Tag Archives: online

News

Economic conditions impacting Christmas spending for over 60% of consumers

Nearly half of UK respondents plan to spend less than they did in 2021, while 15% say they won’t shop at all this Christmas season

Fluent Commerce, a leading provider of a cloud-native distributed Order Management System, today released the findings of its annual ‘Top Holiday Shopper Trends’ consumer spending research, revealing that current economic conditions are impacting the spending plans of over 60% of shoppers.

The research, carried out among 1,000 adult consumers in the UK, tracks spending behaviours and intentions ahead of the holiday season. Among the headline findings, 15% of respondents say they are not going to plan seasonal shopping at all, up from 8% in 2021. In addition, 36% will spend about the same as last year but nearly half will spend less – that is a larger decrease in spend than in 2021.

 

Nearly half (44%) of consumers say they plan a mix of online and in-store shopping, while 12% will shop purely in store, same as the previous year. When choosing to spend with one retailer over another, free delivery is important to over three quarters (79%) of online shoppers, with next day delivery ‘very important’ to two thirds (65%) of all respondents.

 

Looking at product availability, most consumers (68%) said it would damage their view of a brand or store if an item they went to purchase wasn’t in stock having been informed online that it was. Unsurprisingly, three quarters said if a product was sold out, they would go to a competitor site.

 

Additional research findings include:

  • If an online order is delayed 43% say it is likely they won’t shop with that retailer in future.

  • If an item is out of stock when shopping in a store, 70% said they would purchase the item if a member of staff could find it in another location and get it to them.

  • Returns to a physical store were important even if something was ordered online. 68% confirmed that point.

 

“Because of the understandable degree of spending caution among the majority of holiday season shoppers, retailers need to raise their game and adapt quickly if they are to maximise margins on every sale at this time of year,” commented Nicola Kinsella, SVP of global marketing at Fluent Commerce. “Keeping up to date with consumer preferences and shopping trends is vital, but we know many retailers struggle to give shoppers the kind of experience that determines both engagement and loyalty. As the data reveals, failing to take control of their inventory accuracy will simply mean today’s savvy shoppers will go elsewhere. And changes are they won’t come back”

 

To download a copy of the Fluent Commerce ‘Top Holiday Shopper Trends 2022’ report, click here.

News

Make your cyber habits stick for better online security

It can take as little as 18 days to form a habit, and 66 days for this new behaviour to become automotive. Once you do learn a habit, however, it becomes second nature.  

Why does this matter for online security? Well, forming a more robust security culture around yourself takes commitment, but once you get it and stick to it – it’s not going anywhere. You can then rest easy knowing your data and credentials are being kept safe from cyberattacks.  

The UK is dealing with a rising national security threat from online scammers with nearly two-fifths of businesses experiencing a cyber-attack in the past 12 months. The market is clearly in a weak spot, and the cost-of-living crisis may be adding fuel to the fire. Businesses are now cutting back on expenses to manage the rising costs, but this will be detrimental to online security. Simple changes that could prevent cyber-attacks, like not repeating the same passwords, are not being implemented as 64% of breached passwords were used across multiple accounts. It is important to develop habits that ensure cyber health, whether it’s for personal or professional use.  

  

Start a routine for good cyber habits 

We often assume that data breaches won’t happen to us. We read the news about somebody’s accounts getting hacked, or a business having a breach, and we never imagine that we could be on the receiving end. However, this is exactly how cyber-attacks happen and targets are often unsuspecting, unaware users. 

There are many steps you can take and tools you can easily implement to ensure your data is kept safe online. If it seems like a hefty task at first, start small, and build it up over time. Forming a habit is all about routine, and once you’re in the swing of things it will become second nature. Kick off your cyber secure future by following these tips: 

Trust your gut, don’t click on suspicious, untrusted links – Phishing links, credential harvesting sites, and other forms of social engineering can come through a suspicious text, an odd message through your social media account, or a weird phone call. Stay one step ahead by using the same caution and skepticism regardless of where the message comes from.    

