Online sales continue to thrive after reopening of the high street

ParcelHero predicts the end of seasonal peaks for home delivery.

ParcelHero seasonal peaks

Despite the reopening of the majority of high street stores in June, the UK courier service ParcelHero has said demand for home deliveries has now become evergreen, with seasonal peaks and troughs looking to be a thing of the past.

ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks MILT, explains: “Contrary to many analysts’ expectations, parcel deliveries and e-commerce sales have continued to climb in July even though most non-essential stores reopened on 15th June. ParcelHero has seen no sign of any decline in deliveries so far this month and is still experiencing Christmas + level volumes.”

He adds, “Online sales are booming. Growth Intelligence says over 85,000 businesses launched online during lockdown and its loosening has done little to halt demand. In fact, there is strong evidence that the reopening of many high street stores actually boosted online sales. According to the online retailers’ association IMRG/Capgemini, multichannel retailers ‘recorded the highest online growth ever’ during the week when physical retailers reopened their doors.”

This result, according to David, is not surprising given the consistent demand for online services. Indeed, A&M/Retail Economics estimates that 17.2m British consumers have made changes to the way they shop. David adds those who see the risk of Covid-19 to be very high are “almost four times more likely to have shifted their shopping habits for the long-term.”

David concludes, “At the beginning of lockdown, the front door became the front line in the fight against Covid-19. Britain’s new online shopping habit is one that most consumers, especially older shoppers who have ventured online for the first time, may be reluctant to kick any time soon.”

For ParcelHero’s latest information on every available quality courier service currently available, for both everyday senders and retailers, see its live parcel price comparison quotes here.

The July issue of Toy World is out now

The special July ‘2020 reboot’ issue of Toy World is available to read online now. 

July Toy World front coverThe July issue of Toy World magazine has a strong ‘reboot’ theme, timed to coincide with major lockdown easing and the reopening of non-essential retailers following a long, challenging three months of temporary closures and strict stay-at-home orders. Reflecting the optimism and positivity of the toy industry, the July issue features upbeat, forward-thinking views and opinion from contributors including Toy Barnhaus, Gen Media’s Jonathan Chambers, the NPD Group, Etopia’s Asha Bhalsod, Consumer Fluent’s Ruth Clement, Threepipe’s Jim Hawker and Toy World’s Rachael Simpson-Jones. In addition, we spoke to Toymaster’s Ian Edmunds about how the group is supporting its indies as they re-open their doors to customers, and caught up with a number of them in person to find out how they plan to keep consumers both safe and happy during the shopping experience.

Our substantial 2020 Reboot Feature highlights the product lines suppliers will be focusing on in the second half of the year, while our Touching Base section asked how toy companies are planning to re-energise their plans in the run-up to Christmas.

Other features include an in-depth look at Construction Toys, a category which is continuing to ride the lockdown sales wave, plus an overview of what’s new in Imaginative Play and Stationery. Lego’s Marius Lang offers readers a look at Lego’s plans for Q3 and 4, and Diaframma’s Alice Morrison provides insight into changing consumer marketing trends, and how the marketing agency can highlight brands this autumn.

To read this special 116-page issue, click here.