The future of shopping is about to be unveiled, and it’s a groundbreaking fusion of cutting-edge payment technology and sustainable clothing. All Saints founder Stuart Trevor introduces an innovative brand that redefines the fashion landscape by creating clothes solely from discarded material. The launch of his eponymous new brand STUART TREVOR will be powered by Stored, the trailblazing mobile payments start-up, who will be providing seamless payment solutions for this event during London Fashion Week.
Stored’s technology will enable the brand to convert browsers to customers in just two taps. Stored’s mobile payment experiences drive exponential growth for retailers, by utilising a frictionless two-tap checkout. The superfast checkout boosts conversion rates by up to 250% and improves checkout completion time by 58%. Stored can be deployed across channels, including pop-ups and events with no code, making Stored the ideal partner for multi-channel retailers.
The STUART TREVOR brand’s ethos of sustainability and conscious consumption combined with Stored’s commitment to innovative omnichannel payment solutions delivers a paradigm shift in how we experience shopping. As the fashion world converges for London Fashion Week, Stored’s technology will seamlessly power the payments for STUART TREVOR brand, delivering an unmatched shopping experience that resonates with modern consumers.
The STUART TREVOR brand’s pioneering approach, driven by founder Stuart Trevor’s passion for sustainable fashion, offers a resounding solution to the fashion industry’s environmental challenges. By crafting a unique range of clothing from discarded garments and deadstock fabric, the brand represents a compelling counter-narrative to the culture of excessive clothing production. The event, scheduled at The Academy Of Beauty & Culture, promises to be a transformative experience, reflecting the brand’s fusion of sustainability and innovation. Beyond STUART TREVOR, this event also marks a collaborative effort, uniting sustainable brands that are redefining the future of shopping.
“I am excited to see our payment technology align with Stuart Trevor’s visionary approach. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to redefining the shopping experience, where sustainability and convenience converge to shape the future of retail and drive exponential growth across channels.” says Danny Howe, co-founder of Stored.
“We’re not just launching a clothing brand; we’re unveiling a future shopping experience that combines the best of sustainable fashion with cutting-edge payment technology,” Stuart Trevor asserts. “Stored’s frictionless payment solutions complement our mission of delivering an eco-conscious and convenient shopping journey.”
As the anticipation builds for this remarkable event, the partnership between STUART TREVOR and Stored sets a new standard for the fashion industry. A future where seamless payments converge with sustainable fashion is not just on the horizon – it’s here, and it’s transforming the way we shop.
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About Stored
Stored create mobile payment experiences to enable brands and retailers to sell more, anywhere. Through using Stored, retailers can craft amazing, high converting experiences to seamlessly connect customer journeys and drive exponential growth. Simple and intuitive, brands and retailers can create campaign-led checkouts in minutes to convert more customers through a customised payment experience. Stored provides measurable performance and customer insight, including previously unseen customer interactions and visibility of engagement across channels.
Written by Matthew Biboud-Lubeck, Vice President EMEA, Amperity
The world of retail has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, and the impact is being felt across the industry. For decades, the biggest advertising budget guaranteed the greatest reach, but those days are long gone. The rise of social media has given small indie brands a platform to compete and collaborate with influencers, leaving the big players struggling to keep up.
To thrive in today’s fast-paced and dynamic retail environment, UK beauty retailers and CPGs must embrace the power of data and use it to bridge the gap between their customers’ needs and their business objectives. By collecting and analysing customer data, brands can create personalised experiences that engage consumers across all channels from direct-to-consumer (D2C) to indirect channels.
And with the ability to measure the impact of their efforts, they can continuously optimise their strategies to drive sales and build long-lasting customer relationships. The data-driven economy may seem daunting, but with the right tools and mindset, CPGs and other retailers can unlock unprecedented growth and success.
Make privacy a priority
Before retailers and CPGs can dive into best practices, they must have a crystal clear understanding of privacy internally. In today’s digital world, data is a double-edged sword. It serves as both the lifeblood of the retail industry whilst also representing one of the most tightly regulated and potentially risky aspects of a brand’s operations.
That’s where the UK’s Data Protection Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) come in, designed to safeguard consumer privacy and ensure that consent is always given. Compliance with these laws is not only an ethical responsibility but a financial one too, with penalties of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover for non-compliance, whichever is higher. Yet, according to research, more than half (52%) of UK businesses are still not fully GDPR compliant.
Considering that 88% of online shoppers in the UK say they would stop using brands and organisations that don’t value consumer data privacy, this is especially concerning. Brands that fail to prioritise data privacy risk reputational damage, legal and financial consequences and ultimately, losing the trust of their customers.
