Tag: Shopping

Sale shoppers urged to walk, not run, this sale season amidst Black Friday scams

Revolut, the global financial app with over 2.5 million customers in Ireland, warns that euphoria and urgency experienced by shoppers seeking to score a deal may come at a cost.

David Eborne, Head of Financial Crime at Revolut shares types of scams shoppers should be weary of:

  • Fake websites: Scammers use the latest and greatest tech to set up fake retailer websites so that they look exactly like genuine online retail stores. Some of the fake stores will send you the product you purchased but their real goal was to obtain your personal and card data.
  • Selling fake goods: Some sites sell luxury items like popular jewellery or clothing brands, or electronics at very low prices. Sometimes shoppers will receive the item they paid for but they will be fake or other times they will receive nothing at all.
  • Temporary fake sites: A newer version of online shopping scams involves the use of social media platforms to set up fake online stores. The stores open for a short time and then disappear after some sales are made.
  • Social media advertising: Scammers use social media to advertise their fake website. Often they use “Swipe up” features and put a time pressure against it to create a sense of urgency.

The Safest Way to Shop Online
For many customers, a fear when shopping online is to have their card details stolen. However, David says this risk can be mitigated by using Revolut’s single-use virtual disposable cards. The cards provide users with a temporary, randomly generated card number, CVV, and expiration date to be used for a single transaction. Once the transaction is completed, the virtual card is automatically deleted, reducing the risk of unauthorised transactions, and safeguarding personal and financial information. David also advises that if a purchase is not received or was misrepresented by the seller, then customers should raise a dispute via the Revolut app.

Last year, over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Revolut customers in Ireland spent €1.5m on more than 30,000 virtual disposable cards – a year on year increase of 136% as compared to the same timeframe in 2021.

Across the industry, fraudsters stole €84.6m through frauds and scams in 2022, an increase of 8.8% on 2021. The data from BPFI also reported a 19% decrease in authorised push payments (APP fraud) transactions in 2022 compared to 2021*. David encourages even more customers to use virtual disposable cards to help with security when shopping online.

David Eborne, Head of Fraud Operations at Revolut, says: “Black Friday shoppers are regularly left deflated and out of pocket after being duped by online scammers, particularly when under time pressure to buy an item.

“At Revolut, our top priority is to help avoid online fraud to keep you and your money safe. Protected by a 2,500-strong, 24/7 fraud prevention team, in 2022 we prevented our customers from falling victim to more than €220M in potential fraud. Our sophisticated fraud detection systems constantly monitor for high risk transactions to keep you safe while you continue saving, sending and spending with ease.”

Secret Sales Expands into Ireland

Secret Sales, the leading platform and marketplace for off-price retail in fashion, sportswear and beauty, today announces its expansion into Ireland. The platform’s new market launch opens the door for brands and retailers to expand their off-price strategy to reach a potential 3.4 million Irish online consumers. 

Shoppers in Ireland will now have direct access to over £700 million worth of off-price inventory on Secretsales.com from 450 premium brands, including Dsquared2, Plein Sport, Aquascutum, Cavalli, Diesel, Asics, Hackett, Ted Baker, Superdry plus many others.   

This launch supports Secret Sales’ aggressive international strategy of establishing itself as the go-to destination for non-full price retail in all main European markets by 2025, following the latest acquisition of Spanish ecommerce leader, Dreivip.  

Chris Griffin CEO, Secret Sales: “This year, Secret Sales has seen remarkable growth, which has paved the way for us to expand into new territories. For the Irish market, there is already a strong consumer appetite for off-price fashion making this a natural expansion fit for our brands and retail partners. Careful consideration was also given to the product selection to truly appeal to an Irish audience.” 

“As we continue our international expansion path, we are committed to working collaboratively with our brand and retailer base to launch in new markets that align with their business needs. This means increasing margins, reaching new customers and protecting brand equity”, said Chris. 

Secret Sales is on track to end 2023 with growth exceeding 150% year-on-year across the entire European region. Inventory growth has also been strong, standing at +45% year-to-date and is expected to exceed +100% year-on-year following the expansion into Ireland. This represents total inventory value linked to the Secret Sales platform of over £3 billion. 

