UK's busiest online shops 'plagued by basic errors'
A review of the top 450 e-commerce websites in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Sweden has uncovered widespread checkout errors, causing customers unnecessary frustration and costing businesses significant lost revenue. Research from Stripe, which builds economic infrastructure for the internet, found that some of the most common errors include: allowing shoppers to submit transactions with incorrect card details; failing to warn shoppers when out of date expiry information is entered; not providing a numerical keypad for entering card numbers on mobile.
Debenhams to reopen 120 UK stores from next week
Debenhams is preparing to re-open the “vast majority” of its stores from next week, following successful negotiations with landlords. The embattled department store chain filed for administration in April, explaining that the move would protect it from the threat of legal action that could have the effect of pushing the business into liquidation, while its 142 UK stores remain closed in line with the government’s COVID-19 pandemic advice.
Online sales surge, but May brings little relief for retailers
Total like-for-like retail sales declined by 18.3 per cent in May, but from a base of 2.2 per cent for the equivalent month last year. The latest BDO High Street sales tracker showed total in-store sales fell by 87.1 per cent year-on-year, while online sales increased by 129.5 per cent.
Three dials up customer experience with Yext Answers
Mobile network Three has improved online customer experience by integrating a site search tool from Yext. In the first two weeks of implementing Yext Answers, Three saw a 42 per cent reduction in the number of customer support contacts initiated due to incorrect, irrelevant, or 'no results' responses delivered to customer queries on Three.co.uk.
LVMH pulls out of €14.7bn Tiffany acquisition
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) has backed out of its proposed €14.7 billion acquisition of Tiffany & Co, due to concerns around the Coronavirus. A statement explained that the luxury group's board of directors met to discuss the proposed deal and potential impacts that the pandemic could have on both businesses.
Over 90% of in-store transactions now contactless
More than 90 per cent of face-to-face transactions are now made using contactless payments methods, following the COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to data from Barclaycard Payments, which processed over 25 million contactless payments above £30 since the new £45 limit was introduced at the start of the lockdown period, in a bid to reduce risk for card users.
Mastercard and Sixth Sense launch shop opening tracker
Mastercard has launched an online search tool to see which shops have reopened, as the nation gradually comes out of Coronavirus lockdown. The ShopOpenings.com site has been built in partnership with data analytics firm Sixth Sense, is free to use and provides up to date information on which shops and businesses are open for trading in line with government guidance.
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Dune and Klarna announce international partnership
The Dune Group has announced an international partnership with Klarna. The fashion and footwear retailer's online customers will be able to use Klarna’s Pay later products - Pay in 30 days and Instalments - in the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Shop prices fall at fastest rate since 2006
Shop prices fell by 2.4 per cent in May, compared to a 1.7 per cent decrease in April, marking the highest rate of decline since the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen began the series in December 2006. Non-food prices fell by 4.6 per cent in May, compared to a decline of 3.7 per cent in April – also the highest rate of decline since December 2006.
Farfetch and Topshop join new Snapchat e-commerce offering
Snapchat has launched Dynamic Product Adverts (DPAs) to make it easier than ever for brands to set up their e-commerce business on the social network. Adidas, Farfetch and Topshop were among the first brands to have tested DPAs over the past month with "very positive results".
