Charmaine Leong

UK footfall is up, but are stores making the most of it?... 📈 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘂𝗽 𝟱.𝟭% 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, but lower dwell times impact conversion 💪 𝟲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 📍 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 👨‍🦳 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 are key shoppers now 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸? 𝗬𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁... National traffic increased by 5.1%, but shorter dwell times and may negatively impact conversion rates. Focus on activations to engage 'back-to-work' shoppers. 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀? 𝗬𝗲𝘀, 𝟲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. Traffic is up 3.7% on 2023 for the 6th consecutive week of growth, despite poor weather dampening footfall figures earlier in the year. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸? 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵. Shoppers have finally returned in Scotland and Yorkshire. Consider adjusting campaigns to capture the larger opportunity of passing traffic in these regions. 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀. As shopper demographics shift towards older males, in-store engagement has also dwindled. Are your stores set up to engage this key demographic? 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 Retail giants Primark, H&M, JD Sports Fashion and Dunelm all blame the weather for underwhelming sales performance in Q2 trading reports. From summer clothes to outdoor furniture, it seems that unseasonal weather has kept shoppers at bay. Our year-on-year data backs this up, showing a noticeable drop in traffic from April to July compared to last year. 👁️ While forecasting the future can be tricky, our real-time data helps retailers benchmark their performance against unpredictable external factors. That's why savvy retailers are turning to AVRI to stay ahead of the competition. 🔎 Stay ahead of the game with our weekly digest of UK retail trends. Subscribe now at auravision.ai/retail-index. How have these trends affected your stores? Have a report idea? Share your insights below! 👇 #retailnews #retailinsights #retail #ukretail #ai #instoreanalytics #retailtech #proptech

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How do the social media habits, health priorities & food preferences of Gen Z differ from older generations? Born between 1997–2012, Gen Z are the retail consumers of the future and are expected to account for 11% of UK retail spend by the end of 2030 (Barclays, 2023). 💷 We quizzed some Gen Z and non Gen Z colleagues to see just how different their views are! 🎙️ 📃Check out the full article: https://ow.ly/GHKE50UkQpX

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📸🔎Lens is now used for nearly 20 billion visual searches every month, one of the fastest growing query types and younger users (ages 18-24) are engaging most. 🛍️✨ If you are a marketer, that's a great interview where Sophie takes time to share some very practical tips ahead of the holiday season, with a bonus deep dive segment on the evolution of Search, and why we are excited about AI transforming it even after so many years.

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Great session with Yango Tech and Yango Ads and the two Evgeny’s! 💡 When you're passionate about shaping Retail Media in the MENA region, conversations like these flow naturally. We covered everything from how we're leveraging 0 and 1st party data to enable our partner brands to target our shoppers at points of purchase to the unique consumer bahaviour dynamics shaping MEA's retail landscape. What stood out was our shared vision of how we combine and blend customer data, technology and channels to create more meaningful consumer interactions and build brand loyalty. The podcast really captures the pulse of where Retail Media is heading in our region and globally in addition to what the critical success factors are for continued growth as Retail Media is set to become the third largest digital advertising medium. Looking forward to everyone's thoughts once it's live. For those invested in retail's digital future in MEA, this one's a must-listen. Special thanks to the 2 Evgeny’s for skillfully hosting such an engaging discussion. The future is bright, the future is Retail Media! #RetailMedia #DigitalTransformation #MEARetail #RetailTech #LandmarkGroup #DataDrivenRetail #RetailInnovation #RetailTalks #1stpartydata #cdp #audiencesegmentation #Landmarkreach #digitaladvertising #programmaticadvertising

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Must-read for UK retail and consumer goods professionals: The latest Grocery Market Share Report from Worldpanel by Kantar, led by Fraser McKevitt, provides invaluable insights into shifting shopper behaviors and their impact on retailer sales and market share. 📊🛒 For any consumer goods brand looking to scale in the UK, this data is pure gold. 💡✨ Understanding how your brand, competitors, and the wider category are evolving is critical to stay ahead. It's surprising that market leaders have always known more about your shoppers than challenger brands do - something that North Star believe should no longer be the case and are committed to changing! 🤔 In my view, investing in shopper insights offers one of the best ROIs for growth. 📈 I'm absolutely passionate about this—let’s chat if you’d like to explore further. 💬

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Returns in e-commerce have become a significant problem, often created by the businesses themselves through practices like offering free returns, encouraging over-purchasing, or failing to provide accurate product descriptions. These practices, while convenient, have led to a culture of "buy first, decide later," resulting in high return rates that burden both businesses and the environment. Solving this issue is challenging; businesses face the cost and logistical difficulties of managing returns, while shoppers may struggle with the inconvenience of stricter return policies. However, promoting personal responsibility and mindful shopping can help create a greener, more sustainable e-commerce environment. By making informed purchasing decisions, consumers can reduce the need for returns, which in turn lowers carbon emissions and waste associated with shipping and restocking, contributing to a more eco-friendly shopping experience.