Get your data strategy right
The brands that are getting it right, however, employ a unified data strategy, which allows for more efficient and accurate data management. This includes suppressing customers who have opted out of communications and then being able to maintain the integrity of that information across all channels. By understanding the types of data, where it’s stored and how it’s collected and used, marketers can make informed decisions and tailor their strategies to meet the unique needs of their customers.
Investing in customer data platforms (CDPs) enables companies to track, manage and integrate customer data across all touchpoints, resulting in a more cohesive and personalised experience for customers. This not only improves the customer experience but also saves time and resources whilst keeping companies compliant with privacy laws
With a unified data strategy in place, companies can build trust with their customers by providing personalised experiences based on accurate and relevant data.
First party data: Reaching more customers in innovative ways
With the right privacy parameters in place, it’s time to prioritise first-party data. Succeeding in today’s dynamic landscape requires emphasising unique reach over third-party data and walled gardens. This means shifting focus towards a brand’s owned and second-party data ecosystem.
Unique reach is about reaching genuine, high-fit customers and growing that number over time. It means obsessing over name collection, focusing on big opportunity segments alongside 1:1 personalisation and improving the ability to maintain that reach across paid and owned channels.
This, in turn, allows retailers and CPGs to maximise ROI and improve measurability of campaigns to prove the value of their first-party data efforts. To make a real impact on consumer behaviour and capture market share, CPG companies need scalability. Without it, even the best customer data and personalisation strategies fall short in demonstrating meaningful ROI.
There are five main benefits of unique, first-party data reach, including:
Enhanced channel control: Ability to own and control channel strategy, driving customer traffic to D2C or indirect retail channels more effectively than retailers alone.
Increased collaboration: Motivates retailers to participate in second-party data clean room solutions, fostering increased collaboration and shared success.
Cost-effective customer engagement: Shifts focus to lower-cost channels for re-engaging customers, improving customer acquisition costs and driving growth.
Valuable M&A insights: Provides valuable insights into M&A opportunities and potential for new customer growth.
Informed decision-making: Enables smarter, more informed decisions for long-term success.
Lessons from the beauty industry
Before I joined Amperity in 2017, I worked with global beauty conglomerates Estee Lauder and L’Oréal, helping them make better use of data to unlock incredible experiences and emerge as industry leaders. During my time there, I learnt a lot through trial and error.
Here are three key takeaways to thrive as a retailer whilst balancing privacy and personalisation:
Don’t do anything that would put consumer data at risk: When you spend over a century building your brands, there is no action you could take to earn a little extra money that would be worth damaging any of them.
Destroy trust, destroy the relationship with the customer: Privacy is everything. There was a time when there wasn’t a surefire way to give the marketing team the data they needed in a way that was privacy-compliant. But now there is. Amperity is a proven, scalable solution to brands’ identity resolution problems. The brands that work with us know that we’re going to keep inventing software solutions and interoperability to the dynamic ecosystem. As it changes, Amperity is evolving right along with it.
Figure out collaboration: With the demise of third-party cookies, second-party data collaboration in clean rooms is crucial. Scaling D2C, first-party data requires privacy-safe collaboration with retailers. Finding secure tools that meet legal and privacy requirements can be challenging. For most businesses and retail media networks exploring collaboration, extensive experimentation is necessary. Prioritise consumer transparency and involve them in the collaboration process, ensuring they understand and acknowledge it. Communicate the purpose of collaboration as enhancing their experience.
Balancing personalised customer experiences with privacy
Retailers and CPGs must find new ways to balance personalisation with privacy. This means shifting their focus towards privacy-centric strategies that respect customers’ data and preferences.
With a deep understanding of their customers, personalised experiences across channels and an unwavering commitment to privacy, UK retailers and CPGs can not only navigate the ever-changing retail landscape but also outshine their competition and win the hearts of their customers.
About the author
Matthew Lubeck, Vice President EMEA, Amperity
Matthew is the vice president of EMEA where he is responsible for the commercial expansion of Amperity, a leading customer data platform trusted by brands like Reckitt, Under Armour and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Lubeck joined Amperity in 2017 to help launch the company and has served in a number of key roles building sales, customer success, and marketing functions. Matthew established Amperity’s LGBTQ employee resource group (ERG) and is a trusted advisor and customer-centricity change agent to the C-suite across leading consumer brands.
Prior to Amperity, Lubeck spent 10 years with global beauty conglomerates Estee Lauder Group and L’Oréal as Group Head of Customer Data Strategy and Analytics, leading 30 brands across luxury, mass and salon professional divisions to better use data & unlock incredible beauty experiences, establishing L’Oreal as an industry leader. He resides in London with his husband and four-year-old daughter.
