E-commerce Berlin Expo is Berlin’s biggest annual ecommerce event, where ecommerce leaders from all over the world can connect, exchange ideas and enhance their market strategies. 

Back for the seventh year running, the FREE think tank event will be held on May 5th between 10:00AM – 17:00PM at STATION Berlin, Luckenwalder Str. 4-6. 

Register now and join 200 exhibitors and 50 speakers as they share industry-leading insight into the current ecommerce landscape, including trends, innovations and predictions.

Featured speakers: Google, Zalando, Facebook, Marley Spoon, Youtube, Douglas, Beiersdorf, MediaMarktSaturn, Audible and About You. 

Exhibitors: Shopware, Deutsche Post DHL, Shopify, Rakuten, idealo, Mastercard and Trusted Shops.

What can you expect during the E-commerce Berlin Expo 2022?

The chance to network with over 10,000 attendees from both B2B to B2C sectors

200 exhibitors from Germany and 15+ international markets

Limitless possibilities to connect with the market major players

Over 50 speakers on several stages

The event is brought to you in association with InternetRetailing, E-commerce Europe, IAB Europe, Händlerbund, BDOA, BVEH. Find out more at ecommerceberlin.com.

The post Ecommerce Berlin Expo 2022 appeared first on RetailX.

Dive into ecommerce trends across the globe with our editors, researchers and industry guests as they present 10 FREE webinars over 5 days! 

This pre-peak primer event offers exclusive insight into our research, data and case studies so that retailers and brands can prepare for the busiest season of the year and get a head start on 2022. 

Digital Editor, Scarlette Isaac looks ahead at some of the highlights…

1.How to establish your marketplace presence

08th November 2021 | 15:30 GMT

Tune in as we discuss the growth of marketplaces, how the Growth2000 retailers have established a marketplace presence – as well as what the future holds for this trend. 

What do we know so far?

Covid-19 has accelerated the shift to digital and as a result we’ve seen a surge in the number of consumers shopping via marketplace platforms.

As illustrated above, the share of web traffic going to brands takes the lead over brands (12.7%)  and retailers (32.3%)  at 55%. Amazon (30.3%) has the highest number of visitors – followed by eBay (19.6%). 

What’s next? 

For brands, selling through any number of marketplaces can be a relatively low cost way to reach new customers directly, whether these are people who tend to buy from other shops or websites, or are in new international markets. For those following the multichannel mantra of being available to customers wherever, whenever and however they want to buy, selling from a marketplace makes sense. 

“There’s no doubt marketplaces are here to stay and that they will grow in importance,” adds Victoria Betts, chief operating officer at Hotter Shoes in our Brands and Marketplaces report 2021. 

You can find out more about the growing influence of marketplaces by signing up for our webinar: How to establish your marketplace presence. 

2. A review of the Grocery Sector Report 2021

10th November 2021 | 15:30 GMT

To learn more about the findings from the Grocery 2021 report with industry experts, make sure to register your interest for our webinar: A review of the Grocery Sector Report 2021.

What do we know so far?

RetailX polled retail executives from across the continent to see what their corporate plans for investment and recovery were.

Data (7%) and staff (7%) were the only focuses considered a top priority for the next 12 months amongst our respondents. Establishing new partnerships have increased most in importance (60%), followed by sustainability (50%) and product range (47%)/digital experience (47%). On the other hand, personalisation has remained a consistent priority amongst the majority of our retailers (77%).

What’s next?

Our research suggests that the importance of partnerships will continue to grow. These partnerships span the retail value chain, from closer working with brands and suppliers on data-driven insight and omnichannel category management through to IT and third parties, such as Glovo and Uber Eats, meeting consumer demand for immediacy.

Reserve your virtual seat at: A review of the Grocery Sector Report 2021 for further exploration into the impact of the pandemic on the grocery sector – as well as continued discussions on future trends. 