Headquartered in the UK, Secret Sales also operates in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and now Ireland. Secret Sales features over 2,500 luxury and high street brands, including Dolce & Gabbana, Puma, Kurt Geiger and Versace

Savvy Irish consumers prioritise spending where prices stay the same

The latest monthly consumer spending report by Revolut, the global financial super app, reveals that the average consumer in Ireland is spending 13.1% more, year on year.

However, Revolut data suggests that many people are prioritising shopping and activities where prices have stayed the same over the past year. Many products and services that haven’t seen average customer spend increase, or by very little, have seen the number of customers increase. Likewise, products and services that have seen average customer spending increase have seen the number of customers fall.

In travel, the average customer purchasing a cruise is spending 18.9% more, year on year, yet the number of customers buying cruises has only increased by 2.2%. In contrast, the number of consumers spending on air travel has increased by 23%, year on year, as the average customer is only spending 3% more. Furthermore, the average consumer is spending the same amount on passenger railways, suggesting that prices have stayed the same, year on year, yet the number of customers has increased by 70%.

Similarly, the average customer spend on buses stayed the same, but the number of customers increased by 6.3%, year on year, and the average customer spend on car rental dipped by 18.7%, but saw the number of customers increase by 65.4%.

Since the end of lockdown, Revolut data has consistently shown the trend of consumers prioritising their spending on activities and experiences. However, the latest Revolut data suggests that consumers in Ireland are being very savvy when it comes to this. The average consumer is spending 12% more on golf courses, suggesting that prices have increased, yet the number of customers has fallen by 7.4%, year on year.

However, average consumer spending on amusement parks, cinema tickets, spas, and gyms, has seen very little to no change, which suggests that stable prices could be part of the reason for the increase in number of customers by 13.4%, 75.5%, 28.3%, and 23.8%, year on year.

In shopping, the number of customers at sporting goods stores decreased by 12.1% as the average customer is spending 13.1% more, suggesting that prices have increased significantly. However, the average customer at a florist is paying the same amount, year on year, but florists have seen the number of customers increase by 9%, and average customer spending at antique shops is down by 5.1%, but they’ve seen the number of customers rocket up by 53.8%.

There is a clear outlier in the Revolut data. Despite an increase in prices, department stores could be having a revival. These stores often aim to make shopping more experiential, which, for the post-lockdown consumer, could explain why the number of customers has increased by 23.3%, year on year, even though the average customer is spending 10.2% more.

ABOUT REVOLUT’S DATA

With millions of customers, Revolut is able to provide ultra-fast, high-frequency anonymised and aggregated data on general consumer spending patterns. Revolut’s data is used by Governments in multiple jurisdictions for analysis and forecasting. In Ireland, Revolut data has been used in a variety of Department of Finance bulletins and was quoted in Budget 2021 forecasts. Revolut has over 2m customers in Ireland, where half of adults with a smartphone use Revolut.

Revolut spending data is set out in the tables below, and is adjusted for the growth in Revolut’s users.

Over half (53%) of Irish shoppers use more vouchers and money-off coupons

Amid rising inflation, 53% of Irish shoppers admit that they are using more vouchers and money off coupons to do their shopping as 71% of Irish consumers say they are spending more on their weekly grocery shop than they were this time last year. Shoppers often rely on reliable sources such as ProxyCoupons to access fresh vouchers and save more on essentials.

The data comes from a new consumer behaviour survey from Talon in Ireland, a leading independent Out of Home (OOH) media agency and was conducted by research partner Spark Market Research. The survey found that a third of respondents are spending €51 or more on their main weekly grocery shop, with most respondents (69%) shopping for 2-4 people in their households.

Moreover, spending is highest amongst shoppers between the ages of 45-54 (76%), with those aged between 25-34 spending the least (67%). The findings suggest that people in the older age cohort are the most financially secure and those in their late 20s and early 30s are feeling the pinch most.

A shift away from Brand Loyalty & the emerging trend of the Savvy Shopper

The study from Talon also reveals that Irish consumers are embracing discount retailers. 54% say they have already switched from their main grocery providers as the cost-of-living crisis bites. With this in mind, Ireland has become a nation of those who are willing to shop around with 63% admitting to shopping in 2-3 different grocery stores a week.

