Retail Critical Issues

The coronavirus outbreak has had severe consequences for retailers and, according to the report, 48% of shoppers are now scared to shop in store as a result of the pandemic. Nigel Naylor-Smith, Head of Retail and Hospitality, Fujitsu UK, discusses why he believes retailers will still need to prioritise their digital offerings to appeal to the change in consumer demand as lockdown measures ease.

During the pandemic, the foundations on which retailers, brands and Consumer Products companies rely to determine trade volumes, pricing and promotions have been shaken and, in some cases, broken.

Consumer confidence in the UK appears to be rising as online retail grew sharply since the reopening of shops on the 15 June, data from ecommerce expert Emarsys shows.

The Government is planning to consult the public about a new standard delivery charge for home shopping. Just like the plastic bag fee in supermarkets, it aims to discourage overuse of consumer deliveries by making shoppers think again. ParcelHero argues the plan is actually a ploy to replace lost business rates income and that home deliveries – the consumer’s saviour during lockdown – are far greener than shopping by car.

As stores across Europe begin to re-open their doors, retailers who have survived lockdown will need to navigate the uncertainty of the retail landscape and adapt to new market strategies for business to continue, urged Giorgio Vitale, Head of Business Development EMEA at B-Stock.

As the country prepares for the next phase of businesses reopening, the Independent Print Industry Association (IPIA) claims its members are one of the best placed to not only produce protective equipment like face visors, masks and sneeze screens but also develop further products and services to reduce spread of the Covid-19 virus.

As lockdown restrictions are being gradually eased across the country, industries of all types must now consider additional health and safety measures, to ensure a safe re-opening.

Consumers are more conscious than ever about how their shopping habits affect the world at large.

Many companies do not realise the full value of investing in digital projects due to a lack of collaboration among their critical business functions, according to a new study by Accenture (NYSE: ACN).

Almost 5% of UK consumers have bought a bike since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, encouraged by good weather, a desire to get outdoors to exercise as well as the government’s advice to avoid public transport*, says GlobalData, the data and analytics company.