3. A review of the Europe 2021 Ecommerce Region Report

12th November 2021 | 10:00 AM GMT

This webinar will delve into the state of ecommerce in Europe based on the findings from the RetailX Europe 2021 Ecommerce Region Report, with a specific focus on Europe’s sustainability goals. 

What do we know so far? 

Greenhouse gas emissions across the EU have already fallen by 24% compared to 1990, while the EU economy has grown by around 60% in the same period.

Individual countries have put legislation in place in order to meet their own targets as part of the EU’s overall aim. For example, 40% of all energy is to come from renewable sources by 2030, something that the UK (although not part of the EU) recorded in Q1 2020 when it generated 47% of electricity from renewable sources. 

What’s next? 

Europe is moving towards becoming the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050 and has already put plans in place to achieve this. 

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen says: “The fossil fuel economy has reached its limits. We want to leave the next generation a healthy planet as well as good jobs and growth that does not hurt our nature.” 

Join our webinar: A review of the Europe 2021 Ecommerce Region Report for further data and discussion on the Europe B2C market. 

You can register your attendance and find out more details about the event at https://retailx.net/ecommerce-world-review/. 

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Business types of the Top100

Retailers are still dominating the German market with 45% of our Top100 falling into this category, closely followed by brands which mostly sell own label products and then marketplaces. 

Despite making up the smallest segment of Top100 business types – marketplaces win (very convincingly) when it comes to most visits from German customers. 

As shown above, a majorative 77.3% of German web traffic goes to marketplaces, with eBay taking 30.5% of clicks and Amazon – number 1 in our elite Top5 retailers – taking 35%. During lockdown we saw seismic shifts in consumer behaviours, including an increase in shoppers willing to buy from new brands, unfamiliar retailers and different marketplace platforms. This is forecast to continue post pandemic as people carry on enjoying the convenience of shopping online. 

How flexible is checkout?

The choice of alternative payment methods has stayed the same with the number of retailers giving customers the choice of paying with PayPal, Google Pay or Amazon Pay

remaining constant. Of the three, PayPal is the most common and is offered by a third of the retailers in this group.

How easy is it for shoppers to return an item?

Returning online orders has become easier and cheaper. The percentage of retailers allowing shoppers to return items to store has risen from 29% in 2020 to 40% in June 2021. The number giving free returns has also increased, up from 42% to 63% of the 77 retailers measured in both periods.

Are shoppers still expected to register before checking out? 

The biggest change in this area is the number of retailers requiring shoppers to register in order to check out their purchases. While making it easier for retailers to know and understand the behaviour of individual shoppers, registration can be a friction point and an opportunity for the shopper to leave a website and purchase from elsewhere. In February 2020, more than half of retailers (53%) required shoppers to register. This had dropped to 33% by June 2021.Software and consumer electronics retailers were the most likely retail categories to drop registration requirements allowing shoppers to check out as guests.

All analysis featured in this article is from the RetailX Germany Top100 report. For further insight into this fascinating market, download the full version here. 

The post Germany Top100: highlights appeared first on RetailX.

To find out more about the Italian ecommerce landscape, including key statistics, retailer research and consumer insights, download the RetailX Italy 2021: Ecommerce Country Report!

Want to try before you buy? Carry on reading for a few key takeaways from the full report…

1. Electronic payments are booming as Italy’s love affair with cash fades 

Despite Italy’s long lasting love affair with cash payments, we have recently seen a boom in consumers making digital payments. This spike was particularly prominent during lockdown when people were forced to shop online (surprise, surprise). In fact, nearly eight in 10 Italians went online to make purchases as retailers were forced to shutter their doors due to Covid-19, and about a third also increased their use of ecommerce last year. 

As demonstrated in the chart above, digital and mobile payments were the most popular amongst Italian e-shoppers in 2020, whereas cash on delivery was only chosen by 5%. Credit cards came in at second place (19%), followed closely by pre-paid cards (12%) showing a variation in preference. However, Italy still has a long way to go before they catch up with the level of cashless payments seen in other parts of Europe and countries like the USA. 

