Online & Digital
Online & Digital covers the innovations, strategies and technologies driving the growth of e-commerce and digital retail across the UK. This category explores how retailers and brands are adapting to evolving consumer behaviour, omnichannel expectations and the rapid pace of technological change.
Coverage spans website performance, digital marketing, data analytics, online fulfilment, and the integration of AI and automation in customer experience. Retail Sector’s Online & Digital section delivers expert insight into how digital transformation is redefining retail operations and competitiveness — helping professionals stay ahead in an increasingly connected marketplace.
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Jan- 2018 -23 January
‘Ghosted’ customers cost repeat sales
UK consumers who feel abandoned by a retailer following a purchase are less likely to purchase from the store again, a new survey finds. Narvar and YouGov asked 3000 UK consumers to uncover their biggest bugbears when shopping with online retailers. The study shows that retailers are failing to secure…
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23 January
Online retail shows signs of maturing with tough 2018 ahead, says IMRG
The rate of retail sales growth is pointing to a ‘maturing market’, figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index suggest. UK online retail sales were up 12.1% on average year-on-year (YoY) in 2017, which was lower than the IMRG’s forecast of 14%. This figures also falls short of 2016’s…
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23 January
Amazon opens new supermarket with no checkouts
Online retail giant Amazon has launched a new supermarket which has has no checkout counter or self service tills. The Amazon Go store located in Seattle, where the company is based, is full of ceiling-mounted cameras and electronic sensors which identify each customer and track the items they select. All…
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22 January
UK online SMEs ‘confident’ in 2018 sales growth
UK SME online retailers have expressed confidence in the year ahead with 74% anticipating sales will increase in 2018, according to a study commissioned by Royal Mail.Some 70% of retailers asked said they had experienced an uplift in sales in 2017 compared to the previous year. The health and beauty…
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22 January
Holland & Barrett appoints new managing director
Health and wellness retailer Holland & Barrett has appointed Steve Carson to the newly created position of managing director. Carson was previously director of retail and customer operations at Sainsbury’s and Argos, responsible for around 840 stores. He will oversee the day-to-day running of Holland & Barrett, driving further growth…
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19 January
December 2017 sees retail sales slump
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that December 2017 had the weakest retail sales in over four years. The quantity of items bought in December decreased by 1.5% when compared with the stronger sales in November 2017. Although retail sales increased by 1.3% in December compared with the…
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17 January
Seasalt reports record breaking Christmas sales
Cornish fashion brand Seasalt has reported a record year for Christmas trading, with overall sales up 52% for the five weeks leading up to 6 January 2018. Strong sales growth was recorded both online and in-store, with 72% online year-on-year growth and store sales up by 40%. Additionally, international sales…
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16 January
Shop Direct posts 6.3% Christmas growth, appoints interim CEO
Shop Direct, which operates Very, Littlewoods and Very Exclusive brands, revealed its total group revenue increased by 6.3% during the seven weeks up to December 2017. The performance was driven by 16.8% growth in the Very brand, in what the group says is its “largest and fastest growing retail brand”.…
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15 January
BHS.com continues online revival with sales increase
BHS.com, the online-only reincarnation of collapsed department store chain BHS, has seen a 43% increase in sales for the final quarter of 2017. The increase was boosted by strong performances in its home accessories, lighting and women’s sleepwear divisions, which saw sales increase by 43%, 57% and 107% respectively. The…
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12 January
Shoppers make 80% of retail purchases online
Online shoppers in the UK make 80% of their retail purchases online, up from 74%, according to a new report. The Royal Mail’s ‘Delivery Matters’ report found that the proportion of money being spent online has increased year on year. The average online shopper spends £40 each month on clothes…
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