From John Lewis investing big in AI shopping, to consumers becoming increasingly sceptical of AI slop in brands’ marketing efforts and HIVED simplifying eco deliveries for online SMEs, what’s been making waves in retail this week?
John Lewis doubles down on AI-led shopping
John Lewis has announced it will expand into new retail channels with a “significant” investment into AI-powered purchasing, as well as launching on TikTok Shop to offer live shopping ahead of Mother’s Day.
It said later this year customers will be able to transact and purchase items via AI platforms within a few clicks, as part of the retailer’s broader £800million multi-year digital transformation programme.
“Our customers are already using AI to find products they love,” Dom McBrien, Chief Digital and Omnichannel Officer at John Lewis, commented. “These investments mean we are right there when customers are looking for ideas.”
The retailer has also launched on TikTok Shop, with an initial 90-day pilot timed to coincide with Mother’s Day across its beauty edits and gifting ranges, making them instantly shoppable through the platform.
Soggy February dampens High Street footfall
Wet weather was blamed for keeping shoppers home last month, as footfall dipped -4.7% year-on-year after one of the wettest Februarys on record, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic figures.
For the four weeks spanning 01 – 28 Feb 2026, total shopper traffic fell -0.6% on January. Shopping centres saw the biggest decline compared to 2024, down -5.5% year-on-year, followed by High Streets (-5.4%).
“February proved a more challenging month for UK retail, with footfall slipping further into decline and reversing the tentative progress seen in January,” said Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic.
But Sumpter remained upbeat, adding there are “still reasons to look forward,” pointing towards seasonal Mother’s Day opportunities and other Spring shopping occasions.
Consumers call out ‘AI slop’ in brand marketing
Despite rapid AI adoption and increasing trust of the technology among consumers, a growing number of UK shoppers are noticing AI shortcuts across brand marketing, a new study by Klaviyo reveals.
The poll shows 62% of UK consumers currently use AI at least once a week, with 29% having purchased a product recommended by the technology in the past six months.
However, shoppers are becoming more aware of where, when and how AI is being used. This rising scrutiny saw 76% notice low-quality ‘AI slop’ being used by retailers, with 50% recognising AI content on social media and 32% spotting it in online adverts.
“The opportunity isn’t simply to adopt AI,” Klaviyo’s Jamie Domenici said, adding that “brands must calibrate how they use it based on their customers’ trust levels.”
RTS Press Day: Customer-centricity trumps AI hype
The retail sector is no stranger to reinvention, and that constant state of evolution – and the innovation required to support it – was central to discussions among senior brand leaders at the 2026 Retail Technology Show (RTS) Press Day.
Held in central London last week, the 2026 RTS Press Day brought together leaders from High Street stalwarts, including River Island and Pentland Brands, alongside fashion marketplace Goddiva, luxury skincare brand Noble Panacea and hospitality operator Azzurri Group, the company behind casual dining brands including ASK Italian and Zizzi. They discussed:
- Beyond ‘shiny tech’ and back to customer-centricity
- The need for “grounded AI” – not hype
- Speed is of the essence when its comes to AI-led value
- The future of the store in driving experience over innovation
Read the full session write up: RTS Press Day 2026: Why customer insight, not AI hype, will define retail’s long-term winners.
Frette taps Proximity to power global clienteling
Italian luxury home furnishings brand, Frette, has deployed Proximity’s global clienteling solution across its international store network, going live in key markets including the UK, U.S., France and Italy.
Partnering with Proximity, Frette will create a single customer view, giving its teams a better understanding of each shopper’s relationship and history with the brand – from how often they shop to how much they typically spend – to help conversations feel more informed.
“By enhancing our clienteling capabilities, we are elevating the personalised service our clients expect, enabling more seamless and meaningful interactions both in-store and online,” said Cristiano Quieti, Group Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer at Frette.
Guest Post | Moving parcel lockers beyond convenience
Parcel lockers have long been associated with one primary benefit: convenience. But as retail evolves, lockers are proving to be far more than a functional add-on to fulfilment, says Parcel Pending by Quadient’s Lee Graham.
In our latest guest post, he explores how lockers are moving beyond convenience and into experience, outlining:
📦 The evolving role of lockers in driving ROI
👣 Creating new footfall and attachment drivers with PUDO locations
🔐 From parcel pick-up to platforms for new services
💞 Dialling up loyalty within OOHO delivery offerings
Read the full article 👉 Guest Post | Parcel Pending by Quadient’s Lee Graham on moving past locker convenience.
HIVED launches new SME for simpler ecommerce logistics
Electric parcel delivery company, HIVED, has announced the launch of HIVED One, a new fulfilment service for SMEs.
Built specifically for online businesses and ecommerce retailers, HIVED One simplifies the delivery process for SMEs, allowing them to save time, improve customer experience and scale growth.
HIVED One aims to reduce this complexity for SMEs by providing the physical infrastructure to collect all a small business’ UK orders in one go, and a digital platform to track all their UK parcels in one place.
“Our system is streamlined to save our customers time, while offering transparent rates and total visibility on their parcels so they can focus on delivering the best service to their own customers,” commented Mathias Krieger, HIVED’s Co-Founder.
The Retail Recap is brought to you in partnership with Flagship PR, a specialist comms agency that delivers pioneering PR for retail tech.
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