2. Italian products are still being sold far and wide 

Although the pandemic had the potential to wreak havoc on Italy’s cross-border trade, most ecommerce companies came out on top…bravo! 

Of the 61% Italian ecommerce companies that sell their products abroad (an increase of 5% on last year), 50% saw an increase in sales. Only 10% saw a decrease in sales, while 40% saw stabilisation. 

Whereabouts do these companies sell? 

Of those companies who do sell overseas, the largest percentage is 19% in France, 18% in Spain and 17% in Germany, followed by the UK at 13% and finally Switzerland and Northern Europe at 10%. 

3. Facebook dominates in every sector and smartphone is primo

If you’re looking to sell in Italy, make sure your marketing team targets Facebook! As shown by our research, it is the platform that dominates the ‘traditional’ social media networks in terms of ecommerce (53%). Instagram is also among one of the most popular (40%) for its visual appeal and focus on style. 

Nonetheless, it is important to be cautious that the slow Italian take-up of online shopping does mean there’s little existing retail infrastructure, and its associated barriers and ingrained habits. 

In terms of popular devices for shopping online, smartphones take the crown (68%), followed by laptop (38%) and desktop PC (37%). 

To find out more about what Italian shoppers are after, including delivery options, post-pandemic preferences and everything in between – download the full report here!

The post What we learned from the Italy 2021 Report appeared first on RetailX.

1. France is still the fashion capital 

From Paris Fashion week and beyond, the French know their stuff when it comes to looking good – and that is reflected in their online shopping habits too. As shown above, clothing is the most popular category among French consumers, with 25% of these purchases falling in the 25-34 age bracket. 

This segment is consistent across all categories, falling just below the 35-44 age group in consumer electronics but maxing out on bags and accessories. DIY, garden and pet products are most popular (32%) with the 45-54 age group, who also top the charts for books, music, movies and games purchases.

2. Delivery: give power to the people 

Our report found that control is very important when it comes to delivery in France. For example, 58% of shoppers said they would prefer to have the option of a return or exchange; while 69% look favourably upon free returns without conditions. This is perhaps because clothing has remained a popular purchase category during lockdown. 

We also saw this control preference reflected in the French consumers’ attitude toward precise delivery time, with 58% of shoppers agreeing that precise delivery date is very useful. A further 49% said they would prefer to pick a specific delivery slot when ordering online. 

So, retailers, hand the power to the people when it comes to delivery if you want to keep your French customers happy! 

3. A preference for paying with plastic

Although France was one of the first markets to adopt chip and pin cards, its uptake in new payment technology has been unhurried, to say the least. Our research found that Visa and Mastercard still take the spotlight in France (and a staggering stranglehold in the realm of card payments, particularly). 

However, we are seeing more consumers, particularly within the younger demographic, take to mobile payments for smaller purchases like food, drink and transport; perhaps due to its convenience. 

For now, it seems traditional payment methods are embedded and the big players in their respective fields still dominate. Carte Bleue/Carte Bancaire, the French debit card network, is well accepted, yet Visa and Mastercard are still more widely offered. 

Indeed, it will be interesting to see if French consumers alter their payment preferences, as new apps and solutions emerge on the retail scene over time. 

All analysis from this blog is featured in the France 2021 Report. Download now for further insight into this sophisticated B2C market. 

The post Key takeaways from the France 2021 Report appeared first on RetailX.

Today, I wanted to zoom in on a few macroeconomic events which have significantly shaped the homeware sector and perhaps changed it for good. 

If you’re eager to learn more about the wider homeware landscape – you can download the full report here. 

Covid-19

We can’t begin without addressing the elephant in the room – Covid-19. As much as we’re all sick of hearing about the pandemic (I know I am), it is important to discuss its enduring impact on the retail sector. When it comes to the homeware sector, coronavirus was initially bad news; with the first lockdown and closure of physical stores leading to a plummet in sales. 