Update Software and Backup Devices – Keeping software updated and backing up data is important in case your computer breaks down, but it’s also a smart idea to do this in case you fall victim to a cyberattack. No one wants to have their data held hostage or, worse, permanently deleted.  

Use strong passwords and multifactor authentication (MFA) – A strong password is the first and most essential line of defence against a cyberattack. While a password is the most common form of authentication, it’s worth noting there are others. Each time you add another form of authentication to your tool belt, you improve your cyber security.   

Take advantage of wider tools, such as a password manager – A password manager organises all of your passwords in one place. It provides security to protect those passwords and makes it a lot easier for you to have a strong, unique password for everything.  

 

Password managers for safety 

When creating strong passwords, utilising a password manager is a major benefit. It is a software application that is designed to store and manage online credentials, ensuring your private details are secured.  

Password managers prevent cyber hackers and scammers by using strong encryption. These devices use industry-standard protection, making it virtually impossible for hackers to access your passwords. There are other benefits included in password managers besides just protecting your accounts with hard-to-decipher passwords, such as: 

  1. Simplifying online shopping – your password manager website will fill in all your payment and shipping details on the checkout page whilst online shopping, saving you time and effort. 
  1. Dark web monitoring – data breaches are becoming a regular occurrence with data being leaked online. This feature will alert you if any of your personal information is at risk and if your logins have appeared online. It will also advise you on the next steps to protect your account. 
  1. Storing information – you can store other critical pieces of information, documents and notes safely on your password manager. If you have important travel documents or itineraries or emergency contact information you want to keep safe, it is in one safe and secure vault. 

 

Honouring new habits 

It is imperative that we all start taking precautions to secure our online selves and prevent cyber hackers from gaining access before they have the chance. While never a one-stop shop, it’s never too late to start incorporating safe practices and tools. Think of it like going to the gym – you need to keep at it to see the benefits. After all, ensuring your safe online and passwords are secure should be something you don’t even need to think about. 

  

E-Commerce, News

New research: Fashion shoppers’ post-purchase selfies are key to cutting the rising volume of online returns

61% of US and UK consumers say seeing visual user-generated content (UGC) from other customers can reduce the growing number of fashion ecommerce returns which is hitting retailers’ profitability and sustainability goals. And around half of consumers now accept that returning online fashion purchases is bad for the environment

NEW YORK and LONDON (July 14, 2022) – 61%[1] of consumers questioned in a new poll think fashion retailers can cut rapidly rising ecommerce product return rates by including more post-purchase photos and videos from other customers—to help shoppers see how clothes look on ‘real’ people, not just models. 59% say virtual try-on tech that allows shoppers to picture themselves in outfits they find online will also help to rein back returns.

The findings come from a survey of just over 2,000 US and UK consumers commissioned by Nosto, the Commerce Experience Platform, which is used by fashion brands such as Patagonia, Paul Smith, Pangaia, and Todd Snyder.

The new research coincides with rising returns volumes reportedly hurting the profitability of online fashion brands such as ASOS and Boohoo. In the US, average ecommerce return rates jumped to 20.8% in 2021 with an estimated $671 billion worth of goods being returned.

Escalating ecommerce returns reduce profits by hiking up retailers’ delivery and warehousing spend (increasing costs by as much as 21% of a product’s order value). And there’s also the problem that returned inventory negatively impacts the environment, with annual carbon dioxide emissions from transporting returned goods in the US estimated to equate to having 3 million more cars on the road.

Fashion retail brands are also increasingly conscious that performing poorly on sustainability and protecting the environment can damage their credibility. Recently, several brands including H&M stopped using a tool that tries to measure the sustainability of garments over concerns about greenwashing.

Importantly, respondents to Nosto’s survey were more than twice as likely to agree that returns are bad for the environment than disagree (49% v 17%[2]) on the basis that returns waste fuel, packaging and other resources.

“Polished, studio imagery has been the default way to show clothes off on ecommerce stores. But supplementing this with customers’ own imagery gives shoppers a more accurate reflection of how products are worn in everyday situations, and by ‘everyday people’ who also own the items,” says Damien Mahoney, Chief Strategy Officer of Nosto.

