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eCommerce has been one of the biggest revolutions that have reshaped the retail industry in the UK and, in fact, around the world as well. While online shopping was already trending in the years preceding the pandemic, the post-2020 period accelerated its growth.
World over, eCommerce has experienced a growth in the monthly unique visitors as shoppers have become more aware of the digitality of things. Consumerism is on the rise, and the directly proportional upward jump in the eCommerce numbers is testimony to that fact.
In this flurry of online shopping, some eCommerce companies have championed the skill of gaining and retaining more customers (and thereby, sales) by providing extremely convenient payment options—one of which is Apple Pay.
Let’s look at the top eCommerce companies using Apple Pay in the UK.
Founder: Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan
Founding Year: 2012
Location: Solihull, West Midland, UK
Gymshark's Monthly Unique Visitors: 1,605,484
Gymshark's Web Sales: $250M - $500M
Gymshark's Order Volume: >50,000
Gymshark revolutionized the fitness and exercise landscape in the UK when the pandemic-induced lockdowns struck, by offering free at-home workout sessions through their app.
The move made it rise rapidly to the top ranks, and today the company stands at a valuation of $1.3B (£1B). Its eCommerce store has left its competitors behind in sports clothing and apparel, with global net sales amounting to almost $500M.
The brand has Apple Pay incorporated into all its payment mechanisms, making it easier for consumers to shop.
Founder: Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer
Founding Year: 1884
Location: London, Greater London, UK
M&S's Monthly Unique Visitors: 2,542,441
M&S's Web Sales: $1B - $5B
M&S's Order Volume: >50,000
Marks and Spencer is an iconic fashion/food brand that has made its presence known in the global market as much as it has in the UK. The chain has over 900 stores in the UK itself, in addition to another 600+ that are dedicated to its F&B line.
Needless to say, its eCommerce operations are well-supported, with Apple Pay as one of the payment methods available to consumers.
Founder: Brian and Edward Toft
Founding Year: 1986
Location: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, UK
Hanon's Monthly Unique Visitors: 52,768
Hanon's Web Sales: $250M - $500M
Hanon's Order Volume: >50,000
Hanon is a fashion apparel brand in the UK that began by taking inspiration from skateboarding and streetwear. The brand focuses on casual, vivid, athleisure styles that have a premium look and feel.
Most of its market is concentrated in the UK. Hanon Shop also provides Apple Pay as a convenient checkout option for its consumers.
Founder: Klaus Martens and Herbert Funck
Founding Year: 1947
Location: Wollaston, Northamptonshire, UK
Dr. Martens' Monthly Unique Visitors: 537,433
Dr. Martens' Web Sales: $250M - $500M
Dr. Martens' Order Volume: 10,000 to 50,000
Doc Martens or DMs are other popular monikers of Dr. Martens, a fashion giant that originally began as a humble shoemaker of work-wear boots. Since then, it has come a long way, and now offers several categories of footwear for men, women, and kids.
Customers have the facility to pay using Apple Pay while shopping with Dr. Martens.
Founder: John Wardle and David Makin
Founding Year: 1983
Location: Bury, Lancashire, UK
JD Sports' Monthly Unique Visitors: 1,835,869
JD sports has long been considered a specialist brand in the UK catering to the fashionable sports and casual wear categories.
This brand has global sales channels panning as far and wide as Indonesia, South Korea, and Sweden. Apple Pay is supported at all JD Sports eCommerce stores.
Founder: Chloe Ting
Founding Year: 2011
Location: UK
Chloe Ting's Monthly Unique Visitors: 476,665
Chloe Ting's Web Sales: $1B - $5B
Chloe Ting is a fitness influencer based in Australia and owns a brand with the same name, which is making a big splash in the fitness apparel and food industry in the UK.
Her YouTube channel has over 22M subscribers today, and she has a net worth of $7.35M (£5.64M). Customers can shop for merchandise on Chloe Ting's website using Apple Pay.
Founder: Held by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Founding Year: in 1886 as "Dial Square"
Location: UK
Arsenal's Monthly Unique Visitors: 476,665
Arsenal's Web Sales: $100M - $250M
The famed football club, Arsenal, has its branded merchandise up for grabs on its official store online. The football club is owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which is based in America.
According to the data published on Digicomica, Arsenal FC’s eCommerce operations that went live in 2016 have helped the brand boost its sales by 42% and mobile transactions by 86%.
Apple Pay has enabled consumers to conveniently shop for fan merchandise on Arsenal's online stores.
Founder: CEO - Ed Kamm
Founding Year: 2008
Location: UK
Shell Energy's Monthly Unique Visitors: 346,934
Shell Energy's Web Sales: $50M - $100M
Shell Energy is the consumer gas, electricity, and broadband operations arm of Shell, a well-known oil and gas giant. It has launched its own online shops to sell energy-efficient lighting and implements other home-improvement energy-efficient electronics.
The company currently has Ed Kamm as its CEO. It was founded by Mark Daeche, Darren Braham, and Marcus Citron. Shell Energy supports payments through Apple Pay on its online store.
Founder: Ralph Lauren
Founding Year: 1967
Location: UK
Ralph Lauren's Monthly Unique Visitors: 400,805
Ralph Lauren's Web Sales: $500M - $1B
Ralph Lauren's Order Volume: >50,000
Ralph Lauren, a known name in the high fashion industry, is also a big name in the eCommerce revenue game. The ownership is divided three ways, 50% resting with the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, 37.5% with NBC subsidiaries, and 12.5% with ValueVision.
Its stores facilitate its users to pay conveniently through Apple Pay.
Founder: James Parker
Founding Year: 2015
Location: Castleford, West Yorkshire, UK
The Gym King's Monthly Unique Visitors: 67,494
The Gym King's Web Sales: $100M - $250M
The Gym King's Order Volume: >50,000
The Gym King has risen to popularity as a sports and activewear brand in the UK and is counted as one of the fastest-growing lifestyle brands.
Recently, the brand has been in the news for securing a multi-million funding in Pound Sterling from JD Sports. It is now hoping to compete with other biggies in the market, such as Nike and Under Armour.
eCommerce is booming globally and is rapidly transforming into a more seamless experience with great user experiences and convenient checkouts along with a multitude of payment options.
Considering the convenience that Apple Pay brings to its users, the brands deploying this method as part of their payment options are thus bound to experience growth.
Welcome to the @withassembly family, PipeCandy! #innovation#ecommerce#technews
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