More than two thirds of retailers are now exploring secondary revenue options to boost their profitability, new research conducted by Webloyalty and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has revealed.
In a period of unprecedented pressure on retailers’ margins, the Beyond the Core report highlights how secondary – or ancillary – revenue options are becoming common practice.
In the survey of UK retailers, 67% of businesses reported that at least 1% of their revenue now comes from secondary sources, with 18% deriving at least a fifth of their turnover from non-core profit lines. Examples of secondary revenue methods include affiliate marketing, selling advertising space, cross-selling additional products and services, offering credit as well as loyalty and reward programmes.
Although secondary revenue strategies are being adopted by businesses of all sizes, it is the larger retailers that are capitalising most, with 22% of businesses earning more than £1m in turnover generating 20% or more from secondary sources. Moreover, businesses turning over £100k or less reported the use of only four different methods of secondary revenue generation, whilst those with a turnover of more than £100m reported using seven.
Guy Chiswick, Managing Director of Webloyalty, Northern Europe commented: “The retail landscape is facing one of its biggest challenges to date; remaining profitable during times of change. Threats to profitability are multiplying, from escalating delivery and fulfilment costs, the strain of handling huge returns, the cost of ecommerce investment and delivering functionality across devices. Not to mention the uncertain and unpredictable effects of Brexit.
“Our research shows that secondary revenue strategies have the potential to combat low margins. However, whilst they can be easily incorporated into retailers’ overall marketing agenda, to maximise revenue through these sources it is important they are relevant to the brand and introduced at the right stage of the customer journey.”
Rachel Lund, Head of Insight & Analytics at the BRC added: “Studies such as Beyond the core provide an important contribution to the evidence base on innovation in retail. The survey gives insight into the application of secondary revenue generation amongst UK retailers, a practice widely implemented in the airline industry when faced with a similar situation to that faced by UK retailers today – low and falling margins on core products. This report should provide food for thought for retailers of all sizes and types.”
Methodology
Webloyalty and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) conducted an online survey of 100 managers, executives and board-level executives across the UK retail industry in January 2017. Online survey experts ResearchNow were used to deliver the survey which was sent out via email to BRC members and a bespoke panel of managers, executives and board level executives across the retail in the UK. Respondents completed 19 multiple-choice questions hosted on ResearchNow’s online survey platform and results were completely anonymous.
www.brc.org.uk