“That’s why fashion retailers are leveraging customers’ visual UGC on their websites, such as the post-purchase selfies they encourage customers to share on Instagram. The savviest retailers are also encouraging their customers to comment on the likes of products’ fit or share their measurements within captions, so others can make comparisons that better inform purchase decisions and therefore lessen returns.”

Separate research conducted last year by Stackla, the visual UGC platform (now a part of Nosto) indicates that consumers are very happy to let fashion retailers use their post purchase selfies – 58% would give permission to a brand to use images of their fashion purchases as part of their marketing.

Alongside using more UGC, nearly half (49%) of consumers questioned in Nosto’s survey agreed that charging customers for returns—or stopping free returns, as Zara has started doing recently—can stem the flow of products fashion shoppers send back by making them think more carefully about whether they’re going to keep a product before they place an order.

And the research suggests that retailers must continue to pay close attention to some of the more basic tactics to help keep returns down. This includes taking steps to ensure online information is clear, accurate and detailed (66%), orders are not damaged before being sent and that correct items are packed (also 66%).

Read more insights from Nosto’s research on the company blog article. These are the initial findings from a broader survey on consumer attitudes to sustainability in fashion retail which will be released by Nosto later in 2022.

[1] Respondents were asked if they Strongly agree, Somewhat agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Somewhat disagree, Strongly disagree with a list of statements. Almost throughout the press release ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’ answers have been added together when referring to results.

[2] Combining 17% of respondents who answered ‘Somewhat disagree’ or ‘Strongly disagree’ to the following: I believe that returning fashion products purchased online is bad for the environment because it uses up fuel, packaging and other resources

News

Susan Caplan launches online with Ounass in the UAE

Ounass is pleased to announce the launch of Susan Caplan, a vintage brand conceived due to a love of vintage. By launching Susan Caplan, Ounass is committed to highlighting the importance of sustainability and shedding light on re-usable vintage luxury goods.

Established in 2008 after three decades in the antique sector, Susan Caplan created her eponymous label as a response to her love for vintage jewellery and her desire to make a difference within the contemporary fashion world. The Susan Caplan brand embodies the perfect synergy between luxury and sustainability, furthering the idea that glamour is timeless and that being conscious should not compromise style.

To widen its reach, Susan Caplan has carefully curated a selection of recently unearthed vintage jewellery, all made in the UK, and with the purpose of making her pieces accessible to all jewellery enthusiasts who are passionate about fashion and the planet. Rediscovered by Susan Caplan is the perfect balance between style, consciousness, and accessibility. It is about expressing yourself while taking care of the environment. It is about making their signature timeless aesthetic, available to all.

Susan Caplan says: “We are delighted to be partnering with Ounass enabling customers in the UAE to explore our vintage jewellery collection. We are at the forefront of the industry, which has grown massively in popularity as customers are becoming more socially responsible and environmentally conscious. Pieces of note that Ounass will stock include the rare Christian Dior, Givenchy and Chanel pieces as well as our Rediscovered Collection. They are all in remarkable condition, with many having never been worn. We hope the Ounass customers will enjoy shopping vintage, investing in jewellery and feeling good doing it, knowing their choices are kinder to the planet.”

Based in Dubai, the world’s new capital of fashion, Ounass.ae will provide 2-hour delivery in Dubai and same-day delivery service within the UAE, as well as express delivery to KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain & Qatar. As Ounass.ae takes a step into sustainable luxury, each selection arrives in your preference of eco-friendly or premium packaging. An easy returns procedure can be coordinated by the exceptional Ounass.ae Customer Care team, available 10am-10pm, 7 days a week.

Ounass presents a carefully-curated edit of exclusive capsule collections from local and international designers of the highest caliber, housing the Middle East’s widest range of top- tier designers, with brands ranging between Gucci and Bottega Veneta to Valentino, Prada and more. From fashion and beauty to lifestyle and homeware, Ounass has boasted over 1,500 luxury brands since launching in December 2016 as Al Tayer Group’s first, exclusively digital, luxury e-commerce platform, we provide a 2-hour delivery in Dubai and same-day delivery service within the UAE, as well as an express delivery to KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain & Qatar.

