Is the age of lifelong brand devotion dead? 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 Ikea, SAP Emarsys, Zapp, Patchworks, Love’s Travel Stops, Wonder, Asda, and the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
6…There are now just six days left until the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony takes place in Central London.
We recently announced the finalists and shortlists for the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, STRATACACHE, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show.
We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process!
It’s now over to our judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London.
The event will be held on Thursday, 16th October and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
To book your place at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, 16th October, click here.
Tables of ten, half tables and individual places are going fast and the event is nearly sold out, so don't delay, book today! We look forward to seeing many of you there.
45%...The age of lifelong brand devotion is over, according to the fifth annual Customer Loyalty Index (CLI) from SAP Emarsys.
In its place, a new phenomenon is emerging: ‘Trend Loyalty’ - an emotionally charged, fast moving allegiance driven by viral moments rather than long-term trust:
45% are more likely to trust a product if it goes viral
33% trust TikTok and social media trends more than ads or brand websites
41% have bought products promoted by influencers - almost double the overall average of 21%
64% say they’re loyal to products, not brands
This is particularly true of younger generations, with 43% of Gen Z shoppers admitting to buying a product purely because it was trending on social media - almost double the rate of the general population. In fact, 20% of Gen Z say they’re loyal to brands because they trend, while 25% will be less loyal if a trending product disappoints.
250..Ikea is set to open a new pop-up store in Northern Ireland at The Boulevard, Banbridge, on Thursday 13th November.
Located at The Boulevard, the 250 sqm location will feature a selection of 150 home furnishing accessories - including kitchen, bedroom, and living room essentials - which will be available for immediate takeaway.
In addition, customers will have access to free, personalised kitchen and wardrobe planning services.
The site will also host a Collect Near You point, enabling customers to pick up Ikea online purchases closer to home. This will complement existing Collect Near You points in Ballymena, Antrim, Limavady, and Dungannon.
42%...New research from Patchworks reveals the high cost of fragile integrations during peak trading periods such as Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM).
This finds that, rather than being the golden opportunity it should be, peak trading is giving retail tech leaders headaches. In fact, of the 200 UK retailers surveyed, 42% admit peak periods cause sleepless nights as they worry about platform stability.
According to the research, 58% fear poor system performance could damage brand reputation, while 40% worry platforms will be pushed to breaking point. For 43%, the concern is even more acute, with fears that a single surge in demand could bring their business to a standstill.
Almost half of brands are still patching their way through sales spikes. 48% rely on temporary workarounds to survive peaks, while 39% admit their teams spend more time firefighting integrations than optimising seasonal highs.
31% acknowledge direct revenue losses during busy trading periods because of poor integration. It’s widely known in the sector that peak trading can account for 30-50% of yearly revenue, and shoppers will spend half of their holiday budgets on BFCM. Such retail moments deserve smooth integrations and seamless commerce, and fragility at this time is risking revenue.
5...Zapp, a London-based on-demand delivery app which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, has launched Zapp+, a new subscription service designed to give loyal customers more value.
At the heart of this is what is pitched as an industry first 10% credit back deal on all orders across the range above £30. The Zapp+ package, priced at £4.99, also gives members free delivery on orders over £15 and is free to cancel at any time without fees.
The new service offers regular users long-term savings and rewards. Those using it can expect to save an average of £300 a year. Standard Zapp delivery is £2.99 per order. Other offerings on the market include Deliveroo’s Plus Gold, priced at £7.99, and Uber One, priced at £5.99.
Kathy Lee, Director of Growth and Strategy at Zapp, says: “Our customers told us they want their loyalty rewarded with extra credit to spend while still benefiting from fast, on-demand, 24/7 delivery. Zapp+ is the answer. It will help busy people get great value daily essentials and luxury favourites delivered in minutes - so they can spend less time shopping and more time enjoying life.”
1...Love’s Travel Stops, which has 662 locations in 42 US states, has announced the launch of Love's Media Group, pitched as the first retail media network designed specifically for America's travel stops and the first to reach professional truck drivers at scale.
"Love's Media Group represents an exciting evolution of our commitment to enhancing the customer experience while creating new value for our brand partners," says Patrick McLean, Chief Marketing Officer at Love's.
"We're uniquely positioned at the intersection of mobility, loyalty and commerce. With our nationwide footprint and deep relationships with both professional drivers and travellers on the road, we can offer advertisers something no one else can - direct access to a high volume, high intent audience in motion."
Love's Media Group aims to turn Love's physical and digital assets into a unified advertising platform spanning the entire customer journey - from fuel pump screens and in-store digital signage to the Love's Connect mobile app and My Love Rewards loyalty programme.
This has involved the separation of more than 2,500 systems from former owner Walmart, with the aim of laying the technological foundations for the UK grocery giant’s future growth.
In a LinkedIn post, Mike Gledhill, Head of Delivery - Commercial, Supply & George Clothing, said: "Last week we hit a huge milestone on our Future Programme. We converted our third and final George Depot, which just so happened to be the final conversion of the entire programme. Not only that, but we did it in style…"
Asda converted all three depots in five weeks, with only three weeks to learn from the first before converting the second.
"I couldn’t be prouder of how quickly all teams involved were able to react, learn and fix for the second and third depots. The effort given by everyone has been second to none, and it’s been amazing to see everyone’s commitment to getting us over the line," said Gledhill.
"To reach completion has taken a mega effort from everyone involved and now our focus turns to making sure all three remain stable and are prepped for peak in Q4."
"On a more personal note, the Future Programme has been one hell of a ride. I was lucky enough to start the journey in retail, moving into George clothing and more latterly global sourcing, supply and logistics."
He concluded: "It’s safe to say I’ve learnt more about Asda (and myself) in the last two years than I did over the previous 16. What’s next? We’ve got a few loose ends to tie up before we fully close the programme and a big Q4 ahead… and then it’s all systems go into 2026."
69 and 70...Wonder, a food delivery and technology startup founded in 2018 and fronted by former Walmart U.S. eCommerce executive, Marc Lore, reports a milestone.
This past week, it opened its 69th location in Yardley, PA and its 70th in Milford, CT.
"We are grateful to everyone who joined us to mark the occasion and help welcome Wonder into these awesome communities," says CEO Tony Hoggett.
"In Yardley, we were honoured to celebrate alongside Senator Steve Santarsiero, Representative Perry S. Warren, Suzanne Blundi, Supervisor on the Board of Lower Makefield Township, and John B. Lewis, Supervisor on the Board of Lower Makefield Township."
"In Milford, we extend our thanks to Mayor Anthony S. Giannattasio, Simon McDonald, Director of Membership & Marketing at the Regional Chamber of Commerce, Maritza Quintuna, PR/Social Media Director at the Milford Downtown Business Association, Solé Scott from Southern News at Southern Connecticut State University, and the many community members who came out to celebrate with us."
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