About Amperity
Amperity delivers the data confidence brands need to unlock growth by truly knowing their customers. With Amperity, brands can build a first-party data foundation to fuel customer acquisition and retention, personalise experiences that build loyalty, and manage privacy compliance. Using patented AI and ML methods, Amperity stitches together all customer interactions to build a unified view that seamlessly connects to marketing and technology tools. More than 400 brands worldwide rely on Amperity to turn data into business value, including Alaska Airlines, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Endeavour Drinks, Planet Fitness, Seattle Sounders FC, Under Armour and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. For more information, visit amperity.com.
In today’s digital landscape, more and more businesses sell their products and services online. However, with this growth comes an increased risk of security threats that can jeopardize the integrity and success of online businesses. Ensuring robust eCommerce security measures is paramount to protect sensitive customer data, maintain trust, and safeguard the reputation of your online venture.
The staggering statistics surrounding cybercrime highlight the urgency of prioritizing eCommerce security. According to recent reports, a staggering 30,000 websites fall victim to hacking attempts every day worldwide. This alarming figure underscores the relentless nature of cyber criminals and their persistent efforts to exploit vulnerabilities within online systems. As an eCommerce business owner, understanding and mitigating the potential security threats that loom over your digital storefront is crucial for long-term success.
In this post, we’ll explore the various eCommerce security threats that can impact your business and provide valuable insights on how to protect yourself and your customers.
Understanding eCommerce Security Threats
When running an online business, it’s crucial to be aware of the different types of security threats that can compromise your website’s integrity and put your customers at risk. These threats include malware and ransomware attacks, phishing and social engineering attempts, data breaches and identity theft, payment fraud and chargebacks, and DDoS attacks. Real-world examples serve as stark reminders of the devastating impact that these threats can have on businesses of all sizes.
Protecting Your eCommerce Website
To fortify your eCommerce website against potential security breaches, there are several key measures you should implement. Start by obtaining and implementing Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates to ensure secure data transmission between your website and your customers. Regularly updating and patching your website’s software is essential to address any known vulnerabilities.
Strong and unique passwords, coupled with two-factor authentication (2FA), add an extra layer of protection. Securing your website’s admin area and conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments will help identify and address potential weaknesses. Lastly, educating employees on cybersecurity best practices is vital to maintain a robust security posture.
Securing Customer Data
Customer data is highly sensitive and must be protected diligently. Collect only the necessary information and store it securely using encryption techniques. Complying with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), demonstrates your commitment to safeguarding customer data. Properly handling and disposing of customer data is equally important, as negligence in this area can lead to severe consequences.
Ensuring Secure Payment Processing
Securing the payment process is vital for maintaining robust eCommerce security. To achieve this, it’s essential to collaborate with reputable payment gateways that adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements, guaranteeing secure transactions. Employing tokenization and encryption techniques is instrumental in safeguarding payment data both during transmission and while in storage.
Additionally, implementing fraud detection and prevention measures aids in the identification and mitigation of any suspicious activities. Staying vigilant against card skimming and point-of-sale (POS) attacks is paramount to ensure the protection of your business and provide a secure experience for your customers.
Educating Customers about Online Security
Educating customers about online security is crucial for establishing a secure eCommerce environment. By offering security tips and guidelines on your website, you empower customers with the knowledge they need to practice safe online habits. Sending regular security awareness emails is another effective way to keep customers informed and vigilant, addressing common scams and phishing attempts.
Additionally, encouraging strong password practices and promoting the use of two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection, enhancing personal security for customers. By prioritizing customer education, you contribute to creating a safer online experience and foster trust in your eCommerce business.
Building a Response Plan
Having a well-defined response plan is just as essential as prevention when it comes to eCommerce security. To effectively handle security incidents, establish an incident response team that can promptly address any breaches. Develop a comprehensive plan that details the necessary steps to be taken during a security breach, including clear communication protocols and strategies for minimizing the impact.
It’s important to regularly test and update the response plan to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with the ever-evolving threat landscape. By being prepared with a robust response plan, your online business can efficiently mitigate the effects of security incidents and safeguard your customers’ trust.
Final Thoughts
In the ever-evolving landscape of eCommerce, securing your online business against potential security threats is paramount. Implementing these comprehensive security measures may require some effort and investment, but the peace of mind it brings and the protection it offers to your online business and customers far outweigh the costs. Stay proactive, stay vigilant, and secure your online business against the evolving landscape of eCommerce security threats.
Mapp, the international provider of insight-led customer experiences today announced the enhanced integration for Mapp Cloud – Magento (Adobe Commerce). eCommerce brands using Magento can now seamlessly integrate their online shops with Mapp Cloud, connecting their product catalogue, customer behaviour and transactions in Mapp to enable Insight-led Customer Experiences via email, SMS, Mobile Push, In-App and WebPush.
