Topshop and Topman brands get a Scandi makeover: RTIH presents the retail technology week in numbers

Do you like numbers? Do you like retail systems news? Then this is the article for you. Including Mango, Asos, Asda, Amazon, PayPal, The Very Group, Just Eat, REWE Group, Zilch, Warehow, Decathlon, Trigo, and Flex.

5%…PayPal is pushing into US PoS payments by integrating its debit card with Apple's mobile wallet and offering 5% cashback rewards.

While the company is a major player in the online payments and peer-to-peer payments spaces, it has struggled to make progress in the physical world.

“We know that consumers are looking for smart, simple and safe ways to make their everyday purchases while also getting more value out of every transaction,” says Alex Chriss, President and CEO, PayPal.

“That's why millions of customers can now enjoy the trust and convenience they love about PayPal everywhere - both in-store and online, with access to rich rewards that put more money back in their pockets.”

"It's a pivotal moment for PayPal and its customers and a significant first step as we bring the power of PayPal to everywhere they shop.”

2…Footasylum has opened its second fully mobile PoS store (no fixed till points), powered by NewStore and Adyen using Apple Tap to Pay and other FinTech solutions to drive physical conversions.

The store is located in Aberdeen with more locations set to follow this year.

24…Mango has appointed Marlies Hersbach as Executive Director E-commerce.

Toni Ruiz Tubau, CEO at Mango, says: “Our desire to reach the whole world and to be closer to our customers led us to detect the great potential of the internet from the very beginning.”

“In the year 2000, we made history by launching our e-commerce, ten years before our competitors. We were the first Spanish company and one of the first in Europe to open up to online sales.”

“24 years later, we continue to bring our value proposal and passion for fashion to new markets with the same drive and enthusiasm. To this end, this week we have announced the expansion of our online channel with its entry into 12 new countries, mostly in the African continent.”

“This is a new milestone for the company, achieving a presence in more than 120 markets around the world with an online sales channel available in 25 languages.”

He adds: “But our ambitions don't stop here. We want to continue to fuel this growth over the coming years, following the roadmap laid out in our Strategic Plan 2024-2026.”

“To guide us on this journey, we have appointed Marlies Hersbach, currently International Retail Director for Mango in France, as the new Executive Director of our e-commerce. Her extensive background and experience in the sector will help us to further boost our presence in the online market and meet the goals we have set for the coming years.”

75%…Asos is to sell 75% of its stake in the Topshop and Topman brands.

It will offload three-quarters of its ownership in the brands to Danish firm Heartland by forming a 75:25 joint venture with the company.

Heartland is owned by Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen. It also owns clothing retailer Bestseller, which runs 2,800 retail stores across 30 countries. It holds a significant stake in Asos.

Susannah Streeter, Head of Money and Markets, Hargreaves Lansdown, says: ‘’Topshop, once a British fashion icon, is now set to be part of a Scandi retail wardrobe.”

“When Asos scooped Topshop out of the bargain bin, following Arcadia’s collapse, there were expectations it would form a longer-term part of its style offering. But now the Topshop brand will be majority owned by Heartland, the family owned Danish fashion company.”

“This Scandi makeover could potentially herald a much bigger return of Topshop and Topman to bricks and mortar stores around the world. Heartland owns Bestseller, which operates a raft of other brands, some with standalone UK stores like Jack and Jones, while its Vero Moda collection is sold by other retailers, including Next.”

Although Topshop clothes made a limited reappearance on the high street in Asos’ first physical store, it has mainly been an online only brand since Arcadia’s collapse.

Bestseller’s products are sold in 70 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Oceania and the Middle East while the wholesale business sells to more than 16,000 multi-brand and department stores globally.

This deal could put Topshop back on the global fashion map: a dream Sir Philip Green tried to achieve but ultimately failed to realise, Street argues.

She adds: “This development also shows how tricky the last few years have been for Asos as it grappled with fickle fashion trends. Asos, originally shorthand for ‘As Seen On Screen’, had been perfectly placed to capitalise on the accelerated shift to online shopping during the pandemic, given its advanced e-commerce platform.”

“It harnessed its savvy marketing and social media prowess and invested in persuading more shoppers to turn their bedrooms into fitting rooms. However, the cost of returns proved to be onerous, and as lockdowns eased, the try-before-you-buy trend returned and shoppers flocked back to stores.”

“Asos has also had to deal with the renewed might of Primark on the high street, and online challenges from fast fashion giants like Shein and Temu, which are flogging styles on the cheap. Offloading Topshop is part of its plan to streamline its offering and concentrate on own brand items.‘’

30…Amazon will deploy its Just Walk Out technology at more on-campus convenience stores in 2024.

