Tag Archives: Shopping

News

Despite the cost of living crisis $15.3bn worth of gift cards are left unspent each year

Consumers are looking to spend more on gift cards this holiday season. Analysis from Folio reveals a 46% uplift in gift cards added by users to their digital wallet during Thanksgiving week. Amazon, Starbucks, AppStore and Walmart have become some of the most popular gift cards of choice, as consumer attitudes shift towards convenient gifting methods. Yet, $15.3BN worth of gift cards are recorded to have been left unspent in 2021, according to data by BankRate¹.

With growing concern of rising cost of living and amid the high price of goods, there is unused money in gift cards people are overlooking. A welcoming news to consumer wallets. Amongst those surveyed, Gen Z (85%) and Millennials (82%) are amongst the worst culprits for holding onto gift cards. Due to expiry dates, companies going out of business and value of unused sums dropping due to rising inflation, holding onto gift cards can be an unfavourable matter. Of those surveyed, only 24% said they regifted a gift card, voucher or store credit if unused.

However, gift card purchases are here to stay. As 83% of consumers wanted to send gift cards over physical gifts. Surveyed shoppers plan to buy on average 15 gift cards per person. This has been driven by consumers who are increasingly worried about shipping delays. Gift cards provide consumers the gift of choice by alleviating the need to return and exchange items².

The same younger generation are reported to be driving the growth in retail and ecommerce. With 59% of consumers revealing to have increased their use of digital wallets. Folio has seen a 54% uplift in new digital wallet users this year.

Nik Maguire, Chief Marketing Officer of Folio said “With the festive season in full swing, people are really looking forward to gifting and shopping. We wanted to introduce our wallet to keep friends and family organised amongst the holiday chaos and avoid unspent gift cards. We created a solution where users can simply scan their gift cards onto their mobile device for use on the go.”

Folio, the independent digital wallet app on IOS and Android

Folio is the digital wallet for all your essentials in one app. From passports, gift cards, loyalty cards, custom documents and more. Folio is the perfect solution for secure storage and easy access. Scan your loyalty cards and collect points, save your gift cards, validate your identity or membership status, whenever one needs.

Folio’s wallet technology enables users to simply take a photo of their cards to retrieve readable barcodes for use in stores. A hassle free card number copy and paste function for a fast and easy checkout online. Introduces a new way to connect with friends and family to share gift cards, membership cards, documents and more!

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

Evri Extends Trials Safe Place Photos Concept to Include Collections

Evri (formerly Hermes UK), is trialling an extension of its ‘safe place delivery photo concept’ to include courier collections to further improve its communications with those consumer customers using the service to send or return parcels. These photos will then be available to the customer alongside their tracking information.

The trial involves a sample of couriers nationwide taking photos of parcels once they have been successfully collected including from a ParcelShop and/or Locker location and also when an attempt has been unsuccessful in order to explain why and find a solution. This could include: access issues; problems with the size and/or suitability of the parcel; no response from the address and problems finding the address. It will also enable the courier to flag problems such as road closures and any technical issues.

Commenting on the initiative Joe Tarragano Chief Product Officer at Evri, said: “We are always looking at ways to improve our service and, if the trial is successful, sharing these photos with our customers will provide another layer of communication about the journey of their item. In addition, where there is a problem it will be easier to identify and resolve quickly.”

News

Doddle Announces Findings From European Retailer Survey

Global e-commerce technology provider Doddle has launched its latest survey of over 200 European retailers which was designed to gather their views and insights on out-of-home (OOH) delivery. The findings include a clear message to carriers that whilst there are opportunities to grow market share through cheaper and more sustainable OOH delivery methods, they need to take action, or risk missing out to their competitors.

A little over half of respondents are using a carrier-provided tool to offer OOH delivery – but 44% of respondents said they would switch carrier provider if they offered better integrations. Around a third said their carrier did not offer any way to display out-of-home delivery locations at their checkout.

Tim Robinson, CEO at Doddle, explains: “There’s a warning for carriers in our dataset: if they don’t make it easy for retailers to offer out-of-home delivery, they could lose their business. They need to ensure they have the tools for retailers to build a brilliant delivery experience right from the checkout, where consumers are making crucial decisions. The good news is that they can then drive more volume into those cost-effective out-of-home delivery channels by encouraging non-adopters to start offering a wider set of delivery options. To that end, they should continue building the statistical evidence that merchant KPIs are likely to improve when they offer OOH delivery. They can also position it as their most sustainable delivery option: 80% of our survey respondents indicated that they believed it was important to offer consumers a sustainable delivery option. That’s a role out-of-home delivery should absolutely be promoted to fulfil. “

The majority of retailers offering OOH delivery saw an increase in conversion, average order value or Net Promoter Score after introducing the service, and those who do not offer it were found to significantly underestimate the potential benefits it brings.

