Unilever’s ecommerce sales grew by 61% in its latest financial year as shoppers turned online to buy its hygiene and ‘at home’ food brands during Covid-19 lockdowns. Ecommerce and digitisation are now one of Unilever’s five strategic choices
Customers’ interest in subscription-based buying has also seen an increase over the past year, with more than a third (37%) of consumers have subscribed to a paid next-day delivery service such as Amazon Prime – 9% more compared to two years ago.
The market for consumer subscriptions for physical goods will grow from an expected $64 billion in 2020 to more than $263 billion in 2025, a new report from Juniper Research suggests.
Amazon said today that it was moving into the luxury category, with selected shoppers to receive invitation-only access to brands including Oscar de la Renta via their mobile devices
The lockdown has fuelled a boom in retail subscription services, with research showing that UK consumers now have an average of seven per household and spend around £46 a month – £552 a year – on subs.
Pets at Home showed how it invested in omnichannel services during the Covid-19 lockdown and now plans to continue to do so amid signs that demand is growing both for pets and for digital ways of buying. Omnichannel sales grew by a record 71% in its first quarter but store and vet revenues both fell, taking the business to an overall 1% drop in revenues.
Subscription services for regular retail purchases, especially in the grocery sector, are set to soar as post-lockdown shoppers continue to find new ways to avoid going into stores.
This year’s summer sale season is reaching its peak today at ecommerce sites from Amazon and Currys PC World to department stores including John Lewis and Debenhams