Data, News

Redgate launches free online library of PASS Data Community Summit 2021 sessions

Cambridge UK, Thursday, 16 June, 2022 – Ahead of this year’s hybrid PASS Data Community Summit in November 2022, Redgate has continued its commitment to the data community by releasing a free online library of 261 sessions from the 2021 Summit to help data professionals everywhere upskill their knowledge and careers.

Redgate acquired the assets of PASS when the global data community organization ended operations in January of 2021, and pledged to revive the long-standing annual PASS Summit and make the educational content widely available.

The PASS Data Community Summit in November 2021, hosted online because of pandemic restrictions, was a huge success with the largest program ever presented, and the biggest global gathering of data professionals. 321 speakers presented 433 sessions, which were viewed 70,783 times by the 18,292 people from around the world who registered.

The creativity in delivering an engaging event by finding innovative ways to bring the community together in a virtual setting was also recognized when Redgate was presented with the Innovation Award from Rainfocus, the online event platform. As importantly for a community-focused organization, the team worked hard to create an inclusive and diverse event with 44% of those delivering sessions being first-time speakers at the Summit, and 38% of sessions being delivered by speakers from previously underrepresented groups.

The library of sessions from the event is now available online for anyone to access and, if the popularity of the on-demand sessions matches the original event, query performance tuning will be the most searched for topic, along with areas like data security, Azure, database DevOps, and migrating to the cloud.

“This continues Redgate’s longstanding commitment to supporting the data community by extending and enabling access to shared knowledge and learning,” says Jakub Lamik, CEO of Redgate. “It’s something we strongly believe in because it enables data professionals to deal with the more complex but also more exciting challenges that the constantly changing world throws at them. The Summit library is a significant and important resource anyone can draw on for a whole range of learning opportunities.”

The upcoming 2022 PASS Data Community Summit in November will expand those opportunities further. This year has seen a record 863 proposed Summit sessions submitted by 516 speakers, many of whom are some of the most respected names in the global data community. After making positive strides in 2021, there is also a goal to make the Summit one of the most diverse, with at least 40% of the 2022 speakers coming from underrepresented groups.

The final selected sessions will be presented live from November 15-18 when thousands of data professionals will once again meet up in person, in Seattle WA, the traditional home of the Summit. They will be joined online by thousands more attendees from all over the globe, making the Summit the world’s leading worldwide event for data professionals once again.

Until then, anyone who needs to upgrade and enhance their skills can access, search and view the 261 sessions from the PASS Data Community Summit 2021 already available in the new online Summit library.

Appointments, News

Hootsuite hires Mike Barclay as VP of sales in the EMEA region

Hootsuite appoints new head of region as company continues its expansion in EMEA

Today, Hootsuite welcomes Mike Barclay as the VP of Sales in the EMEA region. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s rapid expansion and tenured presence in EMEA, following its new office reopening in London and the acquisition of Sparkcentral, a social customer care platform developed in Belgium.

Barclay brings more than two decades of extensive leadership and sales experience to Hootsuite, with nearly 25 years spent leading teams across multiple industries including technology and retail. Mike brings proven expertise in delivering revenue growth and exceeding bottom-line objectives across high-growth and scale-up organisations.

“I doubt that any person, let alone brand, would deny the power and diversification of social media to connect with their audience. Hootsuite has led the way in enabling marketers to harness social platforms to expedite growth, and I could not be more delighted to join the organisation and continue driving this forward in the EMEA region” said Mike Barclay, VP Sales, EMEA, Hootsuite. “We have a big job ahead of us to continue to impress our customers while dynamically changing the world. I will be laser focused on fuelling our trajectory by empowering super talented, value-driven teams to do what they do best!”

