Amazon, Argos, Dunelm, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Next have been named Elite retailers in the 2020 edition of the RetailX UK (RXUK) Top500, published in association with Klarna.
The report, now in its sixth year, is a unique performance-based listing of the UK’s leading multichannel and ecommerce retailers. Amazon is the only retailer to have been named an Elite retailer in every report so far – and the only pureplay retailer to have done so. This year’s report features an interview with Doug Gurr, UK chair of Amazon alongside case studies of H&M and JD Sports.
This year’s report marks a change of name from the InternetRetailing Top500. Editor-in-chief Ian Jindal said: “The change recognises and reflects the part that InternetRetailing’s research arm RetailX plays in this annual listing of the leading multichannel and ecommerce retailers selling in the UK. We believe this sixth annual report, as with its predecessors, stands apart from the crowd in its performance-led analysis of how leading retailers sell in the UK.”
The research starts with a Footprint ranking of leading retailers based on size – of revenues, store networks and web traffic. The Top500 in that footprint are then analysed in terms of their performance in six key dimensions: Strategy & Innovation, The Customer, Merchandising, Brand Engagement, Operations & Logistics and Mobile & Cross-channel.
Jindal said the report came in a turbulent time for the retail market, as shoppers carry out more of their retail transactions online and in an uncertain political climate.
“Uncertainty around Brexit meant that we saw two different days on which the UK might have left the European Union without a deal, a change of Prime Minister and, to end the year, a general election,” said Jindal. “But the uncertainty continues this year, with retailers still not clear on exactly what Brexit will mean for them.”
But in 2020, this report suggests, retailers appear to be responding to change and challenge by adapting and developing the way that they sell, whether that’s through stores, through the seamless service that they now offer on mobile or through improved merchandising, delivery and sustainable packaging options.
“In previous years,” said Jindal, “we’ve seen a minority of top retailers work to improve their multichannel offerings, while the average retailers lagged behind. This year that seems to be changing as a majority of businesses improve their performance in ways that their customers will appreciate.”
He added: “Our warm congratulations to our Elite retailers of 2020: Amazon, Argos, Dunelm, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Next.”
The RXUK Top500 2020 report features analysis of how leading retailers are performing in areas from the store experience to offering a new level of service through the delivery they offer. It ranks the Top500 leading retailers and names the leading businesses in each of the six performance dimensions.
Click here for more information and to download the RXUK Top500 2020.
Image courtesy of Amazon
