Blog and Research Digest — Week 29, 2020
Every week, the Digishare team prepare a digest of the previous 7 days of online retail news. Along the way, we’ll pick the most interesting stories from the worlds of technology, social media, marketing and more, allowing you to see everything at a glance.
Retail News and Trends
Online retail sales continues to boom despite lockdown exit
https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/07/online-retail-sales-continues-to-boom-despite-lockdown-exit/
“According to the latest Online Retail Index from IMRG and Capgemini, overall online retail sales in June surged 33.9 per cent year-on-year – a new 12-year high since March 2008.”
Online shopping expected to remain at ‘Christmas +’ levels as high street visitor numbers stay low despite lockdown easing
https://internetretailing.net/location/online-shopping-expected-to-remain-at-christmas–levels-as-high-street-visitor-numbers-stay-low-despite-lockdown-easing-21667
“In contrast, online sales are booming. Growth Intelligence says over 85,000 businesses launched online during lockdown and its loosening has done little to halt demand.”
Online retail sales continue to boom despite return of brick-and-mortar stores
https://internetretailing.net/industry/online-retail-sales-continue-to-boom-despite-return-of-brick-and-mortar-stores-21681
“Even as the high street came out of hibernation last month, June’s online retail sales spiked to a new 12-year high of +33.9% Year-on-Year (YoY).”
Younger shoppers ordered online more often in lockdown than older shoppers, despite the environmental impact: study
https://internetretailing.net/sustainability/younger-shoppers-ordered-online-more-often-in-lockdown-than-older-shoppers-despite-the-environmental-impact-study-21688
“Younger shoppers may be perceived as the most eco-conscious members of society, but in Covid-19 lockdown they have defied those expectations by ordering 50% more online deliveries than older shoppers, new research suggests.”
It’s not just coronavirus, consumers are changing purchase preferences based on social responsibility, inclusiveness, or environmental impact
https://internetretailing.net/sustainability/its-not-just-coronavirus-consumers-are-changing-purchase-preferences-based-on-social-responsibility-inclusiveness-or-environmental-impact-21676
“Meanwhile, COVID-19 has increased consumer awareness and commitment to buying sustainably, with 67% saying that they will be more cautious about the scarcity of natural resources due to the crisis, while 65% say that they will be more mindful about the impact of their overall consumption in the “new normal”.”
Visitors to all retail locations stayed low in June, but recovery started once non-essential shops reopened
https://internetretailing.net/location/visitors-to-all-retail-locations-stayed-low-in-june-but-recovery-started-once-non-essential-shops-reopened-21687
“Across the UK, footfall fell by 62.6% in June compared to the previous year.”
BRC calls for tariff-free Brexit trade agreement to be reached quickly, while EU warns of new customs formalities in place from January
https://internetretailing.net/international/brc-calls-for-tariff-free-brexit-trade-agreement-to-be-reached-quickly-while-eu-warns-of-new-customs-formalities-in-place-from-january–21686
“The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on Brexit negotiators to reach a tariff-free trade agreement – and a fair deal for customers – in ongoing trade talks with the EU.”
Most retailers well on the way to digital transformation: study
https://internetretailing.net/technology/most-retailers-well-on-the-way-to-digital-transformation-study-21689
“More than two-thirds of retailers in nine countries, including the UK, now see digital transformation as essential to retail technology, and only 7% disagree, according to Digital Transformation Trends research by DataDriven for Fujitsu that questioned 197 ICT decision makers in February 2020.”
Social distancing forces more retailers to embrace digital transformation
https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/07/social-distancing-forces-more-retailers-to-embrace-digital-transformation/
“As the world scrambles to come back to normalcy under pandemic-induced social distancing guidelines, GlobalData said more and more bricks-and-mortar retailers were embracing digital technologies to bridge the physical distance and navigate the crisis.”
Opinion
How the role of the store is changing as customers do more of their shopping online
https://internetretailing.net/themes/editorial-how-the-role-of-the-store-is-changing-as-customers-do-more-of-their-shopping-online
“That suggests shopping trips where customers already know what they want and are making a trip specially to get it, list in hand.”
Mobile app use surges 40% in Q2: here’s what retailers need to know
https://internetretailing.net/mobile-theme/mobile-app-use-surges-40-in-q2-heres-what-retailers-need-to-know-21678
“Mobile data company App Annie has taken a look at the number for Q2 2020 and found that, in April 2020 there was a monthly all-time high of more than 200 billion hours spent in mobile apps worldwide.”
Marketing
Style Guide: How to Write One for Your Brand
https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2020/07/how-to-brand-style-guide/
“More often, though, branding fails happen because of a lack of a clear style guide, which can result in inconsistency or miscommunication among your content team.”
The impact of COVID-19 on marketing and SEO
https://searchengineland.com/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-marketing-and-seo-337334
“In the face of the COVID-19 crisis and economic turbulence, marketers are anticipating lower budgets and higher goals.”