But people are now looking for value. People are missing the trend and focussing on the closures. He also dismissed the recommendations of retail veteran Bill Grimsey, who has called for massive investment into the high street via a levy on successful chains such as Tesco and Wetherspoon's. "I know Bill Grimsey pretty well," said Mr Leighton. And I've been reading all about this high street stuff. But the best help in the world is self help. I've been in retail for a years and I don't think anyone's ever come along and helped me with anything. Mr Leighton was also critical of any government schemes that would attempt to breathe new life into the British high street. "I've seen so many government initiatives launch but I've never received anything as a result of them so I'm not holding out now," he said. "There is all the stuff around [business] rates, which does make a difference," he admitted. But my point is you have to rely on someone else [to fix that] and I've never relied on someone else to do something because nothing ever happens. Don't wait. Get great locations and have great products and off you go.