Blog and Research Digest — Week 36, 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

UK retail footfall continues to rise as pent-up demand slowly unleashed
https://internetretailing.net/covid-19/uk-retail-footfall-continues-to-rise-as-pent-up-demand-slowly-unleashed-21897
“Footfall across all retail destinations throughout the UK rose by +4.1% last week from the week before, a significant acceleration in the rise in the previous week of +0.8% and +1.8% in the same week last year.”

Web visits rise +2.9% in July, but online revenues fall by -5% on the previous month
https://internetretailing.net/retail-resilience/web-visits-rise-29-in-july-but-online-revenues-fall-by–5-on-the-previous-month-21902
“This, the research suggests, shows that post-lockdown ecommerce performance is starting to plateau at its new normal – with online revenues since the end of March up on average 39% each month, compared to pre-lockdown levels.”

Amazon speeds ahead of e-commerce competitors in Q2 2020 with a 41.8% QoQ rise
https://internetretailing.net/marketplaces/amazon-speeds-ahead-of-e-commerce-competitors-in-q2-2020-with-a-418-qoq-rise-21912
“JD.com and eBay both saw their own market cap rise by 50% across the quarter and e-commerce giant, Alibaba, also reported an improvement in net earnings and an increase in active users on its platform, according to the data from Global Data.”

More than half of UK retailers have made no preparations for a second wave of Covid-19: study
https://internetretailing.net/covid-19/more-than-half-of-uk-retailers-have-made-no-preparations-for-a-second-wave-of-covid-19-study-21896
“A survey by Brightpearl found that 54% of retailers have made no changes to their business model in the event of a second wave in the autumn or winter.”

Amazon taps into DIY boom with multi-view AR home décor feature
https://internetretailing.net/mobile-theme/amazon-taps-into-diy-boom-with-multi-view-ar-home-decor-feature-21907
“What marks its new service out is that it allows for the viewing of multiple items all at once, so that shoppers can get a clear view of how many pieces will work with new décor.”

Walmart teams up with Microsoft in bid for TikTok
https://internetretailing.net/industry/walmart-teams-up-with-microsoft-in-bid-for-tiktok-21909
“The addition of a social site like TikTok, which has been built from the ground up to drive marketing and ecommerce through video interaction would put the retailer in an interesting new place that could see it taking on Amazon.”

More mobile, more contactless, less predictable: the new way people shop
https://internetretailing.net/mobile-theme/more-mobile-more-contactless-less-predictable-the-new-way-people-shop-21903
“Despite stores across Europe and the UK reopening and those in the US staying open, shoppers are turning more and more to mobile technology to enhance and secure their shopping experience – reshaping retail forever.”

John Lewis opens its online Christmas store 10 days earlier than usual
https://internetretailing.net/peak/john-lewis-opens-its-online-christmas-store-10-days-earlier-than-usual-21898
“The John Lewis & Partners Christmas site will have the full range of Christmas products online – animal baubles are going to be big this year, FYI – with the full range not hitting stores until 25 September, indicating just how digital retail has become.”

Pandemic accelerates consumers towards digital engagement and value-driven shopping
https://internetretailing.net/retail-resilience/pandemic-accelerates-consumers-towards-digital-engagement-and-value-driven-shopping-21904
“Chief among these habits are a pivot towards values-driven purchasing decisions based on political, social and ethical ideas, along with an increase in desire for digital to play a role in keeping them safe online and in physical retail.”

Opinion

How COVID19 is changing commerce forever
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/blogs/how-covid19-is-changing-commerce-forever/
“As consumer habits change and move away from the legacy of brick and mortar to the convenience of e-commerce, it will create a gold rush as brands vie for consumers’ dollars and mind share.”

How 2020 has seen years of change take place in brand retail in just months
https://internetretailing.net/brands/how-2020-has-seen-years-of-change-take-place-in-brand-retail-in-just-months-21849
“The growing use of mobile phones to browse and buy, and the extension of social media into shopping are both magnified by coronavirus, while sustainability and environmental issues continue to be important.”

Preparing for a pandemic holiday season
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/blogs/preparing-for-a-pandemic-holiday-season/
“Come November, those who are still testing technology or channels will fall behind the pack. To set themselves apart, retailers need to roll with changing consumer behavior and, with in-store shopping making up a smaller portion of holiday shopping, enhance every digital touchpoint.”

Understanding Europe’s up and coming retailers – and the context in which they operate
https://internetretailing.net/rxgeu/understanding-europes-up-and-coming-retailers—and-the-context-in-which-they-operate
“Both familiar and less familiar names feature, with long-established businesses and recent start-ups contained in a listing that maps the sheer scale of the ecommerce industry across Europe.”

Retail Rethink: customer engagement
https://internetretailing.net/retail-resilience/retail-rethink-customer-engagement-21860
“Past recessions have shown the importance of continuing with marketing rather than cutting back and the same will prove to be true during this pandemic.”

Voice, AR/VR, and New Tech

Adding AR to your e-commerce site? Here are 3 crucial questions to ask
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/blogs/adding-ar-to-your-e-commerce-site-here-are-3-crucial-questions-to-ask/
“Retailers are relying more than ever on their e-commerce sites to engage and win customers — and increasingly, they’re turning to augmented reality and 3D to boost shoppers’ confidence in buying.”