Mike joins Hootsuite from Affise, a performance marketing software company, where he was VP Global Sales. Based in London, Mike has extensive international experience scaling in diverse markets, a key requirement for the next phase of Hootsuite’s growth plans.

“Mike’s customer-centric leadership style will thrive in Hootsuite’s customer obsessed environment.  His strong track record of exceptional sales leadership will elevate our organisation,” said Melissa Murray Bailey, CRO, Hootsuite. “As a regional leader, Mike will work closely alongside EMEA leaders to collaborate, align, and fuel growth. I’m excited to work alongside Mike as we continue to rapidly expand our presence in the region.”

Back in March, Hootsuite reopened its re-imagined London Nest (office space), alongside one of London’s leading flexible workspace providers, LABS. Hootsuite’s redesigned Holborn-based office space puts workforce preferences, employee wellbeing and the future of work front of mind with collaborative and relaxed soft-seating areas, sit-stand desks, under-desk treadmills and bikes, a dedicated wellness room, and more.

In January 2021, Hootsuite acquired Belgium based Sparkcentral, a leading SaaS provider enabling the future of digital customer engagement through 1:1 conversational messaging channels including Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, WhatsApp, WeChat, SMS, and Chat. With the addition of the Sparkcentral team in Hasselt, Belgium eight of Hootsuite’s 15 offices are located in EMEA.

Appointments, News

Hootsuite welcomes Natalia Williams as Chief Product Officer

Williams to champion product development and innovation

 Hootsuite is pleased to announce that Natalia Williams joined the  ‘nest’ today as our Chief Product Officer. In her role, Natalia will have responsibility for Hootsuite’s strategic product direction, product management, and product design. She will be part of the Hootsuite executive leadership team.

Williams brings over 15 years of product and technology experience, most recently as Chief Product Officer of Mailchimp. Prior to that she held leadership roles in retail technology with Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.

“It’s important to me to foster a culture that encourages experimentation and creativity while staying focused on the vision,” said Williams. “Hootsuite has immense potential in the product space, and I am excited to work alongside the leadership team to build and develop a robust product that our customers will continue to advocate for.”

“At Hootsuite, we help our 200,000 customers successfully leverage social media to communicate and connect with their prospects and customers. As social media moves more deeply into commerce, our product and product strategies are adjusting to help our customers navigate this giant new opportunity,” said Tom Keiser, CEO, Hootsuite. “Natalia’s expertise in technology, ecommerce, and retail as well as her leadership and product experiences make her the perfect product leader for Hootsuite’s future.”

Williams will be based in Hootsuite’s new Atlanta office, and is a graduate of Georgia State University, a valued Hootsuite customer and partner.

Follow Natalia Williams on LinkedIn.

 

Business, Business News, Business Reports, Business Research, Customer Experience, E-Commerce, ECommerce, Industry News, Industry Press Releases, Logistics, Logistics Tech, London, London News, News, Retail, Retail & E-commerce, South East, South East England News, Supply Chain

Point of no return: 89% of consumers identify returns as priority for ecommerce retailers

  • 81% of consumers would write off a retailer if they saw issues with return process
  • 61% say easy returns result in exchanges over refund

London UK; 1st February 2022: 89% of consumers identify ease of returns as top priority when purchasing online. That’s according to new data from delivery experience platform Sorted, which found that retailers who get the returns process right will reap the most consumer loyalty.

The survey, consisting of 2,000 UK respondents, found that those with strong returns processes in place will also see a return on investment, with 61% saying they would be more likely to exchange a product bought online than get a refund if exchanging was made simpler.

Adversely, 81% say they would avoid ordering from an online retailer if they saw issues with their return process, a concern for retailers when 29% of consumers claim to have had an unsatisfactory returns experience in the last 12 months. The data also revealed that 44% would not re-order from an online retailer if they had experienced issues with their return process, and 36% would be reluctant to reorder from those retailers failing to provide clear returns details.

The need for seamless returns

The research also demonstrated a real hunger for proactive communications, with 77% saying that getting timely updates on the progress of their return, refund or exchange would make them more likely to purchase from that retailer again. Additionally, a quick and simple refund process (42%) and the ability to return via a local shop or a convenient location (26%) was revealed as crucial for customers.

