Google has partnered with UK start-up NearSt, which has access to the inventory of a growing list of local retailers, meaning users can search for a particular product on Google and see the distance, price and approximate availability for the item in shops nearby.

Retailers have been feeling the squeeze amid rising competition from online shopping, with recent numbers from accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers showing that high-street shops closed at a rate of about 14 a day in the first half of 2018.

According to the Office for National Statistics, online purchases still only account for 18 per cent of all retail shopping, while Google data shows that searches for ‘shopping near me’ have increased 200 per cent in the past two years, suggesting that there’s still appetite to buy local. Media campaigns encouraging people to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses have also been warmly received by consumers.

“NearSt has some fantastic technology which we are leveraging to make it as easy to shop locally as it is online,” said Nathalie Walton, Google Shopping’s global head of local shopping.

“It gives small retailers the ability to compete effectively in the online world, without needing any of the technical and financial firepower of their online competitors.”

NearSt started as its own online platform three years ago, before deciding to partner with bigger players such as Google. The idea for the location service came after co-founder Max Kreijn needed a new light bulb and turned to the internet to find somewhere nearby stocking an immediate replacement.

“I was shown lots of places where I could order it online, but I couldn’t find out which local shops had one for me to pop out and buy,” Kreijn explained.

His business partner, Nick Brackenbury, added: “We effectively moved from being a car maker to an engine maker, which works far better for both ourselves and where shoppers are actually searching – on Google.

“We’re working towards a future where this live inventory information is universally available in any site, app or service where it would be useful.”

As retailers gear up for the annual ‘Black Friday’ consumer spending splurge, one report has suggested that spending during the shopping event this year is expected to dip for the first time, as some shoppers tire of the barrage of ‘special pricing’ offers and so-called bargains.  

According to predictions from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) and VoucherCodes.co.uk, consumers will spend £2.4 billion on deals in stores and online, down from last year’s £2.6 billion.

However, spending across the entire weekend that also includes the online-special Cyber Monday is expected to be up 6.4 per cent on last year, to £8.3 billion.

Consumer watchdog Which? has warned shoppers to do their research ahead of Black Friday, after finding that nearly nine out of 10 ‘deals’ available last year had been cheaper at other times in the year.

Which? tracked the prices of 94 products, including TVs, cameras and fitness trackers, on offer over Black Friday 2017 from six months before until six months afterwards, finding that 87 per cent of the items were cheaper at other times of year and nearly half were cheaper in the six months after Black Friday.

Andrew Westbrook, head of retail at audit, tax and consulting firm RSM, said competition between retailers to secure their share of spending amid the tough trading environment had led many to deeper and earlier Black Friday discounting than before.

“Retailers such as Amazon and Debenhams have already started their sales in order to capitalise on early consumer online spend in anticipation of the cold snap keeping many indoors this week,” he said.

“The run-up to Christmas has never been more important to retailers’ results – and potentially their survival.”

Google has partnered with UK start-up NearSt, which has access to the inventory of a growing list of local retailers, meaning users can search for a particular product on Google and see the distance, price and approximate availability for the item in shops nearby.

Retailers have been feeling the squeeze amid rising competition from online shopping, with recent numbers from accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers showing that high-street shops closed at a rate of about 14 a day in the first half of 2018.

According to the Office for National Statistics, online purchases still only account for 18 per cent of all retail shopping, while Google data shows that searches for ‘shopping near me’ have increased 200 per cent in the past two years, suggesting that there’s still appetite to buy local. Media campaigns encouraging people to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses have also been warmly received by consumers.

“NearSt has some fantastic technology which we are leveraging to make it as easy to shop locally as it is online,” said Nathalie Walton, Google Shopping’s global head of local shopping.

“It gives small retailers the ability to compete effectively in the online world, without needing any of the technical and financial firepower of their online competitors.”

NearSt started as its own online platform three years ago, before deciding to partner with bigger players such as Google. The idea for the location service came after co-founder Max Kreijn needed a new light bulb and turned to the internet to find somewhere nearby stocking an immediate replacement.

“I was shown lots of places where I could order it online, but I couldn’t find out which local shops had one for me to pop out and buy,” Kreijn explained.

His business partner, Nick Brackenbury, added: “We effectively moved from being a car maker to an engine maker, which works far better for both ourselves and where shoppers are actually searching – on Google.

“We’re working towards a future where this live inventory information is universally available in any site, app or service where it would be useful.”

As retailers gear up for the annual ‘Black Friday’ consumer spending splurge, one report has suggested that spending during the shopping event this year is expected to dip for the first time, as some shoppers tire of the barrage of ‘special pricing’ offers and so-called bargains.  

According to predictions from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) and VoucherCodes.co.uk, consumers will spend £2.4 billion on deals in stores and online, down from last year’s £2.6 billion.

However, spending across the entire weekend that also includes the online-special Cyber Monday is expected to be up 6.4 per cent on last year, to £8.3 billion.

Consumer watchdog Which? has warned shoppers to do their research ahead of Black Friday, after finding that nearly nine out of 10 ‘deals’ available last year had been cheaper at other times in the year.

Which? tracked the prices of 94 products, including TVs, cameras and fitness trackers, on offer over Black Friday 2017 from six months before until six months afterwards, finding that 87 per cent of the items were cheaper at other times of year and nearly half were cheaper in the six months after Black Friday.

Andrew Westbrook, head of retail at audit, tax and consulting firm RSM, said competition between retailers to secure their share of spending amid the tough trading environment had led many to deeper and earlier Black Friday discounting than before.

“Retailers such as Amazon and Debenhams have already started their sales in order to capitalise on early consumer online spend in anticipation of the cold snap keeping many indoors this week,” he said.

“The run-up to Christmas has never been more important to retailers’ results – and potentially their survival.”