The last 18 months have certainly been a lemon, but I've been really impressed by the ingenuity on show in so many businesses. The clothing brands that started making masks and medical PPE; the pharmaceutical companies that shifted production to make vaccines; the restaurants that quickly offered their dishes as take-aways – the list goes on.

For many companies it was a case of having to innovate and that was certainly true for London's Savile Row, the home of quality bespoke tailoring in the UK. A master tailor probably spends a third of their lives travelling around the world taking measurements of clients?

So, when the pandemic stopped international travel, tailors had to come up with a new way to gather those vital numbers.

Technology to the rescue

From its London HQ in Savile Row, a Huntsman tailor found a way to direct a telepresence robot they named Mr Hammick to take measurements thousands of miles away. This allowed them to guide the process using a touchpad from a laptop controlled by the expert cutter in the London shop so they were able to communicate with clients all over the world.

With suits costing tens of thousands of pounds, it was important to keep the cash flowing, but without cutting back on quality. Mr Hammick has been a lifeline for Huntsman allowing the tailor to achieve this, despite the travel restrictions.

Here's a few thoughts.

Bespoke

Bespoke tailoring is what Savile Row does best and every garment is created specifically for one person.

You need to have the same approach to your customers. Make sure every transaction is unique by catering for your shoppers' individual payments preferences.

If they want Click & Collect, Click & Reserve or Click & Deliver, or if they want to pay using cash, card or wallet – no problem.

Made to measure

Are your payments made to measure?

Digital wallets have grown increasingly popular and are often now the method of choice for more and more of us, not just Gen Z-ers. Make sure your payment system fits perfectly and accepts all major leading card types and wallets.

But it’s not just how shoppers pay - it's also where they pay that needs to be made to measure.

Moving between online and offline, and being able to offer the full choice of payment methods to support a seamless omni-channel shopping experience is now critically important. With many customers having an 'always on' mindset and seeking immediate gratification, how does your payments system measure up?

Fully tailored

Make sure you are tailoring to your customers’ personal preferences when it comes to the payments moment.

Our research tells us that tourists and travellers prefer to have the option of paying in their own currency. They feel in control of their spending and because they’re relaxed, they are more likely to spend more.

A fully tailored approach will also offer customers the choice and convenience of paying in their own currency online or in-store.

Personal Shopper

With high streets, shopping centres and department stores closed, sales across online stores grew strongly. We got used to navigating online inventories, pressing a button and a new jacket arriving within days or even hours.

I know I want that convenience from bricks and mortar as stores re-open, but I also want a bit extra – to enjoy that personal touch that comes from being in-store. Mobile terminals make me feel special because I can pay in-store quickly, easily and anyway I want, without queueing at tills.

By offering Click & Collect, or Click & Reserve, it’ll feel like a personal shopper has done the hard work for me as I skip the queues. Luxury! Great for customers but also great for retailers, as it also helps increase basket size and conversion rates. It gives retailers more opportunities to delight customers and exceed their expectations.

As customers return to your stores, make sure your payments measure up. Make sure you're offering shoppers a perfect fit.