“Our merchant respondents are broadly already engaged and offering out-of-home delivery options at the checkout, with the majority seeing at least one significant benefit and many seeing several KPIs increase after introducing the out-of-home option. However, there remains much to improve and a widespread desire for assistance from carrier and logistics partners in making those improvements,” concludes Tim.

 

Logistics, News

Evri Opens Largest Distribution Hub in Europe

Evri (formerly Hermes UK), the consumer delivery specialist, has today opened its new automated parcel distribution hub, the largest of its kind in Europe which represents a £60 million investment in Barnsley, near Sheffield.

The hub is creating around 1,400 new jobs in the area. Over 800 full time roles have been recruited, including 12 apprentices in partnership with Barnsley College, in addition, 600 temporary and part time roles will be available to support during busy periods for those looking for more flexible employment. Over 80% of operatives have been recruited from the local area. The £60 million development is located in Barnsley, near Sheffield.

The 340,000 square foot facility has the capacity to process up to 1.1 million parcels every day and will increase the company’s overall parcel processing capacity to 4.2 million a day. It is strategically located near the motorway, close to a number of Evri’s retail customers’ distribution sites meaning that later cut off times for collections will be provided.

As part of its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitment Evri has also confirmed that by early 2023, over 50% of the vehicles operating from the site will utilise bio CNG (compressed natural gas) that reduces carbon emissions by over 80% compared to diesel.  Other eco initiatives include natural grassed acoustic bunds to absorb the small amounts of noise between the site and residential dwellings, a balancing pond, a biodiversity area and over 25,000 plants, trees and hedgerows that will be planted. The building itself will include solar panels on the roof and a rainwater-harvesting system. Earlier this month, Evri was recognised for its work in this area and won ‘Best Environmental Practice’ at the Green World Awards.

Martijn de Lange, CEO at Evri, said: “This development showcases our commitment to responding to the ever-increasing demand for online shopping and yet provide a service that doesn’t cost the earth. Our continued investment to strengthen our network and infrastructure across the UK is laying the foundations for future growth, creating more employment opportunities and confirming our position as an industry leader.”

Barnsley Council Spokesperson, local councillor and Chair of the Ward Alliance, Nicola Sumner, said:

“We are delighted to see the positive figures on recruitment for the new Evri site here in Barnsley. Our commitment has been to create more and better jobs in the borough, and it’s great to see local people benefitting from new job opportunities in a range of roles.

“It is also a key benefit from such a significant investment, like the Evri site, that we will attract new people and businesses to the area to enjoy all that Barnsley has to offer.

“Barnsley is investing so businesses, and jobs, stay in Barnsley. Having a job is more than just income. It’s about having a purpose and motivation, supporting good health and having a sense of pride and belonging. We are committed to giving people these opportunities. I know many people will be excited about starting their new roles, and I wish all staff at Evri every success at the new Barnsley hub.”

News

Shopping scheme’s £25k boost for town centre businesses

A POPULAR shopping scheme has given town centre businesses a £25,000 boost.

That’s how many Totally Mold vouchers have been sold since the initiative was launched just 18 months ago.

The idea was rolled-out by the town council during the pandemic, in response to the challenges facing retailers in the UK.

Now organisers are urging people to use the £5 tokens in shops and stores locally, as many people have held onto them and not done so yet.

“To have sold almost £25,000 worth of Totally Mold vouchers is fantastic news as all of the money stays here in our local economy, unlike national high street vouchers,” said Joanna Douglass, Business and Regeneration Officer at Mold Town Council.

“This and other upcoming projects have given the economy a well-timed cash injection, encouraging people to shop locally and really helping our community.

“The feedback we received was fantastic, it was so positive, and as I’ve said previously, if every adult in Mold spent just £5 per week in our shops rather than online or elsewhere that would equate to £2million annually for our economy – a massive difference.”

She added: “Thanks to the many people who has supported this scheme, everyone came together and it’s had a major impact on traders and business owners here.”

Jane Evans, Events and Community Engagement Officer at Mold Town Council, echoed those words and said: “We are urging everyone not to forget to spend your Totally Mold Vouchers, they can be used in one or more our fantastic range of participating shops so be sure to check our website www.totallymold.org.uk for the full list or call 01352 758532.

“They are no longer available to buy but they can still be spent and are valid until August 31.

“And if anyone who still has unspent or expired ‘white’ vouchers please get in touch as we will happily exchange them for the current ‘blue’ version.”

For further information, email: totallymold@moldtowncouncil.org.uk.

News

Booming town businesses reap the awards after strong start to 2022

MOLD businesses are celebrating success in a series of national award ceremonies.