By integrating Magento with Mapp Cloud, eCommerce brands gain access to actionable data and can personalise customer experiences with Mapp’s AI-powered product recommendation engine. Additionally, businesses will gain valuable insights into product trends and understand how their offerings impact customer engagement and loyalty.
This extension also enables over 20 pre-configured eCommerce and Consumer Insights dashboards to start analysing customer behaviour right away. Once active, eCommerce brands can trigger omni-channel campaigns including Abandoned Cart, New Product Launches, Price Drop and Back-in Stock.
Ricardas Montvila, VP Global Strategy at Mapp, comments: “We are delighted we can now offer Mapp Cloud customers a seamless integration with Magento shops to deliver real-time, insight-led marketing capabilities, enabling personalised experiences and successful cross-channel campaigns. Our customers will now benefit from another trusted data source for even more targeted marketing and improved customer experiences.”
The enhanced extension to Mapp Cloud introduces a range of advanced features tailored to eCommerce success:
Advanced eCommerce Analytics: comprehensive visibility into the online shop’s performance, monitoring key metrics to optimise conversions, retain customers, and increase revenue.
Customer Insights: enriched customer profiles with behavioral data to understand preferences, personalise marketing messages, and deliver targeted campaigns that foster engagement and loyalty.
On-Site Marketing: engaging Magento-based shop customers with personalised messages, promotions, and recommendations to enhance the shopping experience and boost conversion rates.
Data Synchronisation: real-time synchronisation of order data, product information, customer profiles, and newsletter subscriptions, ensuring accurate information across all touchpoints.
Omni-Channel Campaigns: Seamless marketing campaigns across multiple channels, including email, SMS, mobile push, in-app messaging, and web push, delivering consistent and impactful messaging.
Transactional Notifications: Improved customer satisfaction and streamlined operations with automated order, shipping, and return notifications, ensuring timely and relevant communication throughout the customer journey.
Montvila, continues: “With this enhanced Magento integration, Mapp is deepening its reputation as a complete marketing ecosystem, with exciting possibilities for ambitious brands.”
About Mapp
Marketers and data specialists should always be able to focus on their core business instead of spending their time taming the technology behind it. With the insight-based customer experience platform Mapp Cloud, marketing decision-makers have more time for what matters and can place their brand messages in the best possible way. Through customer intelligence and marketing analytics, companies easily and effectively gain cross-channel customer insights from data, which in turn enable highly personalised marketing activities. Mapp’s customers also benefit from tailored and self-optimising cross-channel campaigns based on AI-powered predictive models. Automated messages can thus be sent in the ideal marketing channel, at the optimal time and with the right contact frequency. Thanks to powerful one-to-one personalization, maximum engagement as well as long-term customer retention are achieved. More info here.
Mapp’s digital marketing platform helps over 700 businesses across Europe and in the US. Mapp’s clients include Ella’s Kitchen, Expert, Freesat, West Ham United F.C., MyToys, Pepsico, Quint, Farrow & Ball, and The Entertainer.
Iconic fashion brand deploys customer data platform to build long-term customer loyalty and drive revenue
Amperity, the leading enterprise customer data platform (CDP) for consumer brands, has announced Forever 21 has selected Amperity to ‘maximise the value’ of its omnichannel customer data. With Amperity, Forever 21 will be able to provide more relevant, personalised customer experiences. reach more consumers, while enriching advertising campaigns through insights on cross-channel behavior, data science scores, and content affinities.
Creating a ‘360-degree view’ of the customer
Forever 21 has a significant amount of customer data from both its digital channels and offline transactions. However, as consumer shopping preferences and behaviors have shifted over the years, the brand needed a comprehensive solution to bring together and manage all of these disparate data sources. Through an Amperity-powered 360-degree unified view, Forever 21 can now unify, activate and acquire new as well as retain existing customers.
“The future of retail lies in how well a company understands the customer journey,” said Jacob Hawkins, chief marketing, digital and omni officer at Forever 21. “Amperity enables us to create unified customer profiles and actionable insights we need to scale. The company’s best-in-class platform, in combination with its significant retail industry expertise, will help us continue to fuel our growth, deepen customer loyalty, and operate at the highest level of efficiency.”
Enriching retail marketing campaigns with AI-powered tech
Combining first-party data and third-party data can have an immediate and significant impact for brands looking to truly understand their customers throughout the customer lifecycle. With Amperity’s patented, AI-powered technology, Forever 21 will also be able to use enterprise-scale identity resolution and audience segmentation to drive retargeting, lookalike and suppression campaigns.
“Forever 21 is addressing the demands and expectations of the omni-channel shopper by tackling the massive challenge of unifying all of their digital and transactional data into a 360-degree customer view,” said Barry Padgett, CEO at Amperity. “With Amperity, Forever 21 will be able to deliver the level of excellence consumers expect from brands on a daily basis. We are proud to work with such a forward-thinking partner to help take its customer experience to the next level.”