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Interesting to see Aldi lose market share for once in the latest data published by Worldpanel by Kantar yesterday. With the grocery market growing at it's slowest rate for the last 2 years, up just +1%, part of this is being driven by falling inflation. In fact 31 grocery categories are now experiencing deflation. So Aldi losing share.....is this an impact of greater pricing parity between the discounters and the traditional grocery multiples? Lidl's performance would argue against this (+8.1%). What is evident however is that in the context of total grocery performance, Tesco (+4.6%) and Sainsbury's (+4.9%) are leading the way. Waitrose have also gained an additional 188K shoppers over the latest 12 weeks. Can Aldi bounce back or are they finally reaching their ceiling? Looking forward to seeing next months update........ #marketshare

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An interesting read from Jonny Forsyth and the team at Mintel, looking at how the Consumer Packaged Goods industry has moved from innovation towards renovation since 2019, how AI has lowered barriers to entry for new players, and how the Middle East, Asia and Africa are now innovation leaders in the industry.

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https://lnkd.in/evE2rjYc Outstanding insight on the potency of TikTok and impulse purchasing. - Three-in-eight surveyed U.S. and U.K. consumers have bought a product or service after watching a short video about it. - Gen Z users spend nearly 22 days (528 hours) on TikTok annually. - Respondents made 20% of these impulse buys within an hour of viewing the content. - 51% said TikTok is their primary video platform trigger for impulse purchases. - 84% of respondents said these platforms influence at least one of their buying decisions each week. - Looking at variations by income level, video influence on purchases was most significant among those earning under $30,000 annually. #tiktok #impulse #fmcg #shortformvideo #futureofcommerce

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Ocado strikes customer acquisition deal with Getir Ocado Retail has strategically partnered with Getir to attract former users of the rapid grocery service, which recently announced its withdrawal from the UK market. This customer acquisition initiative targets users of both Getir and Gorillas, a former competitor acquired by Getir in 2022, as reported by George Nott for The Grocer. This week, ex-customers of Getir and Gorillas received emails encouraging them to switch to Ocado Retail’s own rapid delivery service, Zoom by Ocado. The promotional emails highlighted that Zoom offers a “smart shopping experience” similar to Getir but with “five times the choice” and exclusive access to “the best of M&S.” Recipients were enticed with a 25% discount and free delivery on their first Zoom order. “As Getir and Gorillas exit the UK, we’re pleased to be offering their customers a chance to try Zoom by Ocado,” said Gemma McIver, head of Zoom by Ocado. “With a huge range of products, including M&S food, delivered in less than 60 minutes, we’re confident they’ll love the service.” The rapid grocery delivery market saw a surge in early 2021, with companies promising delivery within 20 minutes, making Zoom’s service seem slower by comparison. Ocado Group CEO Tim Steiner previously dismissed these quick commerce companies as “a fad,” suggesting that the market was too small to significantly impact consumer behavior. Several rapid grocery startups have since ceased operations. In April, Getir confirmed its exit from the UK, also withdrawing from Germany, the Netherlands, and the US to focus on its home market, Turkey, where it was founded in 2015. These markets accounted for only 7% of Getir’s revenues. Getir franchisees have faced significant financial losses due to the company's withdrawal, selling off assets such as fridges, freezers, and branded equipment in online auctions to recoup their investments. Zoom by Ocado has also faced challenges. The Leeds Zoom site closed after just over a year due to insufficient order volumes. The company is currently reviewing its strategy and capacity for the Zoom network to better utilize its London properties. By capitalizing on Getir’s exit and offering compelling incentives, Ocado Retail aims to strengthen its position in the competitive rapid delivery market and attract a new customer base to its Zoom by Ocado service. Stay ahead with the latest in food delivery news from the weekly Boolanga Business Bites newsletter, brought to you by Wear Your Brand. Sign up for our LinkedIn newsletter now to receive weekly updates directly to your inbox every Monday.

