Retail Navigator AnalysiseBay (Financials)
eBay delivered a 3.2% rise in group sales to $10.1bn (£8.1bn) for the year ending 31 December 2023 (FY2023). eBay chief executive Jamie Iannone said “Last year, we made significant progress toward our vision to reinvent the future of ecommerce for enthusiasts.”
Retail Navigator AnalysiseBay (SWOT)
eBay has moved beyond its original business model and is now so much more than an auction site for used and discounted goods. It has become a viable sales channel for mainstream retailers such as Tesco and Argos, and around 75% of products are now sold at fixed price rather than via auction.
Retail Navigator AnalysiseBay (Strategy)
eBay UK removes seller fees across nearly all its categories, “designed to give buyers access to greater breadth and depth of inventory while creating a simplified and streamlined experience for sellers.”
Retail Navigator AnalysiseBay (People)
Jamie Iannone became chief executive of eBay in April 2020. He joined from Walmart, where he most recently served as chief operating officer of Walmart ecommerce. eBay UK is managed by Eve Williams.
Retail Navigator AnalysisArgos (SWOT)
Argos is well-established as one of the UK’s leading ecommerce retailers. Sainsbury’s and Argos are clearly a good fit as the grocer strives to boost its multichannel credentials. By using excess space for concessions and collection points in Sainsbury’s supermarkets, it stands to reason that Argos’ standalone store network can be reduced with a significant reduction in operating costs.
Retail Navigator AnalysisNot On The High Street (SWOT)
The business is set to receive a boost in investment following its acquisition by US private equity firm Great Hill partners from early 2021. Management says it will use its new backing to expand the range of products sold on its marketplace and further deepen its reach into the small business community in the UK.
Retail Navigator AnalysisMonsoon Accessorize (Strategy)
High-street retailer Monsoon Accessorize is forging ahead with a strategy to reinvigorate its business post a difficult period which resulted in a CVA in 2019.
Retail Navigator AnalysisRiver Island (SWOT)
River Island has nationwide coverage and now operates more than 20 superstores in key locations. The company also has a high profile online and on social media, which has been heightening brand awareness.
Retail Navigator AnalysisDecathlon (Financials)
Decathlon heralded a “transformative year” with sales for the year ending 31 December 2023 (FY2023) rising 1.2% to €15.6bn (£13.6bn) or 4.4% in constant currency.
Retail Navigator AnalysisAO (Financials)
AO’s renewed focus on profitability continued to pay off in the year to end-March 2024 (FY2023). The electricals specialist reported “good progress” in its profit performance despite a decline in sales. Total sales fell 8.7% year on year to £1,039.3m in FY2023, from £1,138.5m the previous year, which management said was “as expected following decisive actions taken to remove non-core channels and loss-making sales”. Sales returned to growth in the fourth quarter of the year. Pre-tax profits grew threefold to £34.3m in FY2023, from £7.6m the year before, reflecting a 3.3% margin, which management said marked “good progress on profit performance” amid the retailer’s “strategic pivot” to concentrate on profit and cash generation.