Forever 21 is a fashion industry leader making the latest trends accessible to all while inspiring unique style and confidence. With a renewed focus on the customer experience, the brand offers high style designs and fashion basics with compelling values and a dynamic store environment. While driving innovation across e-commerce and digital to expand access and convenience, the brand continues to strengthen its positioning as today’s preferred destination for the fashionable consumer. Forever 21 is located in more than 572 locations globally and online. For more information visit Forever21.com.
For more information or to find a store location, please visit: www.forever21.com.
About Amperity
Amperity delivers the data confidence brands need to unlock growth by truly knowing their customers. With Amperity, brands can build a first-party data foundation to fuel customer acquisition and retention, personalize experiences that build loyalty, and manage privacy compliance. Using patented AI and ML methods, Amperity stitches together all customer interactions to build a unified view that seamlessly connects to marketing and technology tools. More than 400 brands worldwide rely on Amperity to turn data into business value, including Alaska Airlines, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Endeavour Drinks, Planet Fitness, Seattle Sounders FC, Under Armour and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. For more information, visit amperity.com
As the cost of living consistently keeps soaring, it has become increasingly vital to navigate through the financial challenges we face. Struggling with the pressing issues of a living crisis, saving your money, and planning one’s finances is the need of the hour.
The use of coupons like Love Discount vouchers is one of the best ways to utilize the best of the available resources at hand and also ensure that you are saving your money the right way. To understand the cost of living crisis, we need to explore the importance of using discount codes to overcome these economic hurdles.
This article will explore everything you need to know about the power of discount codes and how you can optimize their use to save maximum.
The Cost of Living Crisis: Balancing Inflation and Salaries
The biggest issue that’s contributing to the cost-of-living crisis is the rising rate of inflation. In the last few years, the cost of living has surged pretty significantly, posing a problem to individuals and families across the world.
The price of essential goods and services, such as housing, healthcare, and education, has outpaced the rate of inflation in several leading countries, putting a strain on people’s finances. Understanding the disparity between the rising costs compared to the somewhat stagnant salaries or income of people is crucial to understand why most people are living pay cheque to pay cheque.
Furthermore, comparing the inflation of goods with the average wages is another factor that contributes to the rising cost of living. One of the biggest examples of this disparity is the cost of housing, which has increased exponentially while the salaries have merely inched forward.
This alarming trend places an increasing burden on individuals and emphasizes the urgency to explore alternative solutions.
Harnessing the Power of Discount Codes: A Financial Lifeline
In this economic turmoil, one factor that has posed an essential is using the power of discount codes. However, in this world of digital goods, it isn’t surprising that even the concept of couponing has shifted online.
There are several ways to acquire lucrative discount codes through online coupon websites, brand newsletters, social media platforms, etc. These resources are effective in helping people get the best deals while shopping or buying necessities both online and offline.
Learning the ability to reduce costs through discount codes becomes an essential lifeline in the face of mounting expenses.
Finding the Best Discount Codes: Unveiling the Secrets
Now that you have a good idea about the rising cost of living and the significance of discount codes in securing the best deals, the next thing we’d like to highlight is some tips you can follow to secure the best discount codes in the future:
Start by sorting out the places you can find these discount codes, like online websites, brand newsletters, and social media platforms.
Look for discount codes that align with the needs of your purchase instead of using random coupons and codes for buying items that you don’t need.
Always review the terms and conditions associated with the discount codes. This includes looking at the minimum purchase and any restrictions that may apply.
When looking for discount codes, you can also collect or apply for loyalty points and then use them as discount codes on your next purchase.
Conclusion
Amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis that’s prevalent across the world, it isn’t surprising that the need to utilize discount codes is the need of the hour. Being proactive with your savings and making smart financial decisions is key to making the most out of your finance and savings.
Luxury brand and designer, Paul Smith, has refreshed its digital commerce experience, improving online conversions and boosting revenue through its partnership with Klevu and Limesharp.
For over 50 years, Paul Smith has celebrated independent design, championing positivity, curiosity and creativity. What began in a small, 3 x 3 metre shop in Nottingham, England, has grown to 130 shops and counting around the world, with locations in over 60 countries. Remaining true to the legacy of the brand, Paul Smith ecompasses fashion, art, and fun, placing customer experience at the centre of everything it does.
However, its legacy platform meant Paul Smith couldn’t provide the digital experience that truly represented the brand. “As a fashion brand with fantastic shops, each very unique and well designed, I was frustrated at our fixed/limited monolith front end – the website you visited didn’t represent our infamous Pink Wall shop in LA, or our flagship in Ginza or Paul’s local Albemarle in Mayfair. I wanted the website to be a Digital Flagship that was fast, designed for us and our product and customers, so we could always be best in practice, not hindered by technology” said Hannah Bennett, Head of Digital at Paul Smith.
