In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter, we’re reporting as the latest BRC Crime Survey shows how retailers are facing rising levels of threats both online and in-store. In-store, violence against staff has more than doubled from pre-pandemic levels and retailers are losing hundreds of millions to customer theft. Online, fraud cost retailers less, but was the area where spending on prevention grew most quickly last year.
The latest retail sales figures, from BDO LLP, and the latest BRC footfall figures together suggest that shoppers spent more in-store – and less online – in February than they did a year ago. The month is generally less buoyant than either Christmas or the January sales, a trend that is borne out this year as well.
We’re also sharing some intriguing insights into leading retailers’ multichannel strategies from the 2023 RetailX Top500, today through Customer Value Chain research. This investigates the way that retailers add value to their business through the customer experience, and showcases the latest findings in areas from how Top500 retailers, brands and marketplaces enable shoppers to find the right products to their delivery and returns policies. sharing some intriguing insights from the 2023 RetailX Top500, today through Customer Value Chain research
And we have a story on how a Belsize Park convenience store has become the first UK grocery store to be “fully powered through IoT technology”. Kavanagh’s of Belsize is using technology that effectively promises to turn its shop into a digital asset, enabling the retailer to gain a 360° view on all activities in the store – improving them through data and feedback.
In today’s guest comment, Grace Sinclair, Katerina Kyriades and Scarlett Fielding of Merkle argue that marketing innovation is needed in a cost-of-living crisis.
