Analysis
-
Jun- 2021 -11 June
The embedded finance revolution in retail
The retail sector is in the midst of a huge digital transformation. From digital wallets and savings accounts, to frictionless payments and lending, an ever-increasing number of non-bank businesses are beginning to welcome embedded finance as part of their service. Having already disrupted banking, embedded finance serves to bridge the…
Read More » -
3 June
Why increasing the plastic bag charge won’t be enough to reduce consumption
In a bid to stop the environmental damage caused by plastic bags, the government has recently increased the charge for “single-use” bags from 5p to 10p. The increase, albeit minor, has been touted as a major step in changing consumer behaviours by the media. However, our behaviours are shaped by…
Read More » -
May- 2021 -26 May
Mind the gap: plugging the physical disconnect in a digital-first retail era
It is no exaggeration to say that the past 12 months have turned the retail environment on its head. As consumers slowly start to rise above the parapet and lockdown restrictions ease, retailers are having to overcome the physical disconnect between themselves and their customers. With retail moving almost entirely…
Read More » -
21 May
Customer experience differentiation is at the core of retail innovation
The rise of DTC, net-zero commerce, hyper-local shopping, dark stores, same-day (if not, same-15-minutes) delivery, and brand drops mark the point of no return for mainstream retailers. Over the past decade, retail has somewhat sleepwalked into paradigm shifts that are shaping the modern world. The fall of Arcadia Group is…
Read More » -
19 May
The Great Covid Experiment – Is the Pure-play Retailer Dead?
A year of enforced change in buying habits where pretty much everything went online is set to revert to “the new normal”. Yes, the Covid pandemic accelerated the shift to online; but is the future of retail really digital only? While in the short to medium term, there will remain…
Read More » -
14 May
The return to the high street: friend or foe?
With our clocks adjusted to British Summer Time and Government guidelines easing off shopping restrictions for non-essential shopping, the return to the high street is back in swing. However, with non-essential shops implementing social distancing measures to ensure they remain as safe as they can be, the handling of stock…
Read More » -
11 May
Plastic Packaging Tax revenues should be reinvested in retail
It’s now less than 12 months until UK retailers face paying a new levy on plastic packaging, with this set to raise hundreds of millions in tax revenues. This money should be shared with retailers to help further improve recycling and sustainability. UK Plastic Packaging Tax explained From 1 April…
Read More » -
7 May
How Amazon delivered a smart retail customer experience with a human touch
Competition in modern retail is all about customer experience, and during the pandemic e-commerce and digital retail has accelerated rapidly, creating new customer expectations around digital experiences. According to the ONS, online retail sales grew by 46% in 2020 compared to the previous year – the largest increase since 2008.…
Read More » -
Apr- 2021 -19 April
How retailers can optimise their digital strategies for a post-lockdown world
As we pass the anniversary of the first national lockdown, many retailers are pausing to reflect on how the past year has impacted their business. While some have struggled to adapt others have thrived, seeing restrictions as an opportunity to attract new customers through Google Shopping and e-commerce platforms. With…
Read More » -
15 April
Could failed deliveries threaten to derail the global eCommerce boom?
The pandemic has prompted a global surge in consumers buying goods online, quickly accelerating a trend that was already well underway. As a result, business is booming for retail businesses worldwide, with 54% of firms reporting an increase in international orders during the past 12 months. While this has clearly…
Read More »