The brand began the process by installing Klevu on the existing monolithic frontend, before the larger replatforming project started. This allowed Paul Smith to lean on Klevu AI to maximise conversion and revenue during the transformation.
Integrating Klevu search, and category merchandising software from the product discovery platform has enabled Paul Smith to serve up more accurate results to shoppers faster than ever before. In just an 8-week period, Paul Smith saw revenue from search up by 74%, ecommerce conversion rate up by 31% and per session value up by 26%. Klevu AI automatically provides insights into real-time shopper behaviour, which in turn amends the order of the products and content to maximise conversions and revenue.
Bennett continued: “A lot of other companies we have either used or considered for merchandising were too singing and dancing. We were given all these options, and the reality is we’re a brand. We need to be telling customers what’s hot right now, and what they should be looking at. So we wanted something that we could plug in and just leave to tick over, like Klevu. Now, we will pin key products that we feel need to be highlighted, or easily switch product ordering to favour high stock items when we are in sale mode. Other than that we let Klevu AI run in the background and it works.”
Klevu’s category merchandising solution has seen conversion rates increase by 34%, per session value boosted by 20% for men’s category pages and conversion rates up 49%, whilst per session value has increased 15% on women’s category pages.
Alongside Klevu, Limesharp was chosen to rebuild Paul Smith’s ecommerce platform on a composable ecommerce architecture to suit the needs of the business.
Ed Bull, founder of Limesharp said: “Through our discovery process with Paul Smith we found brand content that was tucked away in the blog containing incredible product information. This was particularly prevalent with the many collaborations that took place over the 50 years of Paul Smith. This formed part of our objectives…how can we bring that rich content to shoppers focussed on product discovery? When you search for a collaboration on the site now, like Manchester United or Cycling, the stories are showcased with the product which is really powerful.”
The design agency utilised Klevu’s solutions to allow Paul Smith to visually show relevant stories, relating to products, for the curious customer. The headless technology approach means that Limesharp could create a very unique design, leaning on Klevu’s API’s to fetch the data needed.
Nilay Oza, CEO and Co-Founder at Klevu, commented: “The Paul Smith team has learned to trust Klevu AI to deliver the right product and content results to shoppers, manually merchandising as lightly as possible. This balance of AI automation and strategic control through the easy-to-use admin panel has empowered Paul Smith’s ecommerce team to be efficient and high-performing – resulting in higher conversion rates, greater sales figures, and improved customer satisfaction. I can say on behalf of the entire Klevu team, we are overjoyed with the results that Paul Smith has seen. We’re honoured to be working with such an iconic brand.”
Written by Sam Whitmore, Chief Marketing Officer, Cityshuttle
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the growth of e-commerce worldwide, but as home deliveries increase we are likely to see a worrying rise in carbon from last mile deliveries. The question is – could cargo e-bikes be the answer?
According to Oberlo’s 2021-2026 forecast, global e-commerce sales are projected to reach $6.3 trillion in 2023. However, while the increased sales are welcome, the increase in carbon emissions resulting from a rise in last mile deliveries is becoming a growing concern.
The term “last mile delivery” refers to the final step in the delivery process, which is typically from a distribution center or warehouse to the end customer. This stage of delivery is often completed by diesel-powered vehicles that contribute significantly to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Gartner VP, Tom Enright, stated in an article for Freightwaves that 53% of shipping costs and 41% of total supply chain costs are tied to the last mile. This is due to the fact that these deliveries are often made using inefficient vehicles that are not designed for urban environments, leading to increased congestion and emissions – and if the issue is not tackled, a 32% increase in carbon emissions is expected by 2030.
In addition to the emissions-related issues is the additional congestion these vehicles bring to already overcrowded city roads. This often results in late deliveries for customers and missed delivery slots for commercial operators.
To address this problem, there has been a growing interest in using cargo e-bikes for last mile deliveries. Cargo e-bikes are electrically-assisted bicycles that are designed to carry large and heavy loads. They offer several benefits over traditional delivery vehicles including reduced emissions, increased efficiency, and improved access to areas that are difficult to reach with larger vehicles.
A study by the European Cyclists’ Federation found that cargo e-bikes emit 90% less CO2 than diesel-powered delivery vans and have a significantly lower cost per kilometer. They also have the potential to reduce congestion and improve air quality in cities, as they take up less space on the road and produce no emissions.
Cargo e-bikes are already being used for last mile deliveries overseas. DHL Express has introduced cargo e-bikes in several European cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris, while Amazon has launched a pilot program in New York City to test the use of cargo e-bikes for deliveries.