However, as the year continued, a new demand for home decor emerged as shoppers redesigned their living spaces to accommodate working from home, home-schooling and everything in between. This trend is set to see a large bounce-back in 2021, before returning to a more normal level of activity in 2022 and beyond.

Changing demands

As the home started to develop into a multi-purpose space for many, the sector saw changing shopping habits and a shift in the type of homeware being purchased. In addition to the usual demand for sofas, beds and wardrobes; there has also been a kean uptake in: 

Home office furniture 

In 2020, the need to create a comfortable working environment was a top priority for many consumers as they adapted to working from home as the norm. Some took this beyond a functional desk and swivel chair – embellishing their homes with everything from new kitchen counters, to fake bookcases to impress colleagues on Zoom. Yes, really…

Nonetheless, sales of seating products have shown most growth in recent years in both volume and value terms, with sales reaching £68m in 2020, or 40% of the market.

Wellness

Some people found being amidst a global pandemic, well, pretty stressful. This was reflected in the increased sales of wellness and wellbeing products such as calming candles, essential oils for diffusers and potpourri. According to Kantar, the wellbeing or ‘self-care’ category jumped 29% in October 2020, while research by Technavio says that the value of the market was at $5.40bn in 2019 and it is expected to grow to $7.22bn by 2024. 

Environmental consciousness and upcycling 

The growing interest in the green economy is going to have a huge impact on the homeware sector as more consumers look to buy items that are ethically and sustainably sourced, as well as increasingly looking for items that are upcycled or made from recycled materials. This is going to become a big driver in the sector and will provide a platform for new entrants that can tap into this, while more established retailers need to look to form partnerships to enter this sector.

New entrants 

On the whole, homeware retailers have massively capitalized on the global pandemic, which essentially created a new audience of stay-at-home shoppers wanting to revamp their all-in-one personal/office/gym/leisure space or rather, their lockdown home. This has seen an uptick in the market, which has not only forced many homeware retailers to rethink their digital transformation timeframe, but has also seen many other retailers looking to take a slice of the market.

For example, many fashion, DIY and sports retailers spotted the gap in the market and have started to sell their own branded homeware items. Many of these are pureplay online retailers who have the tools and strategy under their belt to potentially shake up the homeware market.

The other interesting new entrant is Amazon, which has long sold homewares via third-parties in its site. During 2020 and into 2021, it has invested heavily in tools designed to make the process of buying homewares online even easier. 

These competitors are definitely ones to watch on the homeware scene!

All analysis from this article is rooted in the RetailX Homeware Sector Analyst Report. For further insight into the homeware sector, including regional variants, growth vectors and new technology – get your copy today!

The post RetailX Homeware Sector 2021 Report: key macroeconomic events appeared first on RetailX.

Carry on reading for everything you need to know to get you started on your RetailX #PO journey…

What is it? 

RetailX #PO is a rapid procurement format which offers unparalleled insight into the areas of supply across the market. Through a series of exclusive events, covering everything from packaging to point-of-sale (POS), retailers are able to cut the heavy lifting out of the procurement process and hear directly from the experts.

Who is it for? 

If you’re a busy professional in retail, this digital procurement accelerator is for you! Designed to make the next steps in your procurement journey effortless, RetailX #PO ensures retailers are connected to the right people, straight away (without having to kiss any vendor-frogs!). 

How does it work? 

Our presenting partners will share their solutions virtually with a live audience of retailers and brands, so you can make informed decisions about your procurement strategy. There will be the opportunity to engage, question and compare during these pitches; all while being in the comfort of a controlled, no obligation environment. 

RetailX #PO also provides short, sharp and practical one-on-one sessions with trusted vendors, chosen by our RetailX 1000 retailers. With access to the best suppliers used by the best companies, this series of events is worth tuning into – whether you’re in procurement or not…

Where do I sign up?

Click here to discover our exciting lineup of events as well as take a peek at the selection of leading professionals who we’ve invited to present. 

Registration is free – so what are you waiting for? Expedite the procurement process with RetailX #PO and optimise your business today. 

