If there’s a theme that runs through today’s InternetRetailing newsletter, it’s all about the customer. Today we report on new research that digitally obsessed customers are more likely to shop with digitally-advanced retailers. That’s important, because it seems, according to the Salmon study, that the ‘digitally obsessed’ tag is no longer the preserve of a tiny minority. Rather, it seems that a statistically significant one in five us us would describe ourselves this way – making digital innovation a priority for retailers of all kinds.
Among them, no doubt, are the customers who sign up to an internet-enabled regular box of beauty goodies from Glossybox. The company has just been bought by The Hut Group as it looks to extend its reach further into Europe.
We’re also reporting on Sainsbury’s as it works to meet customers’ demands by trialling a 30-minute click and collect scheme, and on the latest footfall figures from the BRC and Springboard that suggest shoppers stayed away from the high street and shopping centres in July.
Chiming with today’s theme, we’re delighted to say that the first IREU Top500 The Customer Performance Dimension Report is now available to read online. Today’s guest comment comes from Henk-Jan van der Weide, co-founder of Artifam, on how artificial intelligence can help customers to find the products and services that they’re looking for.
The Tamebay Ecommerce Cup
The Tamebay Ecommerce Cup 2017 will be held on September 7 and five-a-side teams are now being invited to sign up. The tournament, now in its fifth year, is moving to a new venue in Shepherd’s Bush and promises FA refs and a comfy new players’ lounge complete with screens to keep tabs on competitors’ matches.
“We had a total of 26 teams enter last year, and it was great to have both suppliers and retailers competing, with Deliveroo taking the top spot and runners up Uber narrowly missing out,” says Mark Pigou, founder of InternetRetailing Media. “This year promises to be just as competitive.” To enter a team of up to 10 people (five players and five subs), sign up here.
Sponsorship opportunities are limited to three companies: email Joey Evans (joe.evans@tamebay.com) for more.
Webinars
Find out more about upcoming InternetRetailing webinars and register for free on the InternetRetailing webinar page. You can also catch up with past webinars on the page: recent sessions have come from IBM Watson on using AI to improve the customer experience, and from SmartFocus and The Entertainer on using social to reach digital customers.