This will bring the worldwide total of Just Walk Out campus c-stores to more than 30 across three countries.

Customers can scan a credit card when they walk in, select items and leave. Their account will be charged and a receipt emailed to them.

1 and 6…Asda has announced that customers in six locations will now be able to purchase refurbished TVs in what is being pitched as a first for a UK supermarket.   

The grocery giant has launched a trial which has seen it refurbish three models of returned HD LED Smart Sharp and Polaroid TVs at its ERC (electrical returns centre) using recycled materials - and they will now be sold in its stores from as little as £100.   

Customers in Folkestone, Leeds, Glasgow, Sunderland and Ellesmere Port, will be able to pick up one of three sizes of the TVs, including a 32”, 40” and 50”. 

Energy ratings, barcodes and images have all printed been on the box for the TVs, which have been re-packaged to make clear to customers that they are refurbished.  

Recommended retail price for a new HD LED 50” Smart Polaroid TV is £240, meaning customers could make a saving of up to £80 should they opt for a refurbished model for £160.

$3.2 million…Flex, which offers a way for direct-to-consumer health and wellness brands to begin accepting HSA and FSA payments online, has raised a $3.2 million seed round from Y Combinator, SV Angel, Precursor, Liquid 2 Ventures and others.

Flex says it will use the funding to accelerate product development and sales and marketing, and to capitalise on interest from brands in capturing more of the $150 billion in potential annual HSA/FSA spending.

85%…More than 85% of UK retailers plan to offer steeper festive discounts; a significant increase when compared to the last two years where only 54% in 2023 and 57% in 2022 planned to go down this route.

That’s according to Fiverr International, which surveyed 2,539 consumers and 2,508 small-to-medium business leaders globally, including 500 consumers and 500 business leaders in the UK, in partnership with Censuswide. 

70% of UK retailers expect sales to increase this year compared to last year but 23% of Brits plan on spending more this year compared to last year.

The UK's cost of living crunch continues to impact shoppers as a third prioritise good deals when shopping.

Frugality increases with age. 40% of 16-24-year-olds said they will spend more whereas only 21% of 45-54-year-olds are willing to spend more, significantly dropping to 8% for 55+. 

£15…Amazon this week said it was increasing the minimum starting pay for its UK frontline operations employees.

From the end of September, minimum starting pay will increase around 10% to between £13.50 and £14.50 per hour, equivalent to more than £28k to £30k a year, depending on location.

John Boumphrey, VP, UK & Ireland Country Manager, Amazon, said: “Since 2022, Amazon has invested £550 million in increased pay for operations employees, and minimum starting pay has risen by 35% - or £3.50 per hour - in the last two years. I want to thank all of our people for everything they do for customers, right across the UK.”

The GMB union, whose members at Amazon Coventry have taken almost 40 days of strike action in their fight for £15 per hour and union recognition, was quick to criticise the announcement.

Rachel Fagan, GMB Organiser, said: “This is too little, too late from Amazon bosses who have been forced to act by worker’s industrial action.”

“Amazon’s reputation is in the gutter over its treatment of its own workers, and now company bosses are trying to plaster over the facts. Unsafe working conditions, low pay and excessive surveillance blight the lives of Amazon workers every single day.”

11 and 39…The Very Group, operator of digital retailer Very, has launched training to develop its data professionals through a new degree level data academy.

It says that the initiative will aim to further improve the retailer’s data capability to support decisions that enhance the customer experience, increase efficiency and productivity, and unlock growth opportunities.

The programme will be delivered by Multiverse, which has trained more than 16,000 apprentices in data and digital skills since 2016.

The data academy will see 11 data professionals initially enrol onto a 39-month degree-level Advanced Data Fellowship course, which will build on their existing skills and give them more in-depth data analysis training.

Rob McCormick, Head of Data at The Very Group, says: “As data has become such an important part of business decision-making, our data teams are in high demand, which can restrict the time spent on more strategic initiatives.”

“Through our partnership with Multiverse, we’re confident that we can increase efficiency and productivity through data and automation, benefitting our digital brands and our four-and-a-half million active customers.”

£60 million…Almost £60 million has been reported stolen through card fraud over the past three years in the UK, according to new research from Trustly. The figures were obtained via a freedom of information request sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau run by City of London Police.

Credit card fraud is the most costly and common type of card fraud, according to Trustly’s research. Over £33 million was reported stolen through credit card fraud between 2021 and 2023. This compares to just over £24 million reported stolen through debit card fraud. 