The post RetailX #PO: the new take on procurement – everything you need to know appeared first on RetailX.

Our RetailX Global 2020 Ecommerce Report explores in great detail, how these changes looked in some of the most important B2C markets around the world; zooming in on everything from consumer preferences, through to population growth and internet usage. 

The report is free to all retailers and can be downloaded here. 

Today, we will be taking a deep dive into the state of ecommerce in Australia; illustrated by RetailX graphs from inside the global report so you can get a taste of what we have to offer!

Digital economy 

Australia is a highly digitalised economy, with 88% of the population forecast to be internet users in 2020. Of these 88%, a majority of 72% are expected to be shopping online: 

Considering this figure was only 58% in 2015, it is fair to say Australia has seen steady growth over the past five years and is slowly catching up with some of the most technologically advanced markets in the world such as the UK (92%), the United Arab Emirates (99%) and Qatar (100%). 

Social media preferences 

Shifting the focus to social media, I was personally shocked to find only 1% of Australians are a fan of the ‘gram! Co-owned social giant, Facebook, on the other hand, appears to be highly regarded down under, with 68% of the population as active members. 

Pinterest was next on the list of most used social platforms in Australia (17%), followed by Twitter (8%) and penultimately, Youtube (3%). 

As discussed in last week’s blog – selling through social channels is becoming increasingly popular within the ecommerce sphere and is an effective way to reach out to younger consumers. Hence, social media preference per market is definitely something merchants should be acutely aware of. 

Ecommerce by catagory

So what are consumers spending their money on? Well, like the rest of us, it appears that the Aussies are dying for a holiday, with airlines and hotels seeing the most ecommerce activity (22%). This trend has peaked recently as well: with travel sales up 201% week on week, following the Prime Minister’s announcement to ease lockdown last Monday. Perhaps 2021 will be a banner year for travel retailers, eh? 

The second most popular ecommerce category in Australia is clothing and footwear (12%); closely followed by food and drink (10%) and electrical goods (9%). Homeware and furniture, however, came in last at 6% – do they not have a B&M in sunny Oz?!

For further insight into consumer habits in Australia – or in any major B2C market around the world, for that matter – read our Global 2020 report now. 

The post Global 2020 ecommerce report : a deep dive into Australia appeared first on RetailX.

Today, we will take a look at some of the prime reasons for growth in the luxury sector in 2020 and beyond. Download the full report here for the complete list of growth drivers, as well as further insight into all aspects of this up-and-coming sector.

1. Social media & influencers 

Content-driven marketing has, like with many other sectors across retail, become a significant catalyst for growth in the luxury industry. In particular, social media influencers and celebrities have played a leading role in encouraging potential customers to finalise their purchases, through product placement in Insta-posts, Facebook ads, boomerangs – you name it!

Social media sites, including TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube have all started to become platforms for selling rather than just marketing, meaning users can now buy advertised items from the social platform, without having to redirect to a marketplace, retailer, etc. 

Luxury sellers should be aware of this fundamental change to mainstream retail and ensure products are being represented not only on their main website(s) but also across major social media – as these platforms transition towards becoming central to ecommerce sales.

2. Partnerships and collaborations 

Partnerships are known to create a new buzz around product, alongside experiences and lifestyle-orientation for its brands. Luxury has been moving towards this trend over the years, often collaborating with travel companies – the most extreme example being 2018 when LVMH agreed to buy Belmond, including its signature hotels, ships and trains.

This fusion of luxury fashion and travel brands was accelerating in 2019, with Armani, Bulgari, Fendi and Ferragamo all putting their brands to work in the hotel sector. 2020 was expected to see the same trend, until of course, the coronavirus came and ruined all our holiday plans (I’m still mad). Surprisingly, this has not halted luxury partnerships, often creating multibrand companies from two or more monobrands seeking to make bigger waves in the market.

