Soar in online shopping
How the pandemic has caused a perfect storm for online retail – and why it’s set to continue
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7 Feb 2021, 8:00
FOR a good portion of the last year, online has been the only option for many of us trying to buy anything beyond our grocery essentials.
The resulting surge in demand for digital shopping has seen soaring sales for international online giants like Amazon, Zalando, Otto, Boohoo and Asos.
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Joachim Goyvaerts, director of Benelux and Ireland for PayPal
But there have also been opportunities for smaller, more local retailers that have been able to tap into this increased online demand and a growing sentiment towards supporting local – and often struggling – businesses.
There are hopes that a Brexit trade deal can be struck by Christmas, although EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has suggested talks could go beyond January 1.
The next 48 hours are seen as crucial if a deal is to be reached and ratified by the end of the year in a bid to avert hugely damaging economic consequences for both sides.
The Government here still believes an agreement can be reached before Christmas with a source saying: “That’s the window to get this done.”
There are concerns that if the talks go into next week and down to the wire as the end of the Brexit transition period looms on December 31 that there could be “real problems”.
Updated / Tuesday, 22 Dec 2020
15:04
Retail Excellence wants clarification on the Government s plans for the deferral of Christmas sales
Business group Ibec said that the latest Covid restrictions, whilst devastating, were proportionate to the challenges which the country now faces.
Ibec s chief executive Danny McCoy said that many businesses will suffer further loss and distress as a result of the latest Covid restrictions.
But given the recent Covid developments internationally and developing on the island, the speed and intensity of the response was proportionate, Mr McCoy added. We will continue to work with Government to explore how supports to the worst impacted sectors can be extended and calibrated, the Ibec CEO said.