What I saw in London 👀 🇬🇧

It's been a few weeks since I've sent my weekly mailer and a lot has happened - this month is flying by! 

I recently travelled to the UK for work and down time with friends and family. 

London is where I started my career in marketing, so it has a special place in my heart and never ceases to inspire me. 😍

The hustle, the sights, the sounds, the anonymity of walking around huge city of 8 million people where you barely know a soul... and just a change of scenery is so energising. 

I walked about 20km each day just soaking up the sights, revisiting favourite spots and discovering new gems too. 💎

As a marketer, I'm always on the hunt for fresh inspiration, trends and ideas and this trip was no different! It delivered that in spades.

Scroll down for 3 key trends I spotted when on my travels: 

TREND 1. Automation is everywhere! 🤖

From Amazon Fresh to Zara self-checkout, whether we like it or not, humans are being replaced by automation, especially when it comes to retail and hospitality.

The UK is experiencing a massive staff shortage post-Covid and post-Brexit (every country has it's problems!) 

Couple this with the emergence of new payment technologies and you get slick, speedy checkouts with not a human in site.

Think 'online shopping' in the physical world. Here's a photo of the Amazon Fresh grocery store in Camden where you scan a QR code on your Amazon app, fill your basket and literally just walk out and you're charged via the app. Pretty cool (although it feels like you're shoplifting - very weird!).

What does this mean for jobs? Only time will tell. 

TREND 2. The Green Economy 🍃

The demand for Vegan / Vegetarian and Eco-Friendly options in the UK is huge - and so is the supply.

Most restaurants now offer Vegan options and there is a plethora of Vegan products on mainstream supermarket shelves too. The range is enormous. 

Pret a Manger, the popular coffee and health food chain, has even opened specialist veg-only outlets in London. 

I noticed a LOT more of the UK's packaging is paper-based or recyclable versus what we have here in SA.

On the whole, I really felt like most people I encountered were very conscious of what they were consuming as it relates to the environment. Which can only be a good thing! 

What does this mean for businesses?

Customers are growing increasingly intolerant of businesses who 'green wash' or have shady environmental standards. Brands that fail to provide AUTHENTIC eco-friendly offerings will likely lose market share to competitors offering greener, more humane alternatives. The demand is only going to get greater as consumers' expectations rise. 

TREND 3. Virtual and physical worlds collide 🙏

From virtual concerts with live bands (ala Abba Voyage - mind-blowing!!) to the supermarket checkout, the lines between the digital and physical worlds are blurring more and more.

In a global city like London, the 'virtual world' goes way beyond a phone or a laptop and is merging with more traditional customer touch-points such as shops, restaurants, electric cars, the airport and public transport. My prediction is that this trend will also take off locally over time, with e-commerce and traditional retail lines blurring more and more. 

This trip reminded me of how important it is to step away from the daily grind (especially when we feel like it's impossible) and take time off to be inspired and continue to serve our businesses with energy and enthusiasm.

Have you started planning your next business trip or holiday yet? Locally or abroad - a change of scenery is all it takes.

Maybe this your sign! Your business will thank you.

Get tips to sell more effectively on social by following @alphabetsocial on Instagram and TikTok.