Newsletter 37

Whilst a third of retailers in 14 European countries say they would be willing to buy products online from retailers based abroad, only 8 per cent of the UK’s top retailers accept orders from outside the UK. The three top reasons emerging for this reticence are language barriers, VAT and currency issues, and lack of a viable delivery option.

These are among findings of a report by B2Advantage, a e-retail consultancy set up by Chris Pearce-Ramwell, formerly a practitioner in the business himself. the survey found that overall, 71 per cent of UK retailers have embraced the concept of European deliveries, but 54 per cent could not confirm a delivery price prior to checkout. When they did indicate prices, these tended to band around £10, £15 and £20.

The survey found that overall, 71 per cent of UK retailers have embraced the concept of European deliveries, but 54 per cent could not confirm a delivery price prior to checkout. By far the most frequently cited countries where UK retailers would delivery were France and Germany.