While it looks like Cargo e-bikes are likely to be the city delivery vehicle of choice to solve the last mile challenge, they are already offering a viable option for families who need to travel around cities with shopping and children.
Sales of e-bikes are expected to increase rapidly amid the cost of living crisis in London, with families no longer willing to pay the congestion charge or sit burning fossil fuels in traffic for shorter road journeys.
Cargo e-bikes offer good range, can carry a shopping load safely and provide healthy exercise in a fun and enjoyable way. With many cities now gradually moving to the ’20 minute model’ demand is likely to increase further.
Cars and trucks are likely to remain, at least for the foreseeable future, the ideal mode of transport for longer journeys. However, as cities look to reduce pollution and improve health, cargo e-bikes offer a promising solution. When you consider their ability to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and improve access to urban areas – what’s not to love?
E-commerce is the most popular it’s ever been, with over 80% of us shopping online in the UK. Although it’s never been easier for customers to buy things at the click of a button, the internet brings endless headaches for sellers. From traditional problems like customer loyalty to the modern issue of cybersecurity, online retailers need to know how to tackle any challenges that come their way if they want to succeed.
Economic uncertainty
Covid-19, Brexit, and then the war in Ukraine have all created economic uncertainty, impacting the supply chain and affecting prices. During an economic downturn, customer retention is key to continuation. Providing discounts and loyalty rewards will squeeze your margin, so focus on strengthening your relationship with your customers and ensuring your offering is the best it can be.
Customer loyalty
Although it’s important to attract new customers, converting them into loyal customers makes them up to 70% likely to make repeat purchases. Start by ensuring customers can easily navigate your website so that their experience of shopping with you is a positive one. Post valuable content, such as FAQs and blogs, that give your customers information and tips about your offering so that they can achieve maximum satisfaction from their purchase. Provide customer service that exceeds expectations and keep in touch with your customers through their preferred method of communication so that you can update them about new products, services, or promotions. Seeking and acting upon feedback will also make your customers feel valued.
Multichannel presence
As an online retailer, it can be tough to go up against huge e-commerce sites like Amazon and eBay, so instead of trying to compete with them, why not join them? Offer your products or services on multiple channels rather than just your own website, as this enables you to reach a wider audience. Consumer platforms also provide insightful reporting that you can use to track your best-sellers and focus your efforts where there is the greatest traction.
Fulfilment, returns, and refunds
Offering free shipping is one way to attract customers, but it’s not always an affordable option for your business. Other ways to compete with big retailers could be to offer a later cut-off time for next-day delivery, to provide a unique offering, or to promise green shipping. You should also be transparent about your returns policy and mitigate fulfilment errors before they happen. Ensure the proper packaging is used to protect goods and consider outsourcing distribution to one of the e-commerce fulfilment centres that can provide 99% accuracy when picking and packing, reducing the number of returns to process.
Cybersecurity
As well as managing and protecting customer details, you must protect your business against fraud. Since 60% of small businesses close within six months of a data breach due to the direct and indirect costs of being hacked, it’s worth investing in a service that provides expertise in cybersecurity. Furthermore, to ensure that your customers are legitimate, request two-factor identification authentification and consider using an automated system to verify customer details.
Sustainability
With the goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in the UK, there is pressure on retailers to reduce their environmental impact. Consumers are also keen to play their part by sourcing more durable goods and purchasing from businesses that don’t use single-use plastic. Meet this need by making your supply chain as efficient as possible and finding ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
The bottom line
E-commerce is a competitive arena where only the strongest survive and the consumer holds the most power. To succeed, retailers need to be creative in how they approach challenges and implement solutions at the earliest opportunity. Addressing customer needs and issues with excellent customer service is key, and implementing robust tech systems will ensure a smooth experience for shoppers and businesses alike.
Many small craft-making businesses start out on Etsy. It is a marketplace synonymous with handmade crafting goods and can be an excellent place to learn about running a business. If you’ve found that your business has outgrown Etsy, you might be looking for ways to supplement your Etsy store and expand your reach. Shopify can be an excellent choice for growing brands, as it allows you to cultivate better brand awareness and generate a higher volume of sales.
It can often feel daunting when switching to a new platform to try and grow your craft business. Part of the advantage of using Shopify is that you don’t need to give up your Etsy store – the two spaces can work brilliantly together. Shopify has tools to help you integrate your Etsy store and inventory into your new Shopify e-commerce store, ensuring a smooth and straightforward transition.