In a bid to cut back on spend, more than half (54%) of Irish shoppers surveyed admit to purchasing supermarket private-label items over brands, but those that do opt for brands are more likely to do so for alcohol (63%), hot and soft drinks (58%) and confectionery (47%) products.

One of the main highlights of the research is the emerging trend of savvy shoppers, who are focusing on planning their weekly shop. 63% of Irish shoppers surveyed say they make shopping lists – with 83% of those writing the list the day of or the day before they do their shop.

With Irish consumers being more selective about how they spend, it is an important time for advertisers to ensure they are planning their OOH advertising campaigns effectively to reach target audiences. Talon has highlighted some top tips to help brands and retailers navigate these new behaviours using Out of Home:

  • Harness the right data – Clever use of data amplifies campaign relevance, transforming Digital Out of Home advertising into a real-time marketing platform. Using data, brands can target those hard-to-reach audiences (25-34s & 18-24s) hitting them with a value message – driving immediate engagement and boosting real-time conversion.
  • Don’t be restrictive – People are exposed to a broad range of mediums every day. A strategically planned multi-format, multi-environment campaign maximises reach and ensures consumers are influenced at all stages of the consumer journey. Brands that include proximity targeting alongside broadcast awareness formats are more likely to be selected by consumers.
  • Think about the journey – There is an opportunity for brands to steal share of mind in the planning phase, and capture consumers’ attention throughout the purchasing journey. Out of Home is a great medium for driving brand awareness through its ability to reach broad audiences, cost effectively.

Caroline Decourcy, Insights Director at Talon in Ireland, said: “Irish consumers are continuing to feel the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, with many shifting their shopping habits as we become savvier and more selective in our spending. However, there are still ways for brands and retailers to reach consumers effectively. This can be particularly impactful through targeted Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising with value-based messaging that is driven by data insights to reach the right shoppers, at the right time in their purchasing journey and in the right environments.”

Penneys launches new website in Ireland with stock check feature

Penneys has today revealed its new customer website in Ireland, following its successful launch in the UK last year. Created to better connect the journey between searching online and then shopping in store, the new site features thousands of products from across Penneys’ best-selling ranges, as well as a fresh design, enhanced navigation and a brand-new feature that allows customers to check stock availability and size in their local Penneys store.  

A virtual shop window to explore what awaits in store, the new website features a much wider selection of the latest Penneys collections and everyday essentials across fashion, homeware, lifestyle, beauty and more. So, whether that’s checking out new denim fits and ranges, finding out who is behind the latest must-have collaboration or exploring what’s new in your favourite department, the new site will allow people to browse, explore and be inspired.  

As well as being able to check if an item is in stock in their local store, Penneys fans will now be able to view more product images and access more detailed product information – covering fabric and materials, and care instructions which until now would only be found on the label or packaging.  Customers will also be able to create an account, giving them access to a brand-new ‘Wishlist’ function which enables them to select and save their favourite products for later as well as giving them the ability to choose their local store for browsing on the site and sign up to a newsletter to receive all the latest Penneys news and sneak peaks of new collections. 

Damien O’Neill, Head of Penneys Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “We are delighted to launch our new website in Ireland today; we know our Penneys customers love coming into our stores, but we now want to make it easier for them to see what’s in store by showcasing a much wider selection of our products online, enabling them to browse and check stock availability in their local store before visiting. Our ranges showcase our strong commitment to value, something we know matters more than ever to our customers right now and our website will help us to shine a spotlight on the breadth of fashionable and affordable choices available in our stores across Ireland.”  

As consumers continue to grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, Penneys is continuing its commitment to offering the best value and choice in Irish retail to its customers in Ireland. The new website showcases our value offering with great trends for every occasion that can be found in our stores. From lounging at home or working out to office wear or a night on the tiles, Penneys has everyone covered with the best value on the high street. 

Last Autumn, Penneys also announced its commitment to protect prices on more than a thousand of its essential kids’ products, as it seeks to help family finances go further. Shoppers can be confident that as we start 2023, prices will continue to be held across many of its most popular kids’ lines, from underwear to t-shirts, to dresses and jeans.  

Penneys Stock Checker

Looking ahead, Primark’s new website will continue to be rolled out across its remaining 13 markets in the coming months. 

