Description
Providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date information and analysis of the UK Retail Brand Overview market, including the behaviours, preferences and habits of the consumer.
This report addresses the current UK retail market overview, including retail trends in the UK and the impact of COVID-19 on retailers.
National lockdowns and social distancing measures hit many non-essential retailers hard, especially those retailers without a pre-existing online presence of delivery logistics. Department stores and fashion retailers also saw an immediate decline in consumer confidence, with many wanting to preserve or add to their savings by cutting back on non-essential spending.
While the shift towards ecommerce represents a long-term phenomenon, the in-store shopping experience is hard to replicate via digital channels. As the proportion of consumers who try to limit the time they spend in-store gradually drops, retailers’ physical spaces can become a powerful tool to reach and appeal to new audiences.
The economic aftereffects of the pandemic have led consumers to put particular emphasis on value. Retailers that develop a more holistic understanding of value that takes into account consumer demand for convenience, ethical credentials and guidance towards positive behavioural change are better placed to resonate across demographics.
Read on to discover more details or take a look at all of our UK Retail market research.
Quickly understand
- The impact of COVID-19 on retailers and how it will impact on consumers’ expectations around retailers.
- How leading retailers score on metrics such us usage, trust, satisfaction, likely recommendation and perceived differentiation.
- The top scoring brands for particular personality traits, including value, ethicality, innovation, and customer service.
- Retailers particularly noted for online service.
- Impact of COVID-19 on retailers.
- UK retail market overview.
Covered in this report
Brands: Boots, Marks and Spencer (M&S), Clarks, Hotter, John Lewis, Amazon, IKEA, B&Q, Specsavers, Dunelm, Joules, Astrid & Miyu, Pandora, eBay, Tiffany & Co., Clarks, Lakeland, The Body Shop, Lush, Co-op Food, Seasalt, Swarovski, Primark, Card Factory, Superdrug, Wilko, Savers, Specsavers, Home Bargains, Poundland, Aldi, Shein, Argos, Debenhams, Simply Be, Missguided, Screwfix, Tesco.
Expert analysis from a specialist in the field
This report, written by Emilia Tognacchini, a leading analyst in the Retail sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
The coronavirus outbreak and related challenges such as store closures and social distancing measures urged both retailers and consumers to approach shopping with new eyes. While the convenience of ecommerce will continue to resonate with consumers in the longer run, the in-store shopping experience will again be in the spotlight. This presents the opportunity for retailers to become more inventive with in-store initiatives and develop retail spaces not only dedicated to shopping but also to bonding with local areas and promoting a sense of community.
Emilia Tognacchini
Brand and Household Care Analyst
Table of Contents
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Overview
- Key issues covered in this Report
- COVID-19: market context
- Economic and other assumptions
- Products covered in this Report
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Executive Summary
- Impact of COVID-19 on retailers
- Figure 1: Short-, medium- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on retail, 27 September 2021
- Brand leaders
- Amazon dominates the retail landscape
- Figure 2: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by usage in the last 12 months, 2017-21
- Store presence impacts on perceptions of trust
- Figure 3: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that I trust”, 2017-21
- Loyalty schemes boost commitment
- Figure 4: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by commitment (net of “I prefer this retailer over other” and “It is a favourite retailer”), 2017-21
- Consumers most likely to recommend brands that tap into value
- Figure 5: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by likely recommendation, 2017-21
- Brand reputation
- BPC retailers stand out for ethicality
- Figure 6: Top ranking od brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “Ethical”, 2017-21
- Marks & Spencer provides excellent customer service
- Figure 7: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that has great customer service”, 2017-21
- IKEA is synonymous with innovation
- Figure 8: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that is innovative”, 2017-21
- John Lewis extends own-label brand Anyday
- Figure 9: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that is worth paying more for”, 2017-21
- Value and price often but not always linked
- Figure 10: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that offers good value”, 2017-21
- Amazon becomes physical with food
- Figure 11: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that provides great online service”, 2017-21
- Impact of COVID-19 on retailers
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Retailers
- The COVID-19 pandemic redesigns shopping habits
- Figure 12: Short-, medium- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on retail, 2021
- COVID-19 puts value in the spotlight…
- Figure 13: Proportion of consumers cutting back on non-essential spending, 2020-21
- …but it is not all about money
- Figure 14: Change in priority given to the environment since the COVID-19/coronavirus outbreak, 2021
