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EDITORIAL From Sainsbury’s to Halfords: how leading retailers are making it easier for shoppers to buy from them

In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter, we report on how Sainsbury’s and Halfords are bringing their different group brands together across channels as they look to make it easier for shoppers to buy from them. The two retailers are, separately, giving shoppers easy access online, via mobile apps and through stores that feature several brands under one roof. Sainsbury’s is simplifying digital access to its brands – from Argos and Tu to Sainsbury’s – while they also sit alongside each other in-store. But the change comes at a cost: store restructuring costs have been one of the drivers behind a dramatic first-half profit fall.

Meanwhile, Halfords promises both a single web platform to access both its retail and garage services, and is trialling a single physical location for them as well. Both retailers are acting at a time when pressure is growing on omnichannel retailers to gain a greater share of customer spending. By giving shoppers the convenience of buying other items from other brands ’while you’re here’, they both aim to boost their share of that limited wallet space. 

Today we also report as Superdry works to move its business away from discounting – but sees sales fall across channels in the early stages of that ambition. Gap is looking for a new chief executive after announcing that the current incumbent would step down following a transition period. 

Meanwhile, Ikea has reported rising sales after a year in which it invested in improving the customer experience across channels. That includes opening different store formats and working to improve the online and mobile app experience.

From our European coverage, we report as flash sales retailer Veepee leaves the UK market citing Brexit uncertainty.

In today’s guest comment, Gavin Masters of Maginus considers personalised delivery and how it might work for both customer and retailer. 

Image courtesy of Halfords

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