Category: Retail
Online retail sales still up but growth slowing according to IMRG Capgemini
Online retail sales were up 12.1% on average year-on-year (YoY) in 2017, according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. Compared to 2016’s YoY average of 15.9%, the fall in annual growth is one of multiple indicators of a maturing market. Indeed, across the twelve months of 2017 only March and April showed…
Growth in device spending as consumers become ‘less price sensitive’, says Gartner
Users of PCs, ultramobiles and mobile phones are buying new devices at higher average selling prices (ASPs), resulting in growth in end-user spending in 2017. Gartner Inc. estimates that end-user spending will increase by 2 per cent in 2017, to nearly $600 billion in current US dollars. Spending on mobile phones will represent 67…
Online retail sales up 15%, but growth through smartphones slowing
According to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, UK online retail sales were up 15% year-on-year (YoY) in February, building on solid growth in February 2016 which was up 16% on the previous year. For the second month running, the average basket value was at a seven-year high for the month.…
UK online retail sales up – but electricals sector slumps
There's good news and bad news for online sales. First the good news. Online retail sales were up 12% year-on-year in January. Now the bad. The electrical sector slumped by 12% over the same period. According to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, the average basket value (ABV) for online…
Music retailer Dawsons unveils ‘smart glasses’ to improve online shopping experience
Are smart glasses the future for retail? Certainly music retailer Dawsons - founded way back in 1898 - is hoping to harness the latest 21st century technology. It has partnered with start up tech company GoInStore in what they claim is the first example of smart glasses being used to help sales staff talk directly…
Phones 4u goes into administration. Are EE and Vodafone to blame?
Sad news for the 5,596 people who work for retail chain Phones 4u. Or anyone who has pre-ordered an iPhone 6 for that matter who will now probably not get their handset. The company went into administration last night and will not open its doors today.The reason, it seems, is because the mobile phone…
Rip-off Britain: UK shoppers pay more for technology
It's something that people in the UK have always suspected, but now Which? has made it official – Britons pay far more for new technology products than consumers in the US. The consumer watchdog compared the prices, excluding tax, of 13 identical products ranging from televisions and games consoles to desktop applications and security software and…
Expedia announces plans to accept Bitcoin payments
Expedia has become the latest e-commerce website to accept payments made from customers using Bitcoin as well as generic generic forms of currency. Though big news for Bitcoin enthusiasts (replete in their tinfoil hats and Ron Paul t-shirts), the acceptance…
Apple store construction crew stunned by discovery of 15th century hospital ruins
Apple's retail store building crew got a surprise when they uncovered the remains of a 15th century hospital on the site where the company's newest Madrid store was being built. The hospital, originally known as San Andres hospital, was used…
HMV? That's Asda price as supermarket chain considers buyout
A new twist in the HMV administration story has come today, with rumours that supermarket chain Asda may be looking into snapping up the ailing record stores. If Asda do wish to pursue the buyout, they'll now likely have to…