The rise of smart phones and social media is making people who eat alone less lonely as a new report from IKEA reveals that as we increasingly become solo diners we are turning to social media networks for companionship at
Leading consumer battery manufacturer Varta has secured promotional listings with major UK retailers and introduced new packaging, which compares its products with market-leading brands. The company, which is Germany’s top consumer battery manufacturer and number two in Europe, has also introduced
Newspaper publisher, Trinity Mirror, is launching a voucher app that allows users to purchase newspapers using a smartphone. The launch by Trinity Mirror’s new business division is the first in a series of Apps, as the publisher moves towards innovative new
Superdrug is rolling out free Wi-Fi across its estate with leading high street technology provider, The Cloud. Superdrug said the move is designed to enhance in-store customer satisfaction and communication. By providing Superdrug customers with the opportunity to browse online,
Online retail sales in February rose 13% year-on-year, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. This is broadly in line with researchers’ forecast for the year as a whole (12% growth). While nearly all sectors recorded double-digit growth, the average
Mobile will evolve as the main platform for retailers over the next three years, according to Martin Gill, principal analyst in e-commerce and channel strategy at Forrester Research. Forrester reports 39% of UK mobile users now use their smart phone for
James Hall, associate at Charles Russell LLP, claims it is increasingly important for companies to have a comprehensive and up-to-date social media policy for employees Managing and controlling social media activity Social media has rapidly become a fact of life,
Sales through mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) hit £7.5bn in 2012, according to data from the IMRG Capgemini Quarterly Benchmarking. Mobile device sales accounted for 12% of the £62.4bn spent at e-retail sites last year (estimated spend from the IMRG Capgemini
Online sales on Boxing Day (26 December 2012) increased by 44.95% compared to the same day in 2011, analysis of retail traffic by IBM reveals. IBM’s Digital Analytics Benchmark study found: Mobile traffic: the number of consumers using a mobile device
Vanessa Barnett, partner and retail specialist at city law firm Charles Russell LLP, reviews Mega Monday and its impact on the retail industry Last week’s Mega Monday (3 December 2012) was expected to be the UK’s biggest online shopping day with
Mobile payment page optimisation and screen size are impacting the number of consumers willing to purchase goods and services on their mobile devices, according to research conducted by payment processor, WorldPay. The research found retail experts believe mobile devices play a
Figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index have revealed solid growth in internet retail sales in October 2012, with British shoppers spending £6.7bn online – a 14% year-on-year growth on October 2011, and a 5% increase on the previous month. The overall
Retailers need to personalise their offer to meet individual customers’ needs, according to Tesco group chief executive Philip Clarke. Speaking at the 2012 IGD Convention, Clarke said the digital revolution has changed how people shop. “With a touch of their
Redemptions via iPhone apps now outstrip printable vouchers, according to VoucherCodes.co.uk’s Quarterly Voucher Usage Report – a seasonal snapshot of the key trends driving voucher usage. Over the last 12 months VoucherCodes.co.uk has seen the number of vouchers accessed through
In the seventh Retail Times and Euromonitor International Retail Spotlight, Daniel Latev, head of retailing research, Euromonitor International, explores how the smartphone evolution is driving online sales in markets around the world Internet retailing is bucking the overall retailing trend and
Consumer behaviour analyst, Stylus, has released a report exploring the most significant shifts in consumer attitudes, technological innovations and business strategies it claims will shape the industry throughout 2012 and beyond. Ryan Ross, chief creative officer at Stylus, said: “A new
David Martin, co-managing partner at the London retail design and branding agency, M Worldwide, believes e-tailers are poised to lead the resurgence in UK high streets High street occupancy levels are at an all-time low, internet shopping is increasing exponentially,
A new start-up business is aiming to connect big-name brands and consumers via smart phones. Shopitize was founded in 2010 by tech entrepreneur, investor and former Australian cabinet minister Alan Griffiths; former banker Irina Pafomova; and former management consultant. Alexey
Baby products retailer, Mamas & Papas, is planning to launch a mobile website as part of its new e-commerce strategy, which includes catering for mobile, tablet and Facebook shoppers. The company has appointed retail technology specialist One iota to develop
Thorntons is launching an outdoor campaign, which allows smart phone users to scan a QR code and buy an Easter egg for 1p. The mobile checkout technology – Simply Tap – has been introduced by Mobile Money Network (MMN) and is claimed to
Many of the most popular UK stores are ignoring mobile as a mass market opportunity, according to research by global mobile marketing agency, Somo. Despite UK smart phone penetration surpassing 50% and mobile devices making up around 15% of all online traffic, Somo’s analysis of
Online sales in the UK reached £7.9bn in December 2011, equivalent to £155.00 per person, fiigures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index reveal. Sales were up by 12.2% on November 2011 and by 16.5% on December 2010, with the
British consumers are set to spend £19.3bn year using their mobile phones and tablets within the next 10 years, compared with £1.3bn spent today, according to new research by Barclays Corporate. Food and groceries remain the most popular on-the-go mobile
Executives hope augmented reality can help revolutionise the retail industry. And smartphone apps look to be leading the charge, argues Ben Thompson at Next Generation Retail Summit Europe Summit 2011 organiser, GDS International Imagine a world in which small, cartoon-style tags pop
