Online supermarket creates new shop window

Famous for not having a physical store, Ocada, the online supermarket, recently launched an innovative window display in a central London shopping centre. The integrated window will enable shoppers to make online grocery purchases on their mobile phones to be delivered to their homes.

Considered a virtual store, the display offers 24-hour access for shoppers looking to place an order while on the go in a few simple steps, Internet Retailing reported. Consumers must first download the Ocado on the Go app onto their smartphone. Using the barcode scanner in the app, shoppers can add items to their virtual baskets and check out on their phones.

Similarly, a Norwich-based store has quadrupled its business since the launching of its online site. EDP 24 reported that UK Sealants and UK Stainless grew into UKFixings.com and eventually developed three different websites to provide customers with more ways to shop. The company has grown from bringing in £250,000 to £1 million annually with the expansion to online trading.

Alastair Amis, managing director of the company, said the company originally sold nuts, bolts, fixings and fasteners, but has expanded into a global brand.

"We saw the sealants as a low risk entry into the online market and it's worked out fantastically well," Amis told the news source. "It's revolutionised the way we do business."