The new website can be found at: https://www.primark.com/en-ie  

  • Latest Fashion and Homewares – The biggest ever range of Penneys products will now be available to browse online.   
  • More and better images – Bringing products to life with better imagery and multiple shots for most products – flat lays and modelled.  
  • More product information – More detailed information about materials and composition, care info and instructions.   
  • Easier to find – New search features will make it even easier to research and browse the Primark ranges online.  
  • Stock Checker – The ability to check availability in store at the product/size level, with the following guide:  
    • Green – The item is in stock  
    • Orange – Stock is running low on this product  
    • Red – This item is now sold out / out of stock  
    • Grey – This item is not available in this store.  
  • Personalised content – customers will be able to create their own accounts to save their shopping preferences, receive personalised updates from Primark via email and create and save a Wishlist of their favourite products.  
  • Newsletter sign up – customers will be able to sign up to receive an email newsletter to keep up to date with all the latest Primark news.  
  • Social integration – Closer integration with its social channels to allow customers in Ireland to link directly through to the website for all product info.  

 

Samsung and Sprinklr Partner to Reinvent the Shopping Experience

Sprinklr, the unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform for modern enterprises, today announced that Sprinklr is now an official Software Partner for Samsung, an industry leader in the global display market. As a Software Partner, the Sprinklr platform is now available as an integrated app for Samsung SMART Signage and Hospitality Displays.

Leveraging Sprinklr’s platform enables Samsung to deliver content and data from more than 30 social and digital channels directly via their commercial display products. Users can update information in real time and manage 100% remotely with Samsung’s service offerings. Moreover,  Samsung is also an official reseller for Sprinklr, now offering Sprinklr capabilities directly to their customer base.

“Shoppers expect to receive a positive first impression when interacting with a brand. These rising customer expectations are prompting retailers to rely on  Samsung to create meaningful experiences for their customer base through the use of display technologies in their stores,” said Parrish Chapman, Director, Enterprise Retail Sales Key Accounts at Samsung Electronics America. “Our partnership with Sprinklr helps our retail customers meet this mission by consolidating social media content, promotions and reviews that are updated in real-time while consumers are shopping.”

Samsung and Sprinklr announced the partnership at NRF and will be showcasing how customers such as The Honest Worm and Duck Donuts are leveraging the integration and capabilities at both the Samsung and Sprinklr Booths during the show.

“Delivering real-time, customizable data and content from digital channels to consumers will help retailers revolutionize the shopping experience,” said Doug Balut, Senior Vice President of Global Alliances, Sprinklr. “By pairing Sprinklr’s Unified-CXM platform with the industry-leading digital signage and displays from Samsung, companies can enhance the seamless experience of customers, differentiate their stores and brand, and drive business results.” 

To see the partnership in action during NRF, visit Samsung at booth #3657 or Sprinklr at booth #4061.

Buymie to expand outside grocery vertical with Woodie’s partnership

Woodie’s, the market leader in DIY, home and garden, today announces that it is partnering with same-day delivery platform buymie.

From October 10th, customers in South East Dublin can avail of buymie’s personal shopping services to order 20,000 DIY and home improvement products from their nearest Woodie’s store and receive their shopping to their doorstep in as little as two hours.

The new service named “Woodie’s powered by buymie” emulates the successful and extended UK trial “Asda Express powered by buymie” in Leeds and Bristol where buymie has integrated into the leading retailer’s broad offering of delivery options.

The customised Woodie’s app was designed by buymie in partnership with the Woodie’s team,  which will see the retailer leverage the innovative routing and delivery capabilities of buymie, as well as its dedicated network of independent personal shoppers. It makes them the first retailer in Ireland to access buymie’s newest platform enterprise technology.

The new Woodie’s powered by buymie app will be available in both app stores from mid October. In addition, existing buymie app shoppers will have the ability to shop Woodie’s extensive product catalogue via the buymie app.

The pilot will initially see shopping services being provided exclusively in South East Dublin, with a view to expanding nationally soon after.

Items will be picked and packed from the shelves by a dedicated team in Woodie’s and buymie personal shoppers will deliver the order at the selected time or in as little as two hours.  buymie’s delivery services will cater for small to medium-sized products such as paint, tools, accessories and seasonal lines.

