The United Kingdom

UK parcel carrier Yodel will launch a seven-day service next spring. It has also launched Inflight, a new feature that allows customers to change delivery options using the Yodel app, even when the parcel is one hour from being delivered.

Amazon Go, the checkout-free stores from Amazon, will roll out in the United Kingdom. The ecommerce giant hasn't officially announced this, but there are several reports Amazon is looking for locations across the country to roll out the innovative grocery stores.

Amazon has launched its latest website: Amazon Storefronts. This is a new store for customers to shop from small and medium-sized businesses that sell on Amazon and learn more about them through videos and stories. Amazon Storefronts is now active in the US, the United Kingdom and Germany.

The subscription box market in the United Kingdom was worth about 654 million euros last year, but it's forecast to be valued at 1.12 billion euros by 2022. This means, the UK subscription box market will grow by 72 percent during the next four years.

HubBox, which runs a network of shops that operate as parcel collection points across the United Kingdom, will add 2,000 extra click & collect locations across the country. The expansion of its Collect Points network follows after forming a partnership with payment provider Epay.

Online shoppers in the United Kingdom make 87 percent of their retail purchases (grocery shopping not included) online. That's an increase of almost 9 percent compared to the situation last year, when 80 percent of retail purchases was conducted online.

Customers of Marks & Spencer can now return their online orders at one of many Simply Food stores across the United Kingdom. Previously, consumers already had the possibility to collect their online orders at these stores, but now returning them can happen at the same location.

UK mattress startup Eve Sleep no longer sells its mattresses in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and many other countries in Europe. There is no official reason given for this radical change, but fact is that Eve Sleep is now focusing on France and its home market in the United Kingdom.

Amazon has launched its online print on demand platform Merch by Amazon in Europe. The service is now available in Germany and the United Kingdom. The launch in Europe follows three years after Amazon introduced the platform in the US.

Ecommerce delivery platform MetaPack has been acquired by Stamps, a shipping software solution from the US. Stamps.com, which also offers provides postage online, bought the UK business for approximately 197 million euros.

Ecommerce is beating the high street in the United Kingdom, as 51 percent of consumers say they prefer to shop online instead of at physical stores. Over half of consumers also said they are shopping more online this year, compared to 2017.

Shopware, one of the most popular ecommerce software providers from Germany, is moving more and more into the international markets. The company is increasingly present in other countries, with the launch of its first office in the UK coming soon.

UK Mail will become DHL Parcel UK. After Deutsche Post DHL Group acquired the British parcels and mail company in December 2016, it has now become time for UK Mail to fully integrate into the group's network of European parcel companies.

UK-based postal operator Whistl has acquired Parcelhub and its sister company Mail Workshop. With the acquisitions, Whistl wants to accelerate its expansion in the parcels and fulfilment markets. Both businesses will continue to operate under their respective brands.

Online fashion retailer Next has announced it will start charging customers a £1 fee (1.14 euros) for returns they make through a courier or through a Hermes Parcel Shop. The collection charge will be applied for each collection, regardless of the number of items collected. Returning items at any of Next's retail or clearance stores in the UK remains free.