The retail technology week in numbers

49%…Small online fashion retailers in the UK are open to embracing innovative technologies, but various challenges are preventing widespread adoption, according to research by Klarna.

This was conducted across 100 decision makers at e-commerce players in 2019. Over the next 12 months they plan to prioritise investing in flexible payment options (49%) and e-commerce capabilities (48%) to meet consumer demand for a frictionless shopping experience.

£48.2 billion…The UK convenience market is set to grow by £6.9 billion in the next five years, to reach £48.2 billion by 2024, according to IGD.

64% of UK online shoppers would stop using a retailer after a maximum of three bad experiences, according to research by PFS. 54% of those who bought items online in the last 12 months, meanwhile, have had a negative experience.

69%…Funky Soap Shop has partnered with Oxatis Group to develop its online presence. It reports that, as a result, turnover was 69% higher in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. Traffic to its site also increased by 65% over the first six months of this year.

50…Over 50 UK retailers, including Asda, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Iceland and River Island, have called on the government to fix the business rates system.

388…Alibaba Group is expanding its paid customer loyalty programme, 88VIP. Year round discounts will now cover 388 brands, ranging from Sennheiser and Blueair to Onitsuka Tiger and Pizza Hut, up from the 88 that first joined the scheme last August.

10.3%…The UK’s town centre vacancy rate was 10.3% in July, a slight increase on the previous quarter rate of 10.2% and the highest since January 2015, according to research by the BRC and Springboard.

8 million…Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield reports a strong start to the summer with almost eight million visitors since the beginning of July.

23% and 19%…US online retailer Overstock has released its Q2 2019 financial results, showing a 23% decrease in revenue and a 19% drop in gross profit.