Woodie’s is 100% Irish owned and the market leader for DIY, home and garden. They offer an extensive range of paint, DIY tools, gardening, homewares and seasonal products.

The partnership is the ‘first of its kind’ for buymie as it expands its personal, same-day service into a new vertical while maintaining its commitment to facilitating efficient and sustainable personal shopping services to time-poor individuals and families.

Suzanne Quinn, Woodie’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:

Our online business has seen rapid growth in recent years and this partnership allows us to further build and grow our omnichannel proposition, keeping ease and expertise at our core. This partnership with buymie is an important step for us as we continue to find new ways to help our customers shop the way that suits them.

Speaking about the partnership, Devan Hughes, CEO & Co-Founder of buymie said: “We have all run out of paint during a project and done the run to Woodie’s in our overalls! We are thrilled to launch this trial with a household brand like Woodie’s who is keen to expand the same-day delivery offering to Woodie’s and buymie customers. This trial demonstrates buymie’s wider ambition to bring the same-day, delivery model outside of the traditional grocery shopping space and to other areas in the wider retail sphere while continuing our commitment in delighting time-poor individuals”.

Founded in 2016, buymie is a leading player in the rapidly evolving same day grocery delivery market. The business has expanded to a team of 70+ with a network of over 400 personal shoppers to meet the increasing demand for grocery home delivery, a trend which has accelerated dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic.

By using local personal shoppers picking from local stores, the buymie delivery service has been delighting time-poor customers in Ireland and the UK. Customers are able to note specific preferences on their orders and can opt-in for a call from their shopper in-store if items are out of stock. Unlike traditional eCommerce solutions, buymie can deliver on the same day and can fulfil orders in as little as 1-hour.

buymie works closely with official Irish retail partners Dunnes Stores and Lidl. The new partnership with Woodies will see buymie branch outside the traditional grocery space and into alternative areas of retail for the first time.

Consumers who are interested in getting their shopping delivered through buymie can download the buymie app for either iOS or Android devices.

45% of Irish consumers expect to spend more money during the World Cup 2022

45% of Irish consumers expect to spend more money during the World Cup 2022, as revealed in new consumer research of 250 Irish respondents aged 18+ conducted by Talon Ireland and Bounce Insights.

Ireland is a nation of football enthusiasts, with football being the second most-watched sport. Despite not competing in the tournament, Talon Ireland expects to see increased engagement and movement from this audience profile.

The consumer behaviour study identifies two viewing opportunities – In home viewership and Out-of-Home viewership. 50% of respondents will be watching the matches at home. 27% planning to watch the matches in the pub and 11% of those surveyed are unsure of their plans yet, only knowing that they will be watching with friends – providing an opportunity to connect.

Out-of-Home Viewership: Targeting Opportunities

Data from Talon Ireland and Bounce Insights shows that Irish consumers are planning to walk (34%), drive (22%), taxi (17%), bus or DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) (17%) to watch the game, this highlights huge opportunities for Out-of-home (OOH) advertising. With most matches kicking off around the afternoon time, there is further opportunity for brands to capitalise on dynamic digital Out-of-Home (OOH) as brands can build up excitement and hype in the morning and target consumers who are out and about before the games begin.

In-Home Viewership: Targeting Opportunities

Irish fans plan on spending more on food and drink to elevate their In-home experiences. This year, given the tournament timing, there are likely to be more spontaneous gatherings than normal, all accompanied by food and drink. According to the data, snacks (66%) and beer (54%) are the items at the top of everyone’s list, creating a huge revenue opportunity for brands in this sector. Not to mention pizza (46%), crisps (45%), wine (22%), Chinese (18%), spirits (16%) and Indian (5%).

Although reports state that Irish consumers plan on cutting spending due to Inflation concerns, this new data reveals that the impact of the World Cup on consumer spending is still massive, especially given that this year’s tournament aligns with Christmas. 45% of respondents have admitted that they will be spending more money during the World Cup, with 47% unsure of the amount they will be spending and only a small minority (9%) saying they will be spending less.