Organisations have enjoyed a prosperous year with a glut of nominations in a wide range of industry competitions.

And there is the opportunity to achieve even more this Spring as voting is open for this year’s Mold Community Awards, which acknowledge the outstanding contribution and commitment of groups or individuals living or working within the town and supporting residents.

Categories include Business of the Year, Volunteering, Sporting Achievement and Event of the Year, and the closing date for entries is April 6.

Among those to enjoy a recent period of prize-winning is Celtic Financial Planning, which secured clients and increased its capital management portfolio during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Director Rob Lewis was named in the Citywire: New Model Adviser Awards’ Top 35 under 35 IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) list, and the company was crowned IFA of the Year for Wales.

The Bromfield Lane firm is also in the running for the FSB Cymru Community Award and Micro Business of the Year, and has secured several other titles since last summer, including SME News’ Best IFA in North Wales.

“It is fantastic to be recognised for any award, but for us the biggest prize is client satisfaction and the ongoing trust and belief of our customers, which we pride ourselves on,” said Rob.

“To see Mold thriving as a town is fantastic, we are very proud to be a part of it and congratulate all the businesses who have achieved so much during such challenging times.”

Another to have thrived in past months is Michelle Williams, who opened Eyelicious Brow, Lash and Skin Clinic during Covid.

She picked up five trophies at the British Hair and Beauty Awards, including the UK title for Brow Specialist of the Year.

“This was the first time I’d ever entered, so to win five awards was a huge surprise, a great honour,” said Michelle.

“The clinic was launched in November 2020 and was not open for very long before I was forced to close due to the Coronavirus. It has been a turbulent time but the businesses here in Mold are so supportive, it’s a fantastic place to be.

“And we have the most amazing customers who are more like friends and family, they’re on this journey with me and I’m so thankful for that.”

Other successes include Daniel Morris Butchers, which won medals at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair and reached the finals of the Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) ‘Put Your Best Sausage Forward’ competition; Mold Alehouse was named Vale of Clwyd CAMRA Pub of the Year 2022; Asia Sensation is among the top 10 Asian food establishments in Wales vying for the Food Awards Wales title; Pure Beauty is up for the Best Customer Experience accolade at the Welsh Hair and Beauty Awards; and The Bookshop was among just six Welsh finalists in the running for The British Book Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year.

Caroline Johnson, a partner in the High Street store, says it was the first time they had entered the competition, despite being a mainstay in the town for more than 40 years.

“We were absolutely delighted to be shortlisted, and to see more and more people returning to reading even before the pandemic, something we are very passionate about,” she said.

“We have had so much support from customers and are delighted to be part of the vibrant retail community here in Mold, which continues to go from strength to strength.”

For more information on Mold Community Awards, email or visit www.moldtowncouncil.org.uk. Alternatively, call 01352 758532.  

News

Author and former Government Minister to explore Welsh history at library event

A LEADING author and ex-Government minister will be in conversation at Mold Library on Wednesday March 30.

Organised by The Bookshop, based on the town’s High Street, former MP for Delyn Sir David Hanson is to sit down with Richard King for a Q&A session on what was a turbulent time in Modern Welsh History

They will discuss Richard’s new book Brittle With Relics  – A History of Wales 1962 – 1997, and explore the late 20th century, a period of great change for the country, with key figures including Neil Kinnock, Michael Sheen, members of the mining community and others contributing.

The Bookshop owner Caroline Johnson said: “This promises to be a lively and interesting evening discussing what has become a very popular book and a topic which I’m sure many people will find fascinating.”

Susannah Hill, Library Manager, added: “We are very pleased to be hosting this event at Mold Library and to be delivering a programme of events across Flintshire at various Aura libraries in partnership with Mold Book Shop.

“Author events are always very exciting for us and we hope that everyone in attendance enjoys the evening.”

Tickets are available from Mold Library or The Bookshop priced £5, redeemable against the purchase of a book.

For more information, call 01352 759879 or email info@moldbookshop.co.uk. Alternatively, visit the website: www.mold-bookshop.co.uk. 

Business

‘Dog-friendly’ town centre a hit with shoppers and their pets

A BOOMING town centre continues to lead the way with shoppers in North Wales.

And Mold has also become a favourite with pet owners after more than 20 businesses signed-up to allow dogs onto their premises.

‘Dog-Friendly Mold’ encourages anyone visiting the town with their four-legged friends to “leave only footprints” and ensure waste is picked up and disposed of to keep the streets clean.

The campaign has been embraced by customers and store owners across the area, with many now offering tasty treats, water bowls, and safe outdoor spaces.

Among them is RainbowBiz CIC social enterprise, whose director Sue Oliver said canine kindness has been well received at their Hippy Shop.

