Retail News

In 1950 there were 600,000 retail stores in the UK, in 2012 there were 290,000, and just 220,000 are predicted to survive in 2020. Physical stores are not what necessarily attracts shoppers to make a purchase in the mobile era and pureplay retailers are looking to take advantage of the shifting structure in retail. It has never been easier to shop online, penetration of smartphones in the UK is now over 80% and with more…

Data released from Forrester earlier this year revealed that global cross-border trade will grow more than domestic trade in the UK, US and EU over the next ten years. The report states that cross-border sales will grow 17% between 2017 and 2022, compared with 12% growth for ecommerce generally. Of course, any growth figures are to be welcomed, but ecommerce players will be particularly enthused by the larger slice of pie available from cross-border trading….

Apple Watch sales doubled last year, and smart speakers such as Amazon Echo will be a £7bn market within 5 years. But are consumers and retailers ready for the revolution in shopping habits they will bring, asks e-commerce specialist Fastlane International. Sales of smart watches such as the Apple Watch, and smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, are booming. Household ownership of smart watches rose from 3% in 2015 to 12% in…

Consumers’ demands on retailers have intensified in the past decade. Previously, having an online store to accompany your physical shop was seen as a luxury, now it is essential and online shopping has taken the next step to meet customer demand. Consumers want the ability to shop seamlessly across multiple devices anytime anywhere. Whatsmore, they want more than the promise of next day delivery and to have the opportunity to order online and pick up…

The High Street as we know it is dying, says e-commerce delivery expert ParcelHero; but the Tesco-Booker merger would boost local stores, pubs and restaurants; and give Tesco a key logistics role outside the fiercely competitive supermarket industry. The proposed merger between Britain’s largest supermarket chain, Tesco, and its largest food wholesaler, Booker Group, may be audacious, says the e-commerce delivery specialist ParcelHero; but it could strengthen local stores and restaurants and help Tesco diversify…

Today, DSV starts operations for Primark out of a new logistics centre in the Netherlands. The 65,000m2 warehouse located in Roosendaal in the south of the country is owned by the client and runs on Primark’s Warehouse Management System. Similarly to the successful Irish operation from Naas, the Roosendaal facility processes carton and GOH outbound orders to supply Primark stores throughout France and Italy. The operation creates employment for about 200 FTE in the first year…

As UK weekly online shopping reaches £1 Billion, a new report by e-commerce delivery specialists ParcelHero reveals home shopping will wipe out 50% of town centre stores, and spell the end for many well-known retailers by 2030. UK shoppers’ weekly online spending has reached £1 Billion a week – an increase of 26.8% on 2015 – and a major new report by e-commerce fulfilment specialists ParcelHero reveals the death of the High Street is much nearer than people…

Your Black Friday ‘bargains’ might be overpriced and non-returnable by Boxing Day, warns e-commerce delivery specialist Fastlane International Following last week’s Which? report revealing half of all Black Friday Bargains were in fact cheaper in the months before and after Black Friday last year; the e-delivery specialists Fastlane International has a further warning to shoppers buying gifts for Christmas: many return periods will be expired by Boxing Day. Fastlane International’s Head of Consumer Research, David…

Black Friday is one of the biggest dates in the retail calendar and year on year the stakes are being raised.  In 2015 it was estimated that £1.1 billion was spent on the last Friday of November, up 35 per cent on 2014, and forecasters predict that sales this year could reach £5billion in the UK alone[1]. While the potential rewards for retailers are great, the day also comes with a unique set of delivery…