Aoife Hudson, Deputy Managing Director at Talon Ireland, said: “With the world’s most anticipated sporting event of 2022 kicking off in November this year, and the final game set to take place just a week before Christmas, the advertising sector is gearing itself up for a very busy Q4. Without a doubt brands and advertisers need to put their best creative foot forward and tackle this quarter head-on. And Out-of-Home advertising (OOH) is the ultimate creative canvas for brands to capitalise on consumer interest for this once in four-year opportunity.”

With anticipation building, now is a critical time for brands to start planning their Out-of-Home (OOH) campaigns and gain that competitive advantage against their competitors. Talon Ireland has highlighted a few tips for advertisers to remember when planning World Cup campaigns:

  1. Preliminary planning. The timing of the FIFA World Cup tournament is a first for many. It begins on the 21st of November right through to the 18th of December which brings us right up to Christmas week. Traditionally it is the busiest time of year for advertising, however, this year even more so, putting strain on inventory availability.
  2. Be creative. Creativity is one of the most powerful weapons under a marketer’s control. There are countless studies to prove that creative Out-of-Home campaigns increase effectiveness. In this digital era, if your creative is compelling enough, people will do the amplification for you.
  3. Multi-environment approach. Growing investment, acceleration in digital and increased innovation means Out-of-Home formats can help your brand capture the full attention of the consumer through a multi-environment approach. Our research gave us insight into where spectators will be watching these games. Your campaign can be built into each environment they visit, from the moment they leave their house right through to their final destination.

What Is an ASP.NET Shopping Cart and What Are the Benefits?

Online businesses have multiplied, with up to 80% of today’s customers preferring to shop online. Having an online presence as a business is no longer a luxury but an important strategy to help you keep up with the high competition right now. With online shopping, customers are guaranteed an easy way to shop without having to visit stores physically. Online shopping has paved the way for the creation of different websites that have helped link up most brands together in one area to make shopping much easier. 

A shopping cart is an essential part of every online business. It is a tool that helps customers select and reserve their products while shopping. It acts like a traditional physical shopping cart, but in this case, it is more advanced. You can easily remove and enter new products without the cart getting filled. 

To learn more about this interesting topic, here is an introduction to using an ASP.NET shopping cart for your online business. 

Features of an ASP.NET Shopping Cart 

There are various features of an ASP.NET shopping cart. They include the following. 

  • Search filters – An ASP.NET shopping cart is backed up with strong search filters that make it easier for customers to identify relevant items and narrow them down to their desired products in a span of seconds. 
  • Mobile-friendliness – Most people today spend hours on their mobile phones, either on social media or making purchases online. Therefore, to prosper in this competitive market, you need to make use of mobile-friendly ecommerce tools. Virto Commerce provides ASP.NET shopping cart technology that is mobile-friendly and has made it easier for anyone to shop for products online, anywhere. 
  • Different payment methods – Statistics show that 80% of shoppers are only likely to finalize their payment if the online site they use supports their payment method. Therefore, while investing in a shopping cart, make sure it supports various payment methods. A simple example of one is the ASP.NET shopping cart, which supports various payment methods, making it easier for customers to finalize their payments. 

Benefits of Using an ASP.NET Shopping Cart

There are numerous benefits of an ASP.NET shopping cart. Here are some of the top ones.

  • Easy and simple features – An ASP.NET shopping cart comes with easy-to-use features that anyone within the business can understand. This makes it easier for your customers to use the system to store their products before purchasing them. 
  • Easy product management – Product management is an important tool in every business today. Both the customers and the sellers should have easier product management from their point of view. This makes it easier for customers to add products or delete them before making the final payment. 
  • Secure and safe – Shopping online has always presented security concerns for most people, especially when one is using a new website. But with the ASP.NET shopping cart, customers are guaranteed a safe environment to enter their credit or debit card information without having to worry about hackers. This has made it more appealing for customers to store up to twenty products in their shopping carts while waiting to make their final purchases. 
  • Easily customizable – Ecommerce sites have to be updated regularly, whether it is when changing prices, adding discounts, or so on. In this case, one has to use a shopping cart that is easily customizable to meet every customer’s needs. 

Conclusion 

The ASP.NET shopping cart has made it easier for customers to shop since it stores all their items in one place, making it more convenient for them to make purchases. This, on the other hand, has improved the overall management of an online business while creating a more organized website.