Retail’s Pressure Points: What’s Testing the Grit of eCommerce Sellers in 2025?

The Real Cost of Growth

Inflation is putting a significant strain on both business margins and consumer wallets. UK CPI rose to 3.6% in June 2025, while the broader CPIH measure (which includes housing costs) hit 4.1%, according to the Office for National Statistics. For everyday consumers, grocery inflation reached 5.2%¹, adding £275 annually to the average household shopping bill.

This puts delivery and fulfilment costs under a microscope. Retailers must now absorb or pass on higher costs for everything from packaging and fuel surcharges to warehousing and staffing — again, with the unique challenge of maintaining competitive delivery promises.

The goal is to scale without inflating cost-per-order. And that takes a smarter, leaner approach.

Risk is Part of the Mix

Operational risk is now a constant (then again, when was it not?). While the global shipping crisis of recent years may have eased, new risks have emerged. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and tariff discussions, particularly involving the US and EU, are once again impacting cross-border supply chains. The Bank of England has flagged growing trade unpredictability as a key economic concern for the UK.²

For eCommerce retailers that trade internationally, especially to Europe and the US, customs compliance, tariff exposure and fulfilment disruption are all live concerns.

Complexity Is the Hidden Cost of Scaling

As brands grow, so too does operational complexity. Managing multiple delivery services, handling increasing return volumes, and keeping inventory aligned across warehouses and channels can quickly overwhelm internal teams.

Labour shortages are compounding the challenge. UK wage growth has continued to outpace inflation³ in many sectors, putting further pressure on fulfilment and customer service costs. This is driving increased investment in automation, technology and systems integration.

The Grit to Survive & Scale

From rising costs to global complexity, UK eCommerce businesses are under real pressure.

But scaling in 2025 isn’t about chasing growth at any cost — it’s about building the resilience to handle what comes next.

This blog is the starting point for our eCommerce Grit Factor series with Linnworks and World First — and it sets the scene for our upcoming eBook.

The eCommerce Grit Factor: Conquering Cost, Risk and Complexity

In it, we offer a hands-on plan to manage the issues identified in this blog.

No trends. No theory. Just focused, practical advice on:

Whether you’re planning for Peak or looking to expand overseas, this is your guide to building a stronger, leaner eCommerce operation.

No fluff. Just what works.

Pre-Register here for the eBook