EDITORIAL Peak shopping insights, plus the latest from Asda, Topps Tiles and on net zero

In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter we’re reporting as the latest data suggests that online sales fell 14% on Black Friday, compared to the same time last year. That’s a sharper fall than previously suggested – nonetheless, the direction of IMRG’s prediction that shoppers would spend less online this Black Friday seems to have been borne out. That’s not to say that shoppers are necessarily spending less online this year than last. Many bought earlier, according to Thrasio research, amid concerns of supply chain shortages. Its study suggests that the majority of shoppers it questioned had both finished their Christmas shopping by last Friday, and done much of it online. Certainly, it seems that the number of people visiting shops was lower last Friday than on Black Friday 2019, and especially so on the high street. Looking ahead, it may well be that spending in shops is further limited this year by concern related to the emerging Omicron Covid-19 variant. We’ll be watching with interest in coming weeks.

Today we also report as Topps Tiles reports today on its strongest year yet for sales – despite lockdowns affecting its stores. Even when shoppers could not come into stores to buy, they visited online instead – and second quarter sales rose by 135% on the previous year.

Asda, meanwhile, saw online grocery sales dip as shoppers returned in-store amid the relaxation of social distancing regulations and rising vaccination levels. Ecommerce remains, however, 80% up on the previous year. 

And we have news that retailers and property owners have agreed a net zero protocol on retail buildings as part of the BRC’s Net Zero campaign, and that industry bodies are calling for increased regulation of the way electrical goods are sold on online marketplaces.

In today’s guest comment, James Brooke of Amplience sets out his four steps to overcoming the challenges of content management.