This summer, PayPal is giving the humble British deckchair a modern, tech-friendly makeover to accommodate the rise in mobile shopping at the beach – a trend that has been dubbed ‘b-commerce’ by retail experts.
PayPal unveils futuristic deck chair
For a limited period, visitors to Brighton Beach will be able to try out new tech-deckchairs (or tech-chairs!) featuring built-in WiFi, wireless charging, glare protection, and microfibre fabric to clean off sand and suncream from your phone.
It comes as new research found hot and pleasant weather is fuelling an uptick in the number of people shopping from the beach in what is being dubbed ‘b-commerce’ by retail experts. One in six Brits say they’re going to the beach now more than they did five years ago and a fifth say they now shop on their phone or tablet at the seaside.
Clothes and fashion (37%) are among the top purchases, with food and drink (34%) and gifts for others (24%) also on beachgoers shopping list, with nearly a fifth (19%) spending £51-75 when shopping online at the beach, and 3% spending a whopping £200+.
With half of Brits planning to visit a UK beach this summer and nearly a third of Brits believing a sun lounger is an absolute must at the beach (31%), PayPal has unveiled new souped-up deckchairs on Brighton Beach that help guarantee seamless scrolling, with built-in glare protection, phone charging and even a playful sea gull deterrent to support uninterrupted mobile shopping.
There are some key things that can get in the way when Brits are shopping by the sea. One in four complained that sunscreen on their fingers is a hindrance to completing their order. But help is at hand. Not only has PayPal made its checkout process beach proof by streamlining the shopping experience, but it is also offering 3% cashback on eligible purchases on Brits’ chosen category of choice this summer when using PayPal to checkout online. This will help their money go further on summer shopping.
The poll of 2,000 Brits also found phones overheating (43%) and a lack of WiFi (36%) are among the things holding Brits back from a seamless scrolling experience on the beach, while a lack of shade (31%) and getting sand in the phone charger hole (23%) were cited as other inhabitants.
Dave Jones, Head of Consumer at PayPal UK commented: “We can see from our research that more and more people are bringing their phones to the beach, and their shopping habits too. That’s why we’ve reimagined the classic deckchair with a modern twist, making it easier to stay connected and even earn cashback while soaking up the sun.”
“And we’ve made things even easier and rewarding for our customers, by making the checkout process incredibly smooth, so that even with sandy fingers people can still shop online. What’s more, with our 3% cashback incentive, we’re also helping put money back in people’s pockets this summer.”
Dr Khan, consumer behaviour and retail expert commented: “Smartphones have transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from how we navigate our cars to how we manage our health and shop for essentials. This digital shift has made shopping anytime, anywhere second nature – even on the beach, positioning it as the next frontier for a tech refresh.
“The once simple beach experience is getting a long-overdue upgrade. With tech-enhanced deckchairs featuring innovations like built-in Wi-Fi, wireless phone charging, and glare-blocking screens, beachgoers can now seamlessly blend relaxation with connectivity, reflecting the evolving expectations of today’s digital-first lifestyles.”
The research also lifted the lid on all the factors we consider when picking a perfect beach spot, with shade (48%) ranking as the top factor ahead of privacy (40%) and proximity to the bar (36%).
When it comes to beach nostalgia, buckets, spades and sandcastles were among the items most Brits (70%) associate with childhood trips to the seaside, with arcades and slot machines also featuring (52%).
Striped deckchairs were cited by over four in ten Brits (41%), with mini fridges containing snacks (29%), solar panels for charging (21%) and pop-out book holders (25%) among the other creative add-ons people would like to see incorporated in the classic beach staple.
