16 Aug Market highlights – August 2017
Every month B.D.C. gives you the key retail information you should not have missed. Key trends, innovation, major players, startups, market figures – discover in 60 seconds the latest key retail news.
UK MARKET HIGHLIGHTS
According to the BRC–KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for July 2017, online sales increased by 8.3% in July (for non-food products). A year earlier online sales grew by 11.2% and in last June by 10.1%.
Overall UK footfall dropped by 1.1% YoY last month, according to the latest monthly footfall monitor from BRC-Springboard. The high street was the worst affected, with a decline of 2.1%, while shopping centres recorded their fourth month of decline in the row, with a minus 1.3%. The explanation might be the bad weather in July or… the beginning of Brexit’s effects.
KEY PLAYERS
Facebook is rolling out its online marketplace service to 17 countries in Europe. For now on, Facebook users will be able to discover, search, buy and sell items with people among their community. It was already available in the United Kingdom, but will now also be offered to more European Facebook users (in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland).
Sainsbury’s has started a trial in its Pimlico store in London. The objective is to enable customers to order their shopping via the Chop Chop app and pick it up from store just 30 minutes later, for free. Thanks to this launch the retailer becomes the first one to offer a collection service in under an hour.
INNOVATION & TRENDS
Evoke Creative, the retail technology specialist, has secured a £1.2 million contract with Tesco. They will supply the retailer with 250 interactive digital kiosks rolling out in 140 Tesco Extra stores.
The new kiosks, dubbed ‘Call-a-Colleague’ by Tesco, will enable shoppers to view products and call staff from relevant departments in order to assist them with further information, a demo and/or a purchase.