Monthly Archives: January 2010

39% of UK online retailers have free delivery over certain order value

The 2010 Online Retail Delivery Report, sponsored by MetaPack, is now available and so I thought I would write a few posts drilling down on certain aspects of the research.
Today I’m looking at retailers that offer free delivery if the order is over a certain value. 39% of the retailers in our research offered such a thing this [...]

2010 Online Retail Delivery Report – out now!

Our 2010 Online Retail Delivery Report, sponsored by MetaPack, was released to the world on Thursday. I noticed someone on Twitter using the word ‘comprehensive’ to describe it and it truly is – 112 pages and enough stats to keep anyone working in e-commerce entertained for hours.
The report will cost £249 from February but we’ve decided to make it free to download [...]

Do-it-yourself usability testing – great new book

I’ve just finished reading Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug, the web usability guru who wrote the celebrated Don’t Make Me Think.
Rocket Surgery Made Easy is a very practical, hands-on guide for anyone interested in running usability tests on their websites. It’s also very short - it only took me 3 hours - so I recommend you read it. However, to try and give [...]

Robert Dyas – good example of instore web kiosk

I was really pleased to see this web kiosk in the new Robert Dyas shop that has opened near me in Sheen.
A few years ago I had a really depressing experience in Robert Dyas. We were putting them to the test for our Online Delivery Report in 2006 and I tried to take something bought online back [...]

Christmas online sales in the UK – a round-up

Marks & Spencer – online sales were up 32% in the 13 weeks to 26 December, although total group sales were only up 2.6% according to their trading statement.
Next – their trading statement shows that Next Directory sales were up 6.8% for the 22 weeks til Christmas Eve, with total sales up 4.6%.
Shop Direct Group – [...]

TK Maxx Your Man – nice retail viral marketing idea

This made us laugh on a cold and miserable morning – TK Maxx have come up with a viral marketing idea, where women are encouraged to upload a photo of their husband or partner and see them come to life as a catwalk model.
We put it to the test using our very own Snow Valley action [...]