Consumer expectations were also identified, with respondents saying they are more likely to be lenient with smaller retailers when it comes to returns. Alternatively, over nine in ten believe it is important for large corporate retailers to have a seamless returns process (94%).

The findings come at a time when ecommerce continues to soar, following a trend that has polarised retail since the onset of the pandemic. Shipping volumes through the SortedREACT platform increased by 429% during peak season (October to December 2021 vs the same period in 2020), meaning UK retailers have reached a critical point with the delivery and returns experiences they offer to consumers.

“In the aftermath of the Christmas peak, retailers are going to be dealing with an influx of returns. However, at every opportunity, a refund could become an exchange. Those who fail to offer quick and convenient ecommerce experiences will no doubt suffer in this competitive landscape,” shares Carmen Carey, CEO of Sorted.

“Retailers must learn that they can’t simply stop the brand experience the very moment an order reaches the customer’s door, but ensure a seamless process is carried right through the customer journey. With returns now a major point of differentiation for brands, retailers – big and small – must invest in the full post-purchase journey in order to both attract and retain the modern customer.”

News

Highly innovative new app will silence hate language and social media abuse online

AN INNOVATIVE new application will silence hate and social media abuse using a revolutionary online filter system.

The team behind the award-winning GoBubbleSchool, based in Broxton near Wrexham and Chester, has launched Freedom2Hear.

The automated solution can be tailored to the needs of any organisation in a matter of minutes, shielding the user from insults, profanities and racist, homophobic and LGBTQ+ slurs via bespoke technology.

CEO Henry Platten said demand for an end to hate speech and discriminatory language on social media – notably Twitter – led to the development of the Freedom2Hear platform, which is already receiving interest the world over.

“We didn’t think this would be possible at first, but after receiving endless calls and messages asking if we could come up with an answer to what is a growing problem, we took on the challenge,” said Henry.

“What we have now is a highly innovative tool that gives organisations and individuals – wherever they are, whatever their background – the ability to detect and silence online abuse.

“We are all for free speech, and it’s very important to make that clear, but there is no place for any form of discrimination anywhere, online or in person.”

The former Police Sergeant added: “Sadly, this has become a major global issue so we hope Freedom2Hear will have a positive impact and help bring about change for this and future generations.”

The application has already received interest from overseas, including sports and entertainment franchises in the United States, and global sports brands in the UK working with Freedom2Hear to introduce the application.

Modelled on their GoBubbleWrap solution, Henry and the team have spent years building their own sustainable technology, so there is no third-party involvement.

“It’s basically human-free, which means we don’t have someone here checking your notifications and feeds for abuse, which could in turn have a detrimental effect on their mental health,” he said.

“We don’t require passwords, emails or full access to an account; privacy and security are key, so it’s a win-win situation and will make a huge difference to the virtual experience, helping to eradicate discrimination online.”

The news is a boost to the safety tech industry – worth up to £4bn a year – and comes as the business welcomed three leading names to its advisory board.

Patricia Cartes Andres (pictured), Director of Trust and Safety at VSCO and previously in executive quality and safety roles with Google, Facebook and Twitter, joins as independent chair.

She is supported by Lord Jim Knight, a former Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, and a member of the UK Government’s Online Safety Bill Joint Committee, and Matt Manning, CEO of global marketing firm MKTG.

Patricia is delighted and proud to be able to help the team begin an exciting new chapter that could make a positive difference to the lives of millions of people the world over.

“Having operated in this sector for more than a decade I have seen first-hand how the issue of online abuse has sadly escalated,” she said.

“Freedom2Hear is an incredible solution to that problem and will no doubt improve the user experience for many people, as well as having a transformative effect on mental health and wellbeing.”

For more information and to book a demonstration, visit www.freedom2hear.com and follow the hashtag #freedom2hear on social media.

Visit www.gobubblewrap.com for the latest news and information from GoBubble.