Today we report on how The Hut Group (THG) has bought Cult Beauty and is planning to take it international – a move that could add as much as £140m a year to THG’s bottom line and cements the groups place in pureplay online beauty.
We also report as shoppers in the Midlands and East Anglia can now order from the Central England Co-op for 30 minute delivery, adding yet more speed and choice to online grocery shopping in the UK.
Sticking with Grovery, we hear from Ellie Need of Itsu [grocery] about why and how it is now selling via marketplaces, and from Paul Adams of Tambo, which is advising it. Itsu says its marketplace sales have grown strongly as shoppers look to buy its groceries in larger quantities.
Meanwhile, research from Future suggests that UK shoppers have saved nearly £200bn in lockdown – and plan to spend at least some of that this Black Friday and Christmas. Peak starts here.
And while they are keen to start spending, many will want to do it both online and instore – and will want the experience to be joined up. This hybrid retail model is gaining ground in consumer minds, but as research suggests, it is proving quite tricky to deliver, with as many as 58% of retailers struggling to do so.
Today’s guest comment comes from Marcel Hollerbach of Productsup, who argues that retailers must digitise their in-store experience to remain competitive post-Covid. Something that looks to be vital as footfall figures for July stall.
