Online Retailing - Spain  

"The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and more people returning to in-store shopping has dented ecommerce growth, but online purchasing still remains above pre-pandemic level and the sector is still outperforming the Spanish retail market as a whole. It is forecast to continue to do so over the coming years, as the online habit sticks, fuelled largely by the wider range of brands online than when shopping in-store."

- Stephen Mayles, Retail Analyst

Online Retailing - Italy  

"The online retailing market surprised many people in 2021 by continuing to record strong growth even after opening restrictions on stores were removed. This growth was driven mainly by higher spending and came despite our consumer research for this report showing many sectors seeing a decline in purchasing penetration compared to the previous year. But 2022 is going to see a slowdown, not exclusive to online retailing but something which will affect many sectors of retail, due to the cost of living crisis. With their lower cost bases, this might be easier for online-only retailers to weather, so it is up to omnichannel retailers to leverage their store estates to deliver superior levels of service and features to their customers in order to retain them for the long term."

• Online Retailing - France  
  Online Retailing - France

  

  "The last couple of years have seen the already well-developed French e-commerce market evolve further, with the expansion of marketplaces, growing share of mobile commerce and the development of rapid delivery and new services all driving growth. Amazon is extending its lead, but it faces significant challenges in France and is considerably less popular than in most other countries. As conditions return to a post-pandemic normality, those online retailers that responded well to the lockdown challenges are in a good position to recover and retain many of their new online customers"
• August UK Retail Briefing  
  August UK Retail Briefing

  

  "Over half (51%) of shoppers use a smartphone to buy fashion online, with usage rising among all age groups in the last two years, becoming the favoured method of buying online among Gen Zs and Millennials. These young generations are also more likely to shop via a retailer/brand’s app than a website. While Primark still does not have a fully transactional website, it has introduced click-and-collect from a selection of its stores from June 2022."
• August European Retail Briefing  
  August European Retail Briefing

  

  "One of the consequences of the pandemic has been an increased focus among consumers on where products on retailers’ shelves are sourced and there is the added dimension of the environmental impact of bringing large amounts of merchandise in from outside the country, something which customers and retailers are becoming much more aware of. As this trend gains further traction, online retailers need to show that they are addressing consumers’ preferences in this area which can help them to retain their sales and market shares."
• Role of Tech in eCommerce - US  
  Role of Tech in eCommerce - US

  

  “The acceleration of ecommerce led to rise in digital fluency and a wave of tech innovations. Emerging technology continues to evolve, as brands and consumers test the waters of AR, VR and AI. As the pandemic narrative shifts, consumers are prioritizing tech, which adds convenience and efficiency to their online shopping journey; Web 3 and the metaverse hold promise for the next evolution of the shopping experience.”– Britany Steiger, Senior Analyst – Retail & eCommerce
• July European Retail Briefing  
  July European Retail Briefing

  

  "COVID-19 has acted to accelerate the trend towards more sustainable demands. DIY specialists can develop in-store exchanges, with old furniture and home goods traded for in-store credit. This also offers an opportunity for in-house repairs, before selling second-hand renovated products in-store; thereby, not only creating a new income stream, but also helping less affluent consumers out in the process, particularly important with the polarisation of demand in recent years."
• July UK Retail Briefing  
  July UK Retail Briefing

  

  "The main story over the coming year in furniture, as with wider retail, is of mounting uncertainty, with a near-perfect storm of inflation, supply chain disruption and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These pressures have already hit consumers, limiting expenditure and exacerbating already polarised demand, with this expected to continue in the coming years. To combat this, much of the emphasis will fall on retailers and what they can do to help consumers navigate these uncertainties moving forward."
• Furniture Retailing - UK  
  Furniture Retailing - UK

  

  “The longer-lasting ramifications of the pandemic are growing apparent, both in how consumers shop for furniture, and in the reassessment of priorities within the marketplace. However, after two years of impressive resilience, furniture sales are set to fall in the coming year as they face the brunt of inflation, supply chain disruption and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.”
• DIY Retailing - Europe  
  DIY Retailing - Europe

  

  “The DIY markets across the leading European countries vary a great deal, due in part to differences in home ownership levels. DIY has been one of the more resilient retail sectors during the pandemic. In 2021, specialists’ sales continued to increase, recording 3.9% growth across the five leading economies of Europe, with sector sales over €3.3 billion larger than in 2020. Going forwards, we expect cost of living concerns to force some consumers to hold back on home improvements. The most successful retailers will be those that ensure they stay in tune with what consumers want, especially when it comes to small-format DIY stores, digitisation, sustainability, faster delivery, and personalised expert advice.”– Utku Tansel, European Retail Analyst
• DIY Retailing - France  
  DIY Retailing - France

  

  “The French DIY market has seen two exceptional years of growth as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and is well placed to capitalise on the ongoing focus amongst consumers on their home environment. Although we expect the cost of living crisis to hold back growth in 2022, there are many opportunities for retailers that are prepared to innovate and think outside the box. Retailers should look to build relationships with new DIYers, who are enthusiastic but lack skills, with services that can help DIWM (do-it-with-me). Rising energy prices and government support for energy-efficient home improvements, will rouse interest in ways to save energy and make running a home more efficient, while concerns about sustainability will filter through into buying decisions in many categories. Some retailers are developing platforms for customers to find appropriate experts and tradespeople, using trust and loyalty to their brand to give people confidence to take on projects. Future success may require a hybrid model, where professional services are combined with selling DIY products and teaching customers how to use them”– Natalie Macmillan, Senior European Retail Analyst, June 2022
• DIY Retailing - Italy  
  DIY Retailing - Italy

  

  “With a gradual trend of decline in the proportion of Italians shopping at DIY retailers, store operators are increasingly having to look for new sources of revenue, which is resulting in a high level of innovation and experimentation in the market. While in the short-term the cost of living crisis is going to drive demand for consumers to do home improvement tasks themselves, in the longer term we feel there are further opportunities to be had in the ‘do it for me’ segment, ranging from smaller tasks right up to larger refurbishment projects that would normally be taken on by small builders.”– Michael Oliver – Senior Retail Analyst, May 2022
• DIY Retailing - Spain  
  DIY Retailing - Spain

  

  “Spain is facing a growing cost of living crisis and consumer enthusiasm for DIY and home improvements has cooled since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Sector specialists’ sales growth is expected to slow in 2022. Price will be uppermost in the minds of those shoppers feeling the financial squeeze and DIY retailers will need to reinforce their value credentials, while at the same time paying attention to consumers’ increased sustainability concerns and demand for faster turnaround times for DIY product deliveries and remote guidance for DIY tasks.”– Stephen Mayles, Retail Analyst, May 2022