Retail sales stayed put this March, but online fashion ain’t sorry
Bottom line: March’s retail numbers were a dead‑stop – zero growth in both sales values and volumes. Yet, online fashion stepped into the spotlight with a solid 3.4% jump – the biggest lift among all retail categories.
March: The ticket‑less day
- Overall retail spending was flat compared to February.
- Sales volume also showed a 0 % change.
- High Street saw a mixed bag: household goods up 2.4 %, department stores down 3.8 %.
Online fashion: the shining star
- Online clothing sales surged 7.3 % in February, followed by a 3.4 % rise in March.
- Parcelhero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., called it “a splash of colour in a drab market.”
- This uptick gives e‑commerce players like ASOS a glimmer of hope even after “half‑year losses of £120 m.”
The broader online scene
- Online retail spend ticked up 0.1 % over February.
- Year‑on‑year growth of 1.7 % nudged online’s share of the UK market to 25.9 % (up from 25.8 % in February).
- The new normal? Online accounts for about 25‑26 % of all retail sales – well above the pre‑pandemic 19 %.
Retail’s future playbook
Success will come to those who master the omnichannel dance – blending brick‑and‑mortar and digital channels so customers can shop however they please.
Parcelhero’s upcoming weapon: Parcelhero Pro
- Launch in Q2 2024, designed to help retailers ship in bulk, cut costs, and outsource post‑sale support.
- Supports a “no‑heavy‑tech” approach, letting retailers stay nimble.
- Parcelhero has already outpaced competitors with a 21 % CAGR from 2019‑2022.
- Seeking £700k in initial funding for a strong market debut.
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