Blog and Research Digest — Week 12, 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

From panic buying to lower footfall expectations – how Covid 19 is affecting online and multichannel retailers
https://internetretailing.net/industry/updated-from-panic-buying-to-lower-footfall-expectations–how-covid-19-is-affecting-online-and-multichannel-retailers-21082
“We’re rounding up the latest on the coronavirus as we look to understand how the response to the disease is affecting the way shoppers buy – and how retailers can respond to that.”

Coronavirus round-up: Annoushka is using digital to give an in-store experience, Adidas China sales sharply down, plus Amazon, Deliveroo, WH Smith, Intu
https://internetretailing.net/industry/updated-coronavirus-round-up-annoushka-is-using-digital-to-give-an-in-store-experience-adidas-china-sales-sharply-down-plus-amazon-deliveroo-wh-smith-intu-21100
“We’re reporting on the effect of the Covid-19 coronavirus on the way UK shoppers buy – and on how retailers are responding to that changing behaviour.”

RetailX Tracker: understanding changing shopper buying behaviour during coronavirus
https://internetretailing.net/themes/retailx-tracker-understanding-changing-shopper-buying-behaviour-during-coronavirus-21106
“A change in buying behaviour seems very likely. Already we’ve seen such a change in China, where shoppers had to stay at home but bought food online after the outbreak hit in late January, and where many new and innovative ways of selling have emerged.”

Coronavirus and e-commerce: It’s complicated
https://marketingland.com/coronavirus-and-e-commerce-its-complicated-277480
“While online shopping may benefit in the short term, supply chain issues and uncertain consumer demand could dampen the e-commerce outlook.”

Despite Worries, Consumer Confidence Remains High, Money Anxiety Low
https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/03/february-2020-money-anxiety-index.html
“Even though the coronavirus is directly impacting the economy, consumer confidence remains high. This according to the February 2020 Money Anxiety Index. The index for February has gone down by 1.2 points to 40.9, indicating consumer resiliency.”

A quarter of ecommerce traffic to come from apps in 2020, study shows
https://internetretailing.net/mobile-theme/a-quarter-of-ecommerce-traffic-to-come-from-apps-in-2020-study-shows-21095
“A quarter of ecommerce traffic is going to come from apps by Peak 2020, driving greater engagement and higher intent to purchase, according to analysis of last year’s mobile use.”

UK government to impose 2% digital services tax
https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/03/uk-government-impose-2-digital-services-tax/
“The UK government will introduce a digital services tax to collect two per cent of revenue generated by companies such as Amazon.”

Amazon taps Tesco veteran for Alexa Shopping
https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2020/03/10/amazon-taps-tesco-veteran-for-alexa-shopping/
“Tesco technology veteran Paul Wilkinson has moved to Amazon’s Alexa Shopping business into the position of senior product manager.”

Amazon to sell cashierless tech to retailers
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/news/amazon-to-sell-cashierless-tech-to-retailers/
“Amazon plans to start selling its cashierless technology, called Just Walk Out, to other retailers and already has signed deals in place.”

Retail union group calls Amazon tech a Trojan horse aimed at grabbing customer data
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/news/retail-union-group-calls-amazon-tech-a-trojan-horse-aimed-at-grabbing-customer-data/
“The move by Amazon to sell its cashierless technology to retailers and grocers is coming under fire from the largest retail union in the U.S.”

Social

Social shorts: TikTok’s new ‘Transparency Center,’ VSCO rolls out new video tool, YouTube allows certain coronavirus ads
https://marketingland.com/social-shorts-tiktoks-new-transparency-center-vsco-rolls-out-new-video-tool-youtube-allows-certain-coronavirus-ads-277670
“The social media marketing week in review: A round up of news and announcements you may have missed.”

Five social media trends that are shaping 2020
https://www.searchenginewatch.com/2020/03/11/five-social-media-trends-that-are-shaping-2020/
“In addition to simply describing what to expect in 2020, I also give some recommendations on how to use these trends to your brand’s advantage.”

Opinion

Managing the impact of coronavirus
https://internetretailing.net/guest-comment/guest-analysis-managing-the-impact-of-coronavirus-
“It could be argued that there is a silver lining – consumers will be more inclined to shop online – but if retailers are experiencing difficulty in receiving goods from suppliers, delivery timescales will be delayed and customer expectations will not be fulfilled, a dangerous situation that no online retailer wants to face.”

Opinion: Retail’s coronavirus response could spark long-term change
https://www.retail-week.com/supply-chain/opinion-retails-coronavirus-response-could-spark-long-term-change/7034329.article
“As shoppers cleared the shelves of staple goods such as toilet roll and pasta in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, retailers acquitted themselves well.”

Marketing

How Does Coronavirus Change the Way We Do Our Job as Marketers?
https://contently.com/2020/03/13/coronavirus-change-job-marketers/
“It’s hard to not feel uneasy when that thought pops into your head: How does this affect how I do my job?”

Novelty: The Storytelling Element Your Brain Craves
https://contently.com/2020/03/09/novelty-storytelling-brain-craves/
“This week, we’re diving into novelty—one of the most important tools for anyone who wants to tell stories that stay with people.”

Five tips to establish a successful content creation process
https://www.searchenginewatch.com/2020/03/13/five-tips-to-establish-a-successful-content-creation-process/
“To do that effectively, you need two things – consistency and a strategic approach to content creation.”

Tech Marketers Reveal Their Secret Weapons [New Research]
https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2020/03/tech-marketers-reveal-secret-weapon-research/
“Approximately three out of four (76%) report that their organization is much or somewhat more successful with content marketing compared with one year ago.”

Most site content (69%) not seen by customers and prospects, study finds
https://marketingland.com/most-site-content-69-not-seen-by-customers-and-prospects-study-finds-277374
“Other benchmarks include mobile visits, conversions by device, paid vs. organic traffic and visits before conversion.”

Compassionate to cringeworthy, brands navigate the COVID-19 messaging minefield
https://marketingland.com/compassionate-to-cringeworthy-brands-navigate-the-covid-19-messaging-minefield-277575
“All marketing now is being done against the backdrop of the pandemic.”