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UK consumers want a ‘connected shopping’ experience, with mobile-friendly tech set to draw them back to the high street

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UK shoppers are more inclined to continue to shop online in the coming year than in any other country – and they are going to be using their mobiles to help them when they do head in store.

The global survey of 20,000 shoppers, conducted by consumer trends agency Foresight Factory and commissioned by Snap, showed UK consumers were more inclined to shop online in the coming year than those in the United States, France and Japan, among other countries.

More than 4 in 10 (44%) UK shoppers say they plan to do the majority of their clothes shopping online over the next 12 months – well above the global average of 38% and higher than almost any other country surveyed. The study also found that only 34% of Brits said buying in-store was their favourite method of shopping, compared to 43% globally. 

Yet despite a challenging year for the UK high street because of the pandemic, UK shoppers do retain a desire to shop in-store, with half (49%) of UK consumers saying they missed the social aspect of shopping, and 51% finding the inability to try-on products frustrating.

‘Connected shopping’ – where consumers can combine the convenience of a digital experience with the benefits of a physical store – is expected to be critical to drawing consumers back to the high street. A third (30%) of UK shoppers said they would go out of their way to visit a store if it had interactive services that allowed them to try-on and test items virtually, while a fifth (19%) said they were more likely to shop in stores that offered online features such as instant access to stock information or a home delivery service.

The study also finds that shopping with augmented reality (AR) will continue to surge with a predicted 80% increase in the proportion of Gen Z* shoppers in the UK using AR before buying a product over the next five years. More than half (54%) of UK consumers who have already used AR when shopping say it encouraged them to make a purchase.

Growth in e-commerce during Covid-19 will be sustained with 22% of UK shoppers expecting to do more online shopping in the next 12 months compared to last year whilst 59% are planning on doing the same amount.

The study goes on to show that new technology could reduce the number of online items that are returned annually by up to 42%, with the study estimating that the cost of online returns now amounts to around $7.5 billion each year – and £377m in the UK alone.

Demands for a more sustainable, circular retail economy are also growing, with 40% of UK consumers saying they worry about the environmental impact of shopping online. Nearly half (46%) of UK shoppers surveyed bought something through a resale platform with more than 1 in 5 citing environmental reasons as a motivation for the purchase.

Meabh Quoirin, CEO and Co-Owner of Foresight Factory says: “Consumers are demonstrating a clear desire for the human interaction that comes with in-person shopping, alongside the convenience and engagement of online shopping. ‘Connected shopping’ should be at the heart of brands’ strategies to drive shoppers back into their stores, as our study shows that when brands embrace technologies, both in-store and online, they could further strengthen and deepen their connections with consumers.” 

Ed Couchman, General Manager, UK, Nordics and DACH , at Snap adds: “For a long time, people thought the internet and technology was a threat to physical retail but this report clearly shows that those who harness the benefits of tech are best placed to thrive post pandemic. Shoppers want to read reviews, compare prices and try on items using AR – but they also enjoy the experience of going into a shop, speaking to staff, and looking at items. They want the best of both worlds.”

Foresight Factory’s study was conducted across 12 markets: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, US.

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