In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter we’re reporting on how retailers from French Connection to DFS and Asos are tackling the challenges of our time.
French Connection sets out what coronavirus and Brexit are likely to mean for it, while also explaining how it’s focusing on wholesale and rightsizing its direct business as it aims to turn around falling sales and profits.
DFS reports on its approach to coronavirus, and explains how it is building an omnichannel strategy that suits both the 85% of its shoppers who start their sofa-buying journey online and the 90% who go into a store to check how comfortable a sofa will be. It’s taking action to counter climate change, but says political uncertainty hit consumer confidence over the last six months, resulting in falling sales and profits, despite online growth.
Asos, meanwhile, explains how it reduced the carbon dioxide emissions created by its online orders by 30% over the last five years.
These stories come against a backdrop of growing challenges. We continue to monitor the growing challenge around coronavirus, reporting on how that’s affecting shoppers and therefore retailers.
Other challenges include falling footfall, which, according to Springboard appears to be down as a result of the stormy weather that caused floods in some areas last month and which we can expect more of in a time of climate change. At the same time, the BRC reports today that retail sales stayed flat despite some online growth as more people opted to buy over the internet.
Today’s guest comment comes from Lihi Pinto Fryman of Syte who sets out how retailers are using visual search in 2020.
Image: Fotolia
