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As Head of Enterprise at Zopa Bank, I work closely with retailers to help them grow through smart financial solutions. In this blog, I’ll share my key takeaways from the webinar with Katie Searles, (Managing Editor at InternetRetailing) to unpack the RetailX UK Growth 1000 Report 2024, and what I think really matters for retailers looking to stand out.
Who made the RetailX UK Growth 1000 list?
The Growth 1000 Report highlights the most exciting eCommerce and multichannel retailers in the UK, and while I won’t name all 1,000 here, a few trends stand out:
– Fashion brands lead the way, from Harvey Nichols and Chloé to Roman and Accessorize.
– Sports and leisure retailers like Helly Hansen and Craghoppers are smashing it across multiple performance metrics.
– There’s a real mix of businesses spanning homeware, DIY, automotive, gardenware, and more, showing just how diverse the market is right now.
How can retailers stand out?
With so many players in the game, the obvious question is: how do you make your brand stand out? My take? It’s easier than ever to get noticed if you do it right.
Here’s what I’ve seen working:
– Tech is a game-changer – AI tools are making it possible for one-person brands to scale fast, while platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok give brands a direct line to consumers.
– Content matters more than ever – If you’re not using social to showcase your products and engage with customers, you’re missing a trick.
– Know your audience – Speak their language, meet them where they shop, and design products that truly fit their lifestyle.
Why are Sports and Leisure retailers leading the pack?
One of the more interesting findings from the report is that sports and leisure retailers are outperforming others across all four value chains: Customer, Product, Operations, and Capital.
Why is that? My guess is that if you’re selling high-value goods, you simply have to get it right:
– Customers expect on-time delivery and top-quality products that look just as good in person as they do online.
– The cost of returns for high-ticket items is huge, so aftercare and customer service need to be top-notch.
– These brands invest in customer experience, which keeps shoppers coming back.
Payments and Finance: Giving customers more choice
Winning a sale isn’t just about great products – it’s also about making it easy for customers to pay. The Growth 1000 report found that:
– 92% of retailers link to social media to build trust
– 70% offer newsletter sign-ups to capture leads
– 53% highlight payment options on their site
But when it comes to finance, how many options are too many?
I hear this debate a lot. My view: it’s all about balance:
– Give customers choice – Cards, wallets, BNPL, and retail finance should all be available.
– Keep it simple – Don’t clutter your checkout with three different finance providers. Customers will usually just pick the one they’ve heard of.
– Finance orchestration is the future – Smart retailers are using a panel of lenders with a unified checkout experience, so the best lender is automatically selected based on conversion rates and costs.
– Demand for finance is rising – With household budgets tighter than ever, flexible payment options are becoming a deal-breaker.
Sustainability and Regulation: What merchants need to know
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore – it’s a real customer expectation. According to the ConsumerX Global Consumer Observatory 2025 survey:
– 68.1% of UK shoppers think retailers should be ecologically sustainable.
– 53% want fair workplace practices, and 28.4% strongly agree that ethical supplier standards matter.
Retailers are responding by investing in greener supply chains, ethical sourcing, and corporate social responsibility. But alongside this, regulatory pressures are growing too.
At Zopa Bank, we’re fully regulated, which means we’re always working within the strictest financial compliance guidelines. A big shift we’ve seen recently is the FCA’s Consumer Duty, which places even greater emphasis on making sure finance is fair, transparent, and in the best interests of the customer.
For retailers, that means:
– Clear and responsible finance messaging – Customers should always know what they’re signing up for.
– Compliance with financial promotions regulations – It’s not just about offering finance; it’s about communicating it in the right way.
– Working with credible lenders – Your finance provider should align with your brand values and put customer well-being first.
Watch the full webinar now
There’s plenty more we covered in the webinar – including fulfilment, returns, product recommendations, and multichannel retail success stories.
And if you’re after even more insights, download the RetailX UK Growth 1000 Report to see case studies from brands like Calendar Club, Harvey Nichols, Cartier, and Furniture 123.
For more on what we do at Zopa Bank, visit zopa.com or find me on LinkedIn.
