In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter we’re reporting on how UK retailers from Asda and Next to Net-A-Porter, Yoox, Wickes and Toolstation are developing their multichannel strategies. Essentially all are working to give customers what they want to buy. As Asda says in its full-year results, “In the highly competitive retail industry, success depends on satisfying changing customer needs more effectively than the competition.” Its full-year sales dipped while profits were cut by a fifth, so how to make its business the most effective in the grocery industry is now a critical question.
Customers’ needs vary between categories, and today we’re taking a look at how these very different traders are responding. What all have in common is the need to respond to the way shoppers are buying while doing so profitably. In its figures, Next looks at the actions it’s taking to move towards full-price sales. Wickes and Toolstation, along with parent company Travis Perkins, are benefitting from convenient multichannel services. The Yoox Net-A-Porter Group has, meanwhile, focused on fast-growing mobile sales. That certainly reflects the experience of customers as set out in a new report from the Office for National Statistics, which finds not only that 73% of UK adults have accessed the internet on the go from a smartphone, but that a conclusive 98% of 16 to 24-year-olds have done so. Research from Google and the BRC, meanwhile, says that these mobile searches are in turn helping to drive retail growth.
In today’s preview of InternetRetailing Conference 2017 we take a look at the Analyse and Conquer stream, while today’s guest comment comes from Ivan Mazour of Ometria, who looks at whether ecommerce marketers stand to lose out or gain from the advent of artificial intelligence.
The Tamebay Ecommerce Cup
The Tamebay Ecommerce Cup 2017 will be held on September 7 and five-a-side teams are now being invited to sign up. The tournament, now in its fifth year, is moving to a new venue in Shepherd’s Bush and promises FA refs and a comfy new players’ lounge complete with screens to keep tabs on competitors’ matches.
“We had a total of 26 teams enter last year, and it was great to have both suppliers and retailers competing, with Deliveroo taking the top spot and runners up Uber narrowly missing out,” says Mark Pigou, founder of InternetRetailing Media. “This year promises to be just as competitive.” To enter a team of up to 10 people (five players and five subs), sign up here.
Sponsorship opportunities are limited to three companies: email Joey Evans (joe.evans@tamebay.com) for more.
Webinars
Find out more about upcoming InternetRetailing webinars and register for free on the InternetRetailing webinar page. You can also catch up with past webinars on the page: recent sessions have come from IBM Watson on using AI to improve the customer experience, and from SmartFocus and The Entertainer on using social to reach digital customers.