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Deliveroo Reports First Profits Since 2013, Marking Key Milestone Deliveroo has achieved a significant financial milestone, reporting its first-ever profit in the first half of 2024 since its inception in 2013. The food delivery platform's adjusted EBITDA surged by 57% to £62 million, a notable increase from £39 million in the same period last year. This strong performance translated into a profit of £1 million, a sharp turnaround from the £83 million loss recorded in H1 2023. Founder and CEO Will Shu attributed this success to the effective execution of growth and profitability strategies. Key drivers included innovations in the Plus loyalty program, particularly with the introduction of the premium Plus Diamond tier, robust growth in the grocery sector, and new retail partnerships. Additionally, Deliveroo’s net promoter score (NPS) reached its highest level since mid-2021, reflecting enhanced consumer satisfaction. Shu emphasized the importance of consumer trust, stating, "Consumer trust is the key to unlocking further growth in this industry. We are relentlessly focused on achieving a flawless delivery experience and ensuring fair pricing for our consumers." Deliveroo also reported growth across key metrics, with gross transaction value (GTV) up 6% and revenue rising by 2%. The company’s order volume returned to growth, increasing by 2%. The announcement of a £150 million share buyback underscores Deliveroo's financial progress and confidence in its future outlook. Looking ahead, the company expects GTV growth in constant currency to be between 5-9% for the year, with adjusted EBITDA projected to reach the upper half of the £110-130 million range previously forecasted. Shu concluded by highlighting the continued potential for growth in the industry, noting, "The Deliveroo platform is more powerful than ever. We operate across attractive verticals in large, underpenetrated markets, and it's clear there is a lot of room for growth." He also expressed gratitude to the Deliveroo team, whose expertise he credited as vital to the company's ongoing success. Stay ahead with the latest in food delivery news from the weekly Boolanga Bites newsletter, brought to you by Boolanga Business. Sign up for our LinkedIn newsletter now to receive weekly updates directly to your inbox every Monday.

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As we wind down for the festive season, I've been reflecting on what 2025 holds for e-commerce growth. 🎯 It's fascinating to see that 70% of fashion and retail executives are ramping up their partnership investments next year (McKinsey & Company) - and it's got me thinking about the evolution of brand collaborations. I'm particularly excited about how brand2brand partnerships have transformed within the affiliate space⚡ The secret sauce? It comes down to intelligent technology meeting scale. The most effective solutions combine smart algorithms that match the perfect offers to each customer, with the network scale to deliver real results. Working at Sovendus, Europe's leading provider of brand2brand partnerships, I've seen first-hand how these strategic collaborations enhance the entire customer journey while maintaining those all-important performance metrics we love in affiliate marketing🚀 The sophistication of this approach - merging complementary brand relationships with measurable ROAS - signals an exciting shift in how retailers will approach growth in 2025✨ If you're looking to get ahead of the curve and explore how brand2brand partnerships could power your customer acquisition in 2025, I'd be happy to help. Feel free to drop me a message to discuss how Sovendus can help drive your growth strategy for the New Year. (Oh yeah we had our Christmas party last week so here's a pic of the team for good measure!)

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🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 Exciting update from HelloFresh as we released our Q1 2024 results today. 📊 Here are the main highlights: ▶️Group Revenue: €2.1bn, up by +3% yoy ▶️Revenue of RTE product category up by 54% to €0.5bn (Factor_ and Youfoodz) ▶️Average order value: up by 6% yoy to €65 ▶️Contribution margin of 25% down by 1 p.p., driven by ramp-up of new DCs and US RTE ▶️Positive AEBITDA of €17m ▶️FY 2024 outlook is reiterated ▶️RTE continues to expand geographically with new Factor_ launches in Sweden and Denmark Earning presentation can be found at the following link: https://lnkd.in/eYKkjhH4 We have more and more job opening to support this continuous growth across the globe! Check in the comment the role I open to support the new strategies in 2024! #HelloFresh #FinancialReport #Q1 #growth #Factor_ #Youfoodz #mealkit

