Business

New study shows online shopping boom will cost UK retailers $11B

Published

2 years ago

June 30, 2021

Experts warn UK’s retail industry could shrink by $11 billion by 2025 as Covid accelerates the transition to online shopping

A recent study highlights that the retail industry in the UK faces huge challenges as a result of pandemic-related lockdowns. The study notes that stores selling apparel, homewares and electronics will experience a “permanent step-change” in customer behavior.

The report warns that European shoppers are anticipated to dedicate about 20% of their spending to online retailers, rather than traditional storefronts.

Online sales surged during the pandemic amid global lockdowns and restrictions. Online sales now account for almost 30% of total UK retail sales.

“Retailers face a make-or-break moment…there is no going back.”
Erin Brookes, head of Alvarez & Marsal’s European retail practice in London

Online shoppers are more likely to return purchases

It estimated that U.K. consumers aged between 18 and 24 return about 16% of products purchased online, compared with 7.5% for consumers aged 65 years and older.

Not all retailers face major upheaval, however. Furniture and jewelry stores will probably return to pre-pandemic conditions, given the preference for “touch and feel” browsing, according to the report.

Business

Companies to pay extra for verified Twitter accounts

Published

3 hours ago

February 6, 2023

ticker NEWS

Elon Musk has announced that companies and brands will have to pay $1,000 per month – plus an additional $50 per sub-account – to get verified check-marks on Twitter

The new pricing falls under the new Twitter Blue for Business service.

Within the next few months, only paying Twitter customers will have verified status.

Twitter has stacked on $12.5 billion in debt, and this move hopes to increase subscription revenue to meet Musk’s obligations.

Advertisers halted spending on Twitter after the takeover, but Twitter has since announced partnerships with two brand-safety vendors to win back marketers.

Musk also announced that Twitter would start sharing ad revenue with creators for “ads that appear in their reply threads”, but didn’t provide further detail.

Business

BMW to invest €800 million in Mexico

Published

3 hours ago

February 6, 2023

ticker NEWS

BMW is set to invest €800 million in Mexico, to produce its next generation of high-voltage and fully electric batteries

The carmaker is looking to convert more than half of its sales into all-electric cars by 2030.

Construction will begin next year with production beginning in 2027.

The announcement follows several other major expansions from the automaker in recent months, including a $1.7 billion investment in the United States.

The move will add around 1,000 new jobs to its Mexico operations.

Business

A British digital currency “later this decade”

Published

1 day ago

February 5, 2023

ticker NEWS

The Bank of England and Britain’s finance ministry think the UK is likely to need to create a central bank digital currency later this decade.

“On the basis of our work to date, the Bank of England and HM Treasury judge that it is likely a digital pound will be needed in the future,” the Telegraph quoted BoE Governor Andrew Bailey and finance minister Jeremy Hunt as saying in the joint report.

“It is too early to commit to build the infrastructure for one, but we are convinced that further preparatory work is justified,” the Telegraph quoted the report saying.

The BoE declined to comment on the Telegraph article, but said a joint consultation on CBDC issues would be published shortly.

A government source said the report would be published next week.

BoE Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe is due to give a speech on Tuesday to update the finance industry on the BoE’s CBDC work.