Blog and Research Digest — Week 20, 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

Consumer confidence shows slight uptick although it remains severely depressed
https://www.theretailbulletin.com/general-merchandise/consumer-confidence-shows-slight-uptick-although-it-remains-severely-depressed-08-05-2020/
“A new survey by GfK has shown there was a slight improvement in consumer confidence at the end of April despite the level remaining “severely depressed”.”

RetailX Coronavirus Consumer Confidence Tracker – 6th May
https://internetretailing.net/themes/retailx-coronavirus-consumer-confidence-tracker—6th-may-21367

Trends in the RetailX Coronavirus Consumer Confidence Tracker
https://internetretailing.net/covid-19/trends-in-the-retailx-coronavirus-consumer-confidence-tracker-21363

Coronavirus Tracker: most UK shoppers have stopped going to stores – and four in 10 say they’ll continue to buy as they do now
https://internetretailing.net/covid-19/coronavirus-tracker-most-uk-shoppers-have-stopped-going-to-stores–and-four-in-10-say-theyll-continue-to-buy-as-they-do-now-21365
“Almost nine in 10 (89%) UK shoppers say they have reduced or stopped their visits to shops as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic – and 43% now say that after the pandemic is over they expect to carry on shopping in the way they do now, the latest RetailX research suggests.”

Retailers close the sales gap as online shopping rises 23% in a week in UK – but where are shoppers spending?
https://internetretailing.net/industry/retailers-close-the-sales-gap-as-online-shopping-rises-23-in-a-week-in-uk–but-where-are-shoppers-spending-21360
“With many UK brick-and-mortar stores remaining closed, new data shows that retailers are closing the sales gap through their digital offerings – with online sales in the UK increasing 27% from the same time year-on-year and increasing by 23% from last week.”

How ecommerce and social distancing measures will impact future industrial and logistics demand for space
https://internetretailing.net/industry/how-ecommerce-and-social-distancing-measures-will-impact-future-industrial-and-logistics-demand-for-space-21359
“With the latest ONS stats revealing that retail online sales reached a record high of 22.3% in March 2020, changes in consumer behaviour – driven predominantly by social distancing measures – will continue to stimulate e-commerce related industrial and logistics property requirements.”

“Don’t forget millennials demand for ecommerce”, study warns retailers
https://internetretailing.net/customer/dont-forget-millennials-demand-for-ecommerce-study-warns-retailers-21358
“While many brands are focussing their ecommerce and digital efforts at vulnerable groups who are new to ecommerce, they should be aware that nearly half (44%) of millennial consumers now prefer their online purchases to be digital and instantly downloadable, rather than physical.”

How the consumer mindset is shifting during COVID-19
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/blogs/how-the-consumer-mindset-is-shifting-during-covid-19/
“With that shift has come new “rules of engagement” for retailers. Here are a few of the trends we’ve seen emerge over the last few weeks and are likely to remain long after stay-in-place orders are lifted.”

How Covid-19 is changing the way shoppers buy: three studies
https://internetretailing.net/covid-19/how-covid-19-is-changing-the-way-shoppers-buy-three-studies-21348
“Two new studies suggest that shoppers will change the way they buy – and the way they use technology.”

How Covid-19 has changed shopper behaviour
https://www.marketingweek.com/how-covid-19-has-changed-shopper-behaviour/
“Bazaarvoice research combining page views, orders, reviews and surveys reveals high demand for leisure goods during lockdown, not just basic necessities – but also issues with availability.”

Sainsbury’s CEO: Shift to online shopping will stick post-Covid-19
https://www.marketingweek.com/sainsburys-shopping-habit-post-covid-19/
“Covid-19 has accelerated the shift to digital in the grocery market out of necessity, but Sainsbury’s outgoing CEO believes many of these checkout-free habits will stick.”

Tequila and bedsheets: Five popular lockdown buys
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52561241
“A new report by Waitrose and John Lewis has tracked what its customers have been purchasing from week to week.”

Amazon VP quits “in dismay” over whistleblower sackings
https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2020/05/05/amazon-vp-quits-in-dismay-over-whistleblower-sackings/
“Amazon has seen the shock departure of one of its vice presidents who said remaining at the company would have meant “signing off on actions I despised”.”

Amazon employee from facility at centre of safety controversy dies of COVID-19
https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2020/05/06/amazon-employee-from-facility-at-centre-of-safety-controversy-dies-of-covid-19/
“An Amazon employee from its Staten Island fulfilment centre has died of COVID-19, raising serious concerns about the safety of its workers.”

Voice

Less than essential: Why smart speakers are like smartwatches, not smartphones
https://searchengineland.com/less-than-essential-why-smart-speakers-are-like-smartwatches-not-smartphones-334239
“The devices have reached 50% of US homes, but fallen flat as a channel”

SEO

New Google ‘Rising Retail Categories’ tool exposes fast-growing product searches
https://marketingland.com/new-google-rising-retail-categories-tool-exposes-fast-growing-product-searches-279329
“This is the first time Google says it has provided this kind of data to the public.”

Social

Instagram and social engagement rises in lockdown – but influencers having less impact
https://marketingtechnews.net/news/2020/may/06/instagram-and-social-engagement-rises-but-influencers-having-less-impact/
“More people are engaging with Instagram, but posts from influencers are on the decline as marketing budgets are slashed, according to the latest report from Socialbakers.”