- Retailers aim to prevent avoidable waste
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- Figure 15: Tesco and OLIO team up to reduce food waste, 2021
- Retailers invest in tech to reach consumers at home
- Figure 16: Proportion of consumers trying to limit the time they spend in-store and shopping more online, 2020-21
- In-store shopping comes back into fashion
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- Figure 17: Westfield announces global music event featuring Lady Gaga, 2021
- It is never too early for Christmas
- The COVID-19 pandemic redesigns shopping habits
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Brand Leaders – Key Takeaways
- Amazon dominates the retail landscape
- Decontextualize your offerings to stand out
- Consumers recommend retailers that tap into value
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Usage
- Amazon dominates the retail landscape
- Figure 18: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by overall usage, 2017-21
- Boots boosts its online presence
- Purchases of essential good lead usage of retailers
- Figure 19: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by usage in the last 12 months, 2017-21
- Amazon dominates the retail landscape
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Trust
- Heritage impacts on trust
- Figure 20: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that I trust”, 2017-21
- Store presence impacts on perceptions of trust
- Homebase creates new job opportunities for young people
- Heritage impacts on trust
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Preference
- Amazon’s vast offering boosts brand loyalty
- Figure 21: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by commitment (net of “I prefer this retailer over other” and “It is a favourite retailer”), 2017-21
- Boots uses tailored promotions to appeal to different consumer profiles
- Amazon’s vast offering boosts brand loyalty
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Differentiation
- Amazon’s constantly evolving business strategy stands out
- Figure 22: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by differentiation (net of It is somewhat different from others” and “It is a unique retailer”, 2017-21
- Harrods’ creativity can inspire grocery retailers
- Like IKEA, decontextualize your offerings to stand out
- Amazon’s constantly evolving business strategy stands out
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Satisfaction and Recommendation
- Premium brands score high on satisfaction
- Figure 23: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by positive endorsement (net of “Good” and “Excellent” reviews), 2017-21
- Consumers recommend retailers that tap into value
- Figure 24: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by likely recommendation, 2017-21
- Premium brands score high on satisfaction
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Brand Reputation – Key Takeaways
- Innovation is green
- Heritage luxury brands stand out for exclusiveness
- Perceptions of value interlace with ethics
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Ethicality
- BPC retailers stand out for ethicality
- Figure 25: Top ranking od brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “Ethical”, 2017-21
- Co-op Food makes sustainable/ethical eating more accessible
- Figure 26: Co-op Food announced a price cut on its GRO plant-based range, 2021
- BPC retailers stand out for ethicality
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Customer Service
- Marks & Spencer provides excellent customer service
- Figure 27: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that has great customer service”, 2017-21
- Specsavers reaches consumers at home
- John Lewis improves the remote shopping experience
- Figure 28: To ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “Welcoming”, 2017-21
- Marks & Spencer provides excellent customer service
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Innovation
- IKEA is synonymous of innovation
- Figure 29: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that is innovative”, 2017-21
- Dr. Martens stays up with the times
- Figure 30: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “Cutting edge”, 2017-21
- IKEA is synonymous of innovation
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Premium and Prestige
- Heritage luxury brands stand out for exclusiveness
- Figure 31: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “Exclusive”, 2017-21
- M&S Simply Food is worth paying more for
- Figure 32: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that is worth paying more for”, 2017-21
- John Lewis extends own-label brand Anyday
- Heritage luxury brands stand out for exclusiveness
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Value
- Value and price often but not always linked
- Figure 33: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that offers good value”, 2017-21
- Perceptions of value interlace with ethics
- Value and price often but not always linked
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Online Service
- Amazon: the online retailer par excellence…
- Figure 34: Top ranking of brands operating in the retail sector, by agreement with “A retailer that provides great online service”, 2017-21
- …but there still space for competition
- Amazon becomes physical with food
- Amazon: the online retailer par excellence…
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Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
- Abbreviations
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Appendix – Brands Covered
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