We make it easy for you to keep up to date with what's happening in the world of retail. Check out what we are reading this month and why.
The rise of the Super Apps
When we look to Asia, apps are now virtually essential to many aspects of daily life - having singular ‘super apps’ on a phone that does almost everything. WeChat has evolved considerably since its launch in 2011. More than a billion Chinese people use it for almost everything, including food and taxi orders, managing medical records, and filing for divorce. From AliPay, Rukuten, Grab to Gojek this is the space to watch. READ MORE
Shopping in 10 mins – the new supermarket battleground
Agile start-ups with names such as Getir (, Weezy, Gorillas and Dija are promising instant deliveries with no substitutions. How are the newcomers nailing it and how do customers navigate the options? Super-fast hyper convenience disruptors are where it is happening. READ MORE
Get your new phone within the hour. Courtesy of UberEats.
In a new deal in Aussie, UberEats will now distribute new phones ordered by Optus customers within an hour of the transaction. All courtesy of Optus's focus on experiences for customers when they are not inside stores. READ MORE
The problem of measurement in omnichannel assessment
This is a quick interesting article outlining how Macy’s evaluated digital channel contribution vs bricks and mortar and the real impact of closing stores to their digital channel. It’s not what you think. READ MORE
Walmart teams with UberEats to expand same-day delivery services
Walgreens has put a full selection of its products on the menu for same-day delivery through Uber Eats across the U.S. Health and wellness products, household essentials and over-the-counter medicine are all available via the Uber Eats app as of late June. The companies are promoting the new service by offering $20 off purchases of $30 or more. The feature will be available through more than 7,800 Walgreens locations. Uber Eats has also introduced COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling to its app to allow customers to take advantage of that aspect of the Walgreens pharmacy. READ MORE
INTERNET OF TINS: THE RISE OF CONNECTED PACKAGING
The comeback of the QR code has led to a forecast that the global market for connected packaging will be worth $20bn by 2025. READ MORE
ICYMI - A quick recap of important things that happened which you might have missed
LORNA JANE FINED $5M FOR FALSE CLAIMS - WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
Seriously. We have no words. Anyone in their right mind knows you can’t make “claims” that are unsubstantiated and from a brand that is loved, trusted and adored by Aussies and Kiwis. Just ludicrous that Lorna Jane thought this was okay. READ MORE
AUSSIE FIRMS PAYING WORKERS TO GET THEIR COVID SHOTS
As Australia gears up to chase a country-wide vaccination target of 70% of the population, business leaders around the country are finding ways to incentivise their workers to get onboard.
Amazon Australia is offering a special ‘vaccination benefit’ payment of $140 for eligible fulfilment and delivery station workers who get fully vaccinated. The business is also offering paid or unpaid leave for workers to attend vaccination appointments. READ MORE
TWITTER DEVELOPS IN-APP SHOPPING
Twitter have tried and failed before, perhaps this time they will get it right. Their business depends on it. We are waiting to see the results from a pilot of the Shop Module — a feature that allows us to explore how shoppable profiles can create a pathway from talking about and discovering products on Twitter to actually purchasing them. One to watch. READ MORE
GAMECHANGER IN BNPL PAYMENTS
Shoppers are about to feel the influx of new heavyweight buy now, pay later options. While tech giant Apple is believed to be planning a BNPL addition to its mobile phone payment method. These look to deliver lower costs to retailers and less fees for shoppers but the world of loyalty and personalisation will wrap around customers as well to lock them in.
Firstly, in a blockbuster deal that rocks the fintech world, Square announced that it is acquiring Australian buy now, pay later giant Afterpay in a $39 billion all-stock deal. The combination of the two companies will create a payments giant unlike any other. READ MORE
However prior, Afterpay's acquisition was announced nearly a week after PayPal’s announced their offering launch in Australia. Game on. READ MORE
SUPERMARKET WARS. READY PLAYERS.
It’s a hefty read aimed to deliver a better landscape of choice for Kiwi’s and it’s now just a matter of “when” a third player enters NZ. Read more about the Commerce Commission findings and recommendation for the break up of the Kiwi grocery duopoly. READ MORE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC. LIKE. REALLY.
While Oscar Whylee continues their accelerated roll-out of stores here in NZ (27 since January 2021), the business was fined $3.5m as they had misled and deceived its customers into believing they were donating glasses to people in need on a one-for-one basis when, in truth, the figure was closer to one-in-ten. A warning for others who might not have their house in order. READ MORE
SELFRIDGES IS UP FOR SALE
Anyone got a spare $4billion? READ MORE