“We have a water bowl at the door and signs saying dogs are welcome,” she said.

“For many people, their dog is their best friend, so we understand that having them with them while they visit us is important.

“As a result, we’ve seen an increase in the number of dogs and their owners coming here – as long as they all behave, they’re always welcome!”

The same goes for Simmi Womanswear on New Street, whose owner Simone Ellis unveiled a new range of ‘paw-fect’ designer gifts this week.

“We have keyrings, bags and more for pet owners, which are already proving popular,” she said.

“The feedback to being a ‘dog-friendly’ business has been positive, and as long as the owners are responsible, they’re always welcome here.”

Words echoed by Gareth Jones, owner of Mold Alehouse on Earl Road.

“We are proud to support the campaign and always happy to serve well-behaved dogs, and their well-behaved humans!”

Mold has been celebrating a town centre vacancy rate of just 5.8%, having seen more than 50 shops open in the last two years.

The town’s retail success led to praise from Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford, who admired its “distinctive” offering and said: “What you see in places like Mold is that they have developed something that’s different. It’s not just like being on any other high street in any other town.”

Marie Revell, owner of Latte Lottie in the Daniel Owen Precinct certainly agrees, and says the warmth between businesses, shoppers, and their pets, has brought a feelgood factor to the area.

In fact, Marie’s own dog – sprocker spaniel Lottie – inspired the name for the coffee and sandwich bar, which opened last summer.

“The reaction from customers is always positive, they are delighted to have somewhere to bring their dog, to relax and unwind, especially when the weather is bad,” she said.

“We are more than happy to accommodate them, and the free sausages and treats we give the dogs always go down well! It’s a great campaign and once again shows why Mold is such a unique, friendly place.”

For more information and a list of which businesses are part of the Dog-Friendly Mold scheme, visit www.totallymold.org.uk/Dog-Friendly-Mold and email totallymold@moldtowncouncil.org.uk if you would like to register your organisation as dog-friendly.

Visit www.totallymold.org.uk for details on the Totally Mold voucher scheme and where you can spend them.

ENDS

News

The 12 shops of Christmas… record number celebrating first festive season in vibrant town centre

TWELVE businesses are celebrating their first Christmas in one of the country’s most vibrant town centres.

And as more retailers look set to open in Mold – with others expanding and employing extra workers – this holiday season looks like being their happiest on record.

The town centre was already celebrating a vacancy rate of just 5.8%, having welcomed more than 50 shops in the last two years.

The success of events including NovemberFest, the Frost Fair and festive light switch-on proved popular with residents and visitors, and despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, the community is preparing for its busiest Christmas in recent memory.

Among them is Daniel Morris Butchers, which joined the High Street in February.

“Since day one we have been busy, and while I knew this was a vibrant retail area, I had no idea what a sense of community there was here in Mold,” said Daniel.

“I would like to thank our customers, many of whom are already loyal and regular shoppers in the town centre.

“As Christmas fast approaches, orders are flooding in and we are anticipating a very busy few weeks ahead – it was definitely a perfect move for us, we are really loving it here.”

Judith Owen and Lynne Jones, owners of Bliss Lingerie, were in agreement; having arrived in Earl Road over the summer, they have already expanded and taken on a new warehouse to meet demand.

“The lingerie and boutique sides of the business have really taken off – especially footwear and clothing – we can barely keep up!” said Judith.

“It’s been absolutely great, there is a real buzz around the town and if anything, we could fill this shop several times over because our customer base has grown so quickly.

“It’s been fantastic, and we look forward to a successful Christmas.”

The Totally Mold voucher scheme has played a major role in a positive spike in sales across the town.

Joanna Douglass, Business and Regeneration Officer at Mold Town Council, says the spirit among retailers and the public has never been better.

“There is a real sense of togetherness, with shoppers buying local and the businesses themselves giving back to the community in so many different ways,” she said.

“The £5 voucher scheme has again been popular, and there is availability if people want to get in touch. They make the perfect gift and are available to spend at 88 shops and organisations in the town centre.”

Joanna added: “We wish all of our residents and businesses a very happy Christmas and thank them for all of their support this year.”

To purchase Totally Mold vouchers, visit www.totallymoldvouchers.org.uk or go along to the pop-up shop in the Town Hall on Earl Road anytime between 10am-3pm Tuesday to Thursday. Alternatively, call 01352 758532. Expired Totally Mold vouchers can be exchanged for the new, blue version.

For more information including a full list of businesses in Mold town centre, visit the website www.totallymold.org.uk/Business-Listings or email totallymold@moldtowncouncil.org.uk. Alternatively, visit the Totally Mold Facebook page.