As illustrated by the chart above, almost half (46%) of respondents in China most enjoyed that luxury product collaborations involve the release of new styles, while 22% said uniqueness was a key selling point for them. In fact, Chinese cross-cultural agency, TONG found that Gen Z and millennial customers in China look for novel products that stand out from the crowd. At the same time, the research showed that this same age-group are placing an increasing importance on heritage/made in China goods, leveraging current tastes for “national trend” (guochao) products, “cultural creations” (wenchuang) and consumer nostalgia. 

Pssst! International luxury brands – you should consider partnering up with local Chinese brands and retailers if you want to be successful in this booming B2C market. 

3. Recommerce 

 In recent years, one of the biggest growth vectors for the luxury market, particularly around apparel, jewellery, accessories and objet d’art, has been the burgeoning market for used, second-hand and pre-loved items online.

This interest in recommerce is forecast to grow significantly over the next few years – reaching a market value of $64bn by 2024. We can link this back to the increased desire to be unique and express individuality, driven by millennials and continued by Gen Z and Gen Y shoppers. Reusing products is also highly sustainable – an issue which has been spotlighted more than ever against the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis. 

With this embrace by these demographics, recommerce offers a great deal of growth potential for the luxury market and online recommerce players have started to draw investor attention.

To discover more about drivers of growth in the luxury sector, download the full RetailX Sector Analyst Report: Luxury 2021 report here.

The post 3 key catalysts for growth in the luxury sector 2020 and beyond appeared first on RetailX.

Following a year of social distancing, online shopping and awkward Zoom parties, the RetailX UK Top500 report takes a look at where retail is today.

Our analysis is category-specific so that retailers can benchmark themselves against the leading companies in the UK, as well take tips on the best practises that have worked in the in one of most mature ecommerce markets in the world.

Retailers that stand out in the Strategy & Dimension category are those who have adopted emerging technologies early and prioritised the tools that have a positive impact on their ecommerce and multichannel strategies. 

Carry on reading for an overview of the tools and strategies leading retailers in this category have adopted and how these ideas could help improve your business. 

To what extent do retailers support international ecommerce? 

After cross-border sales in 2020 increased by 57% year-on-year, according to figures from cross-border platform provider Global-e, we decided to place a particular focus on the extent to which websites that sell in the UK market are adapting to international customers. 

The more localised an ecommerce website, the more likely international shoppers will buy from it. Here are some of the key steps UK retailers and marketplaces are taking in order to support international shoppers. Take note! 

• Currencies: One in five retailers (22%) enable shoppers to choose which currency they can pay in, while 41% of marketplace sites give the choice. 
• Selecting country: Marketplaces take the lead with 37% offering a choice of languages in which the shopper can view the website, compared to a mere 12% of retailers. 
• Language: In 2020, most retailers (51%) enable shoppers to select the country they are buying from in order to have a more localised experience. However, marketplaces (78%) and brands (72%) are most likely to enable this. 

How do retailers ease the buying process? 

Ask yourself whether you’re making it easy for customers to buy. That may sound obvious, but are the checkout pages you’re using making it difficult for shoppers to get through? Below are some simple steps you can take to make the purchasing journey easier for your customers. 

• Wish lists: Wish lists are an easy and effective way to encourage purchases. 57% of retailers and 74% of marketplaces in the UK offer a save later feature in 2021. 
• Payments: Shoppers with registered details can buy with a single click on 16% of Top500 sites. That’s down by 6pp from 22% in 2020. Don’t make this mistake – ensure your regular customers can get their order on its way at the click of a button! 
• Checking store stock: How irritating is it when you’re just about to click the checkout button and BAM! “Sorry this item is no longer available” pops up on your screen and ruins your day? Only in five (20%) of the 435 retailers that have stores and were measured in both 2021 and 2020 enable shoppers to check store stock from their websites. An informed customer is a happy customer – so double check your website for this useful feature. 

All this information is based on the RetailX UK Top500 report which you can read in full here for more useful insight into how to stay ahead in the UK’s hypercompetitive ecommerce market.

The post Top500 2021: Strategy and Innovation appeared first on RetailX.