The retail technology week in numbers
Eight in ten UK consumers plan to steer clear of the High Street on Black Friday this year, according to research by Genesys involving 1,000 people. 55% say they are giving it a miss as stores are too busy.
55,000…One4all has partnered with Superdry, Jack Wills and Banana Republic, adding an extra 220 stores to its offering. The venture’s gift card is now redeemable in more than 55,000 UK stores.
77% and 74%…In-store WiFi and Click and Collect have proven to be the most popular retail technologies in 2018.
Research from Hitachi Consulting shows that 77% of major London retail destinations have embraced the former, closely followed by the latter (74%).
£234…Consumer interest in Black Friday has begun to plateau in the UK, although it has established itself as an important shopping event for many, according to research by PwC involving 2,000+ people.
Brits are preparing to spend an average of £234 at the tills and online during this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping periods. This is exactly the same as 2017. 50% also state they are not interested in the promotions, with 11% warning they would be purposely avoiding shopping altogether.
8%…Research by DS Smith reveals that 8% of the £8.1 billion spent by Brits during Black Friday week this year will be on products which arrive damaged.
51.5%…Halloween proved a treat for retailers as 51.5% of UK consumers spent on the occasion, according to GlobalData.
44%…The proportion of Brits using their smartphones to make purchases online during the lead up to Christmas has increased by 44% compared to last year, according to research by Ve. And mobile sales will rise to over 50% during the Black Friday weekend.
$55 million…Kroger has chosen its hometown of Cincinnati for the first of 20 high-tech warehouses it plans to build with Ocado, the result of a deal signed earlier this year.
Kroger is investing $55 million to build it, with the facility measuring 335,000 square feet and generating more than 410 new jobs.
£47.7 billion…Mintel has some festive cheer for Britain’s retailers. It is predicting that December’s retail sales will hit £47.7 billion (incl. VAT), growing 4% compared to the same period last year.
£14.99…Costa Coffee has launched the UK’s first reusable contactless coffee cup, powered by Barclaycard’s bPay technology.
The Clever Cup will be available in its stores during November, priced at £14.99, with a £1 donation from every sale going to The Costa Foundation. Users can track their spending, top up their balance, and block or cancel the contactless payment element online or using the dedicated bPay app, available on iPhone and Android devices.
210,000…Despite 30% of the estimated 30 million UK Black Friday orders this year being Click and Collect, the 17 million for shoppers’ homes are set to drive an additional 210,000 van deliveries, according to research by BearingPoint.
21%…Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be losing their appeal in the UK according to a study by finder.com.
This surveyed 2,000 Brits and found that 21% admit to regretting purchases they made in last year’s sales.
40%…Making it easier and safer to walk and cycle in London’s town centres and High Streets would lead to an increase in retail rental values and more retail space being filled.
That’s according to Transport for London (TfL) research that also found people walking, cycling and using public transport spend the most in their local shops, splashing out 40% more each month than car drivers.