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A Journey in Fashion Marketing: Insights from Head of Marketing at ASOS It is an honour to present insights from an interview with Livvy Thompson, the Head of Marketing at ASOS, whose remarkable career spans over 15 years. Livvy's journey through the fashion marketing landscape provides invaluable lessons for aspiring marketers. Her path is a testament to perseverance, continuous learning, and adaptability, and it offers inspiration for those looking to make their mark in the industry. From University to ASOS Livvy's background in Business and PR, combined with a Masters in Fashion Marketing, laid her career's foundation. Despite not having an arts-based background, her passion for fashion led her to pursue specialised education. After gaining FMCG marketing experience, she joined ASOS, even if it meant taking a step back in her career. This move highlights the importance of aligning career paths with personal passions and long-term goals. Learning from Every Experience Livvy views every job and mistake as a learning opportunity, stating, "I think everything is a learning curve, and with every new experience or every mistake, you learn something to take into the future." Learning from senior colleagues and gaining technical abilities from her education and diverse industry experiences have significantly contributed to her development at every level. Her approach underscores the value of continuous learning and adaptability. Navigating the Job Application Process Livvy's current role involved multiple interviews and a task to showcase her abilities. Her best advice for candidates is to conduct thorough research and ask insightful questions during interviews. This shows a proactive mindset and helps understand the company better. Strategies for Success Key attributes for success in fashion marketing include tenacity, attention to detail, and a genuine passion for the audience and industry. These qualities help marketers connect with customers and navigate the industry's dynamic nature. Livvy's career advancement strategy includes continuous learning and understanding the business environment and stakeholders. She emphasises pushing forward with customer-centric initiatives while "influencing the right people" or stakeholders. This balanced approach is crucial for success and promotions. Adapting to Industry Changes The fashion industry constantly evolves, presenting challenges. Livvy has addressed these by adapting to changes driven by social media and competition from fast-fashion and resale platforms like Shein and Vinted. Her experience underscores that embracing innovation is key to staying relevant and competitive. Conclusion Livvy's career journey offers a roadmap for aspiring fashion marketers. Her story highlights the importance of aligning career choices with passions, embracing continuous learning, and adapting to industry changes. Livvy’s insights provide valuable guidance for the path to success in fashion marketing.

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Start collecting zero-party data now to optimise your Black Friday campaigns. Here's how footwear retailer schuh leveraged zero-party data: ☑ Polled customers about shopping intentions pre-Black Friday ☑ Used insights to dynamically retarget subscribers ☑ Delivered tailored product recommendations This proactive approach primed customers for conversion when deals dropped. For more innovative peak season strategies, our Director of Strategy, Retail, Becki Francis, has contributed an insightful article for the DMA (Data & Marketing Association) UK. https://lnkd.in/eeXjAZp7

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Independents with Uber Eats snap up demand from Getir exit Since Getir's exit from the UK market in April, independent stores on Uber Eats have experienced a notable surge in demand. According to Alexander Troughton, Uber’s Director of Grocery and Retail for the UK, these independents have absorbed the market space left by Getir. “We’ve seen an increase in demand in areas previously serviced by Getir,” Troughton said. “The demand that was once on Getir has transitioned to our independent partners on Uber Eats.” Interestingly, other quick commerce players like Zapp and Gopuff , also available on Uber Eats, have not seen a decline in orders. In fact, demand has likely grown, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and independents that typically cater to late-night shoppers previously loyal to Getir. This revelation comes as Uber Eats announced the launch of its new Courier Pick and Pack service. Set to roll out in major retailers this autumn, this service will enable couriers to personally select and pack items in-store before delivering them directly to customers. Uber plans to extend this feature to independent stores soon, further enhancing the convenience for users who prefer shopping from local businesses. Susan Anderson, Uber’s Global Head of Grocery and Retail, highlighted the evolving trends in grocery shopping. “Our busy lifestyles have changed how we shop. We visit supermarkets less frequently for big shops and increasingly rely on apps like Uber Eats for fresh grocery ingredients when we need them,” Anderson stated. Despite not yet releasing the list of partner retailers for Courier Pick and Pack, Uber Eats’ data indicates significant growth in their grocery segment. Over the past two years, the number of UK customers ordering groceries via the app has nearly doubled. Moreover, the preference for fresh produce over confectionary is evident, with fresh items driving 74% of Uber Eats' grocery growth during this period. The peak ordering time is Mondays between 6 PM and 7 PM, suggesting a trend towards starting the week with fresh groceries. Anderson attributes this to a growing health consciousness among consumers and their increasing reliance on technology to simplify their lives. “It's fascinating to see how these trends reflect a shift towards healthier eating habits and the use of our technology to make grocery shopping more convenient,” Anderson added. “This is why we are launching innovative products like Courier Pick and Pack. We believe it will revolutionize how people shop for groceries.” Stay ahead with the latest in food delivery news from the weekly Boolanga Bites newsletter, brought to you by Boolanga Business. Sign up for our LinkedIn newsletter now to receive weekly updates directly to your inbox every Monday.

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Our UK's Most Loved Retail Brands 2024 report is here, revealing the sentiments of 96,000 UK consumers on more than 200 retailers.   Using BrandVue - Savanta's marketing intelligence and brand growth tool - we've compiled a comprehensive ranking of the Top 100 Most Loved retailers.   Curious to see which brands are climbing the ranks (or slipping), and the reasons behind their shift? Download the report to find out now. #Savanta #BrandVue #MostLovedRetail

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