The research also reveals that nearly 11,000 people were victims of card fraud in the past three years, including 3,543 people in 2023 alone. This equates to almost 300 victims per month last year. Reports of credit card fraud specifically peaked in 2023 with 2,171 victims - up from 1,997 victims in 2022. 

Anisha Sudra, Head of Fraud at Trustly, says: “Our research shows that a shocking number of people are falling victim to fraud. It’s concerning that thousands of people lose millions of pounds to fraud in the UK each year. The sophistication of payment fraud is ever-growing and shoppers must remain vigilant to the potential scams.”

“We believe technology offers a transformative approach to preventing fraud by creating a more secure and transparent payment environment. Open Banking combines stringent security measures with user-friendly payment processes.”

“The new PSR rules will provide further protection for consumers against fraud. Hopefully, this will give more people confidence to use Open Banking as the adoption of this technology continues to grow rapidly.”

“Once the new regulations come into force, Open Banking has the potential to become the backbone of secure online shopping, empowering businesses to protect their customers while providing consumers with a seamless and secure payment system fortified against modern fraud threats.” 

45 and 40…Just Eat has announced a nationwide partnership with REWE Group, one of Germany’s largest supermarket chains.

Customers in the country can now have groceries delivered to their homes within 45 minutes. The service is initially available in over 40 cities.

In a LinkedIn post, Just Eat said: “The offer expands Lieferando's (the brand name the company uses in Germany and Austria) marketplace with one of the strongest brands in the food retail sector.”

“Customers can order from a wide range of more than 3,000 products - from fresh food and everyday goods for cooking, as an ingredient, side dish or snack - giving them even more choice and convenience when using Lieferando.”

$130 million…UK FinTech firm, Zilch, has announced the appointment to its board of Mark Wilson, former CEO at Aviva and AIA and current member of BlackRock’s board of directors.

The company, which was founded in 2018, also reports its first month of operating profit (although a press release did not provide any exact figures), while surpassing a revenue run rate of more than $130 million (£100 million) in July.

Plans are afoot to pursue an initial public offering either next year or in 2026, with London and New York expected to compete for the listing.

Rival Klarna is set to announce plans for a New York flotation early next year. In total, Zilch has raised close to £400 million in equity and debt since it was founded.

15…Decathlon Stockport has received a new 15-bay ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging hub, installed by Be.EV. 

It’s the largest such hub in Stockport, and is located just minutes from the M60.

On Sunday (8th September), Be.EV is celebrating the launch by offering drivers who use their Be.EV app half price charging between 12pm and 2pm, and free Padel taster sessions at the nearby Soul Padel courts.

£2.1 million…Warehow, an e-commerce fulfilment company catering to fashion and homeware retailers, has raised £2.1 million in a Series A funding round led by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II through its appointed fund manager Mercia Ventures, with support from existing investor MENA Moonshots.

Warehow enables retailers to sell on multiple marketplaces such as eBay, Very, Next and John Lewis through one fulfilment service.

Items are picked and packed at its two warehouses near Worksop and shipped by third-party couriers. Warehow also manages returns processing.

The company was founded in 2021 by Laurence Guy, Al Gerrie and Pete Harris as a spin-out from Guy’s e-commerce business We Are Pentagon Group. Warehow employs 70 staff and has partnerships with brands such as River Island, Hoover, True Religion, and Puma.  

The latest investment, which brings the total raised to over £3.75 million, will enable it to further develop its technology, create additional storage capacity in one of its existing warehouses and step up its sales and marketing activities.

4…Amazon Fresh has opened four new stores, including its first in Northern California and locations in Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

These all offer Amazon’s Dash Carts and biometrics-based payment system Amazon One.

This brings Amazon Fresh’s store count to just shy of 50 locations in eight US states. 

The Northern California location is in Roseville.

2..A second REWE Pick&Go store has opened in Hamburg, powered by Trigo technology.

In a LinkedIn post, the retailer said: “After the successful launch of Europe's largest cashierless supermarket two months ago in the heart of Hamburg, the second store is now ready for operation.”

“Hamburg's First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher gave the official starting signal for the REWE Pick&Go system in Altonaerstraße, corner of Amandastraße. If you don't yet know how such a cashierless shopping works, you should either stop by the store directly or our media centre.”

Customers will be able to choose between four different payment options: at the cash register; by scanning and paying at the self-checkout terminal; via computer vision support without scanning at the self-checkout terminal; or completely cashless when using an app.