Make Use Of Customisable Templates
There are thousands of customisable theme templates sellers can choose from for their Shopify storefronts. This is one of the biggest assets of owning a Shopify e-commerce store, as it allows you complete control over how the store looks. It is also simple and easy to customise – no technical knowledge is needed. There are so many themes available you might need to spend some time experimenting with the options until you find the one that best suits what you want for your store and brand. There are also both free and paid-for templates, so you can choose the option that best suits your budget.
Enjoy Cost-Effective Fees
When selling on Etsy, you will be charged listing fees or fees per transaction. There is no monthly fee, which can make it an ideal place for businesses testing the waters and starting out on their selling journey. However, once your business has begun to grow, you may find that this fee system is no longer worthwhile.
Switching to Shopify allows you to pay a monthly fee that is a set rate, regardless of how many sales you make. This can make Shopify an excellent choice for businesses that have outgrown their Etsy store or who want to grow their sales in tandem with their Etsy business. There are several tiers of payment plans for Shopify, meaning you can select the option that best works for your budget.
Integrate Your Etsy Store To Shopify
Shopify has tools that enable sellers to quickly and seamlessly integrate their Etsy inventory into their new Shopify store. This makes the process of switching platforms quick and simple and allows for greater connectivity between the two. This is ideal for anyone that doesn’t want to give up their Etsy store and loyal Etsy followers entirely, ensuring you get the best of both worlds.
Create A Blog For Your Brand
Shopify is about more than simply providing a place for you to sell your craft items. It is a platform designed to help you grow your business and brand. There are many features that you could utilise for growing your brand, and creating a blog can be one of the best options. Shopify stores allow you to integrate a blog with your storefront, maintaining your branding and store image all the while.
Blogs can be great for educating your customers about your business and processes. Blogging can show customers who you are, what your values are and build trust in your company. You should provide regular, quality content updates and information that your customers will be keen to learn. This could include tips and advice on the care of your products or tutorials on how to start crafting themselves. It may help to find a quality content writing agency to help you generate content for your blog consistently.
Simplify The Checkout Process
The checkout process can be one of your greatest assets or biggest liabilities. A simple, smooth and fast checkout process can help improve the customer experience exponentially, while a clunky or complex process could make customers give up in frustration. Etsy’s checkout process can be a little complex at times, so switching to Shopify can be invaluable to help you convert more sales. The Shopify checkout process is quick and simple and streamlines across all of its storefronts. This ensures that your customers will experience a simple and familiar checkout process, which could drive your sales.
Get Expert Advice
Shopify Experts is one crucial resource that makes Shopify truly unique. There are expert agencies and professionals available to help you grow your business, all endorsed and trusted by Shopify. This can be hugely beneficial for small Etsy craft sellers, as you will be able to find the specialist advice you need to help your brand thrive. An excellent example of the type of Shopify Expert to look for are UK’s Top Shopify Agency, Charle. They can help businesses new to Shopify set up their e-commerce store or provide advice on marketing and growth to existing Shopify sellers.
Build Brand Awareness
When selling on Etsy, the Etsy brand is the overarching theme that customers encounter. While they will recognise that they are buying from individual sellers, it can be tough to grow brand recognition. Shopify allows you to fully showcase your brand and your brand alone. Again, this is part of what makes Shopify such a good option for businesses that want to grow their companies and stand out among the crowd. Brand awareness is critical for building lasting success in any industry, and Shopify has the tools to help your business thrive.
Benefit From 24-Hour Customer Service
If something goes wrong with your store, it is crucial to know you have the help you need available straightaway. Shopify’s customer service is legendary for its responsive and speedy resolutions. As a business owner, you need to know that you will have access to the service you need as soon as you need it. Shopify’s 24-hour customer service team can help ensure that you will never be stuck waiting for a resolution or help should something go wrong.
Rest Easy Knowing Your Store Is Secure
Keeping your customer data and payment information secure is crucial for building trust in your brand. Customers want to work with businesses that value their security. Shopify stores provide SSL certification, ensuring you and your customers have the peace of mind you need. Shopify provides the highest level of protection across the board, which can be invaluable for anyone who isn’t a tech buff themselves.
Build A Website Suited To All Devices
A significant percentage of British buyers use their mobile devices to shop nowadays. The prevalence of the smartphone has led to a seismic shift in shopping habits, and one that looks set to stay. One of the key benefits of opening a Shopify e-commerce store is its mobile readiness. All Shopify stores are mobile-ready, meaning you won’t have to worry about building a mobile store or app from scratch.
Final Thoughts
Being a business owner at any level can be challenging, and it is crucial to find ways to grow your profits if you want to survive in a competitive online marketplace. Shopify can be an excellent way to grow and improve your business, and they provide a massive range of resources, tools and expert advice to help give you the best chances of success. It can help for small businesses to get advice from Shopify Experts, who are third-party professionals and agencies endorsed by Shopify to help Shopify sellers make the most out of the platform.
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