// Sainsbury’s predicts growth across all digital channels over the next 3 days
// 3 million customers expected to set records by shopping digitally
// Sainsbury’s SmartShop stores have quadrupled this year, reaching 525
Sainsbury’s has said its customers will be increasingly shopping online this Christmas, with December 23 set to be the biggest day of 2019.
The Big 4 grocer has predicted growth across all digital channels – online, Click & Collect and in-store SmartShop, with three million customers expected to set records by shopping digitally.
Sainsbury’s launched SmartShop in August 2018 to allow customers to scan as they shop, allowing them to skip the checkout queues.
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In April this year, Sainsbury’s put further use in SmartShop by trialling the technology in busy London convenience stores as well as launching the UK’s first ever checkout-free shop in its headquarter district in Holborn, London.
The grocer has said its SmartShop stores have quadrupled this year, reaching 525, with up to 10 per cent of customers using the app in stores to “save time”.
“Digital is a way for us to really be trying to make it more convenient for customers, whether they’re shopping online or shopping in-store, Sainsbury’s head of digital product Michele Swaine told Retail Gazette.
“Over the 12 months, SmartShop really has been the big new trend, and a huge acceleration in how people are shopping. Customers using SmartShop don’t need to be tech-savvy, it’s so simple and easy to use.”
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s said its last-minute Christmas shoppers can reply on Argos’ Fast Track delivery service to place orders right up until 1pm on the December 24 and have it delivered to their door by 10pm.
“Christmas time isn’t just about food, it’s also about those Christmas presents as well, we’re really proud of how we can help customers from an Argos perspective,” Swaine said.
This year saw Argos raking in £60 million sales through digital channels during Black Friday, with 91 per cent of customers shopping for sales from their smartphone.
“With our clothing division TU, we’re expecting a million sales over the next three days.”
“Next Christmas. We’ll have SmartShop in all stores,” Swaine said.
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