As spring is here, shoppers are getting their summer wardrobes ready. What methods are they using, and how are they buying? As we all know, due to the regular transformations in retail, there are far more options than popping to the shops.
Same day delivery – setting a new standard for convenience
A great place to explore is same day delivery. We know, it sounds a bit boring, but there’s so much more than meets the eye with this one. As the landscape continues to transform even more, this is a great example of how technology continues to support physical shopping and enhances them instead of replacing them. There are so many exciting and positive changes, highlighted here in smaller and slightly less glamorous ways.
Same day delivery is a huge peak in modern shopping. While once, next day delivery set the tone for how convenient, exciting, and useful online shopping is, same day delivery outdoes this by delivering your goods almost as soon as you order it. This also allowed for the expansion of short life goods such as fresh food, medicine, etc.
While you can also get your purchases immediately in a physical store, there are a lot of additional factors that take away from the convenience of getting something same day in person. This includes opening times, travel, lots of walking, carrying bags, not finding exact items you want/need. Online shopping means you can search and find exactly what you want without these factors, and you can still get your items delivered as soon as the next day. In some cases, same day delivery requires a physical space, blending the best of both worlds.
As many as 68% of shoppers are more likely to shop online if offered same-day delivery. While there is a way to shop online and get same day delivery, it can also work through micro-fulfilment centres, which in some cases can be inside the actual store. Shops can utilise their space to cater to the speedy shopper who is just picking something up, to create a memorable brand experience, all while having a physical store space for regular customers.
Expected to continue to grow by 10.20% between 2025 and 2034, same day delivery will transform further. More transformations will include tracking, customisation, and eco-friendly alternatives. It’s an exciting space, so keep an eye out!
Click and collect
Just to recap – ‘click and collect’ is a term that means shoppers order online and then pick up at their local stores. This removes the risk of expensive items getting damaged, lost, or stolen in the delivery process. Brands such as Apple have made this process even more convenient by introducing a ‘speedy collect’ which allows for a collection in as little as 2 hours. Shoppers have peace of mind and can still visit a physical store without the same undesirable factors. It also allows for a more personalised visit compared to the same day delivery, as shoppers can choose the day and sometimes time when they want to pick up.
A huge 97% of retailers have reported increased revenue due to click-and-collect, this is a result of more footfall when shoppers are coming to pick up their orders. It’s also a great opportunity to show shoppers a memorable brand experience.
A store with a click and collect will typically have a micro-fulfilment store, as this allows for a space to keep products that shoppers can collect quickly and easily.
Micro-fulfilment
A micro-fulfilment store is interesting, being different to a fulfilment centre in both looks and services. Where a fulfilment centre will be a huge warehouse entirely dedicated to fulfilling lots of orders, a micro-fulfilment store looks closer to a regular store that can fulfil smaller orders.
A great example of a micro-fulfilment store is Argos in supermarkets such as Sainsburys. You are greeted with a clear sign its Argos with branding, different colours, and a different staff uniform. Having this separation creates a feel of entering a new store, and the micro fulfilment area means shoppers can buy immediately or other shoppers can order for same day delivery, covering both physical and online.
Delivery services
Finally, partnering with delivery services is no longer restricted to just food. We saw delivery companies such as Deliveroo branch out to other industries such as beauty, grocery, electronics, toys, and even DIY. Utilising delivery for different items opens an entirely new stream of customers for these brands.
Not only does this mean physical shops have another stream of income to help stay open but also creates brand awareness for when shoppers are interested in visiting these stores in person. Deliveroo themselves has said that this is just the start, and they aim to continuously grow.
“The Deliveroo platform is more powerful than ever, and we remain responsive to the external environment while continuing to optimise our proposition for consumers, riders and merchants. We operate across attractive verticals, in large, underpenetrated markets, and it’s clear that there is a lot of room for growth in our industry.” – Deliveroo
At Kesslers London, we’re excited to see where this goes! We hope it leads to some brand collaboration pop ups!
It’s easy to forget how far these shopping experiences have come so quickly, but there are huge changes that allow for inspiring transformations to really shine.
How Kesslers London can help
Our passion for retail and the high street means we are always ahead of the curve. We know how to design exciting and innovative spaces that fit both flashy trends and important customer facing elements. Contact the team today for more.