WWT Talks Retail With MIPRO

On Feb. 20, 2017 MIPRO posted:

Ben Boswell, director of UK and Ireland for WWT

The amount spent online in January 2017 accounted for 14.6% of all retail spending, revealed the latest report from the Office of National Statistics.

Non-food retailing saw an increase in the quantity bought and the amount spend in January.

The report found that despite falling on the month by 7.2%, online sales increased by 10.1% year-on-year.

Looking at footfall in January, the BRC found that it was down 1.3% compared to a year ago – the steepest drop in footfall since the 2.8% fall in June 2016. This is lower than the three-month average of 0.8%.

"January's sluggish non-food sales, which undoubtedly corresponded with the dip in footfall below last year, go some way to explaining these underwhelming figures," said Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive, BRC. "Stores bore the brunt of the sales slowdown; posting their deepest three-month decline on record as online was the preferred shopping channel for the month's clearance sales."

These latest retail figures continue to highlight the ever increasing importance of online retail. And while industry experts remain adamant that physical stores need to adopt a more omni-channel approach to survive in today's retail landscape, some are suggesting that businesses must avoid "gimmicky innovations".

Whilst operating in difficult market conditions and competing with e-commerce giants, UK retailers can take "quick and easy steps to align their stores with consumer preferences", believes systems integrator World Wide Technology (WWT).

"The new retail landscape needs to focus more squarely on blending digital and physical stores – bricks and mortar needs to become 'clicks and mortar'," said Ben Boswell, director, UK & Ireland, WWT. But he warned: "Retailers, operating in difficult market conditions need to avoid gimmicky innovations and focus on integrating simple solutions which deliver standout customer experience.