PayPal teams up with OpenAI to enable payments in ChatGPT Tech PayPal has announced a deal with Sam Altman’s OpenAI to embed its digital wallet directly into ChatGPT, allowing its users to shop and pay for products through the AI platform starting in 2026. Under the agreement, PayPal’s global network will be linked to OpenAI, enabling millions of items to be purchased instantly within ChatGPT. This [...]
eBay launches £3m AI programme for UK SMEs Tech E-commerce giant eBay has unveiled a major initiative aimed at helping UK small businesses harness the power of AI and compete with larger enterprises. The company’s new programme, ‘AI activate’, is a £3m investment that will provide up to 10,000 small enterprises with fully funded access to OpenAI-powered tools and tailored training to boost productivity [...]
THG: Shares spike as e-commerce giant gains momentum after slow start to the year Retail Ecommerce platform THG returned to growth in the second quarter of the year, driven by a sales boost for its supplement brand Myprotein, causing an eight per cent share price boost. THG told markets this morning that revenue rose 0.9 per cent quarter on quarter, although overall revenue in the first half of the year [...]
InPost nearly triples UK parcel volumes after Yodel acquisition September 2, 2025 InPost has reported a huge boost to UK parcel volumes and revenue after its takeover of competitor Yodel earlier this year. Revenue in the UK grew 303.1 per cent year on year in the second quarter to PLN 954.2m (£193m), making it the second-largest contributor to Group revenue after Poland, which has a 27 per [...]
UK online SMEs confident despite economic headwinds August 21, 2025 A wave of online small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs are showing confidence in their future, despite wider economic pressures, a new report from eBay UK suggests. The study found that nearly four in five, or 78 per cent, of online small businesses expect to see growth over the next 12 months, with a third [...]
Tiktok gives retailers a headache with boom in returns culture July 18, 2025 Retailers are facing a conundrum. Their customers are searching for and buying clothes via Tiktok and Instagram, but those same social media customers are increasingly less likely to keep the clothes they buy. A surge in the number of clothes sent back to retailers has caused issues with both costs and with environmental goals, but [...]
Exclusive: Amazon Prime Day UK sales top £2bn despite consumer caution July 14, 2025 Amazon’s biggest UK shopping event on record has delivered a much needed adrenaline shot to Britain’s faltering retail sector – with online spending during its four-day Prime event topping £2bn for the first time. Consumers splashed out £2.08bn online between the 8th and the 11th July, driven by steep discounts on everything from baby toys [...]
Shein files for Hong Kong IPO as London listing prospects wane July 8, 2025 Shein has filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong as the prospects for the firm’s London listing continue to wane. The Singapore-based business last week confidentially filed a draft prospectus for the Hong Kong Exchange and sought approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), according to the Financial Times. The fast-fashion firm [...]
Holly Tucker: I was lost after leaving Not On The High Street June 19, 2025 Holly Tucker, founder of retail behemoth Not On The High Street, tells us about leaving her business and setting up anew in this week's Square Mile and Me.
Asos replaces finance chief after just one year June 17, 2025 Asos’ chief finance officer Dave Murray has stepped down from his role after 15 months as the struggling commerce giant continued to push a turnaround. He will be replace by Aaron Izzard, who currently serves as director of group finance at Asos. Murray, who will leave to “pursue other opportunities”, has helmed Asos’ finance division [...]