Paper Receipts Fall Out of Fashion: 76% of Shoppers Now Opt for Digital Receipts In-Store
Fashion retail is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation, and it’s happening at the checkout.
New research from leading digital receipts provider Yocuda reveals that digital receipts are quickly becoming the preferred choice for fashion shoppers, with 76% opting for them when offered in-store. As expectations around convenience, sustainability, and personalisation evolve, the humble receipt is stepping into a more strategic role.
Convenience is always in fashion
The data also reveals that the shift towards digital receipts is being driven first and foremost by practicality.
- 52% of shoppers cite convenience as the main reason for choosing digital
- 48% value easier storage, access, and returns
- 61% say they are less likely to lose a digital receipt
And with good reason, 69% of shoppers have lost a paper receipt and later needed it for a return or exchange, leading to frustration and inconvenience.
In an industry where returns are part of the experience, removing friction at this stage is becoming essential.
A better fit for modern shopping habits
Today’s fashion shopper expects a seamless experience across channels – and that includes what happens after the purchase.
- 64% of fashion shoppers expect retailers to personalise offers based on shopping history
- 55% are more likely to shop with brands that do so
- This rises to 73% among frequent in-store shoppers
Digital receipts are increasingly seen as the bridge between in-store and digital engagement – turning a transaction into an ongoing relationship.
Loyalty stitched into every transaction
Fashion shoppers now hold an average of four loyalty cards, and expectations are rising:
- 79% want a digital receipt every time they use their loyalty card
This signals a clear opportunity for retailers to integrate receipts directly into their loyalty strategy – creating a more connected and rewarding customer experience.
Sustainability: no longer a trend, but the standard
Sustainability is also now influencing customer behaviour at the checkout:
- 70% believe digital receipts reduce environmental impact
- 72% say a retailer’s sustainability policy matters to them
- 64% think automatically printing receipts is wasteful
Perhaps most strikingly, 81% of shoppers would be more likely to choose a digital receipt if they knew that 25 million trees are cut down each year to produce paper receipts globally.
It’s clear: when shoppers understand the impact, they’re ready to change their behaviour.
What shoppers want from retailers
While demand for digital receipts is high, the implementation matters. Shoppers highlighted simple ways retailers can encourage adoption:
- 48% want QR codes for instant access on their phone
- 43% want easy entry of email or phone details
- 42% want reassurance that their data won’t be used for marketing
The message is clear: make it easy, make it transparent, and make it fast.
The future of receipts is digital and closer than you think
With 87% of shoppers expecting fewer or no paper receipts within five years, the direction of travel is unmistakable.
Digital receipts are no longer just a functional upgrade; they are becoming a key touchpoint for customer identification, post-purchase engagement, personalisation and sustainability.
Ed Drax, MD, Yocuda, comments on the research findings:
“Physical retail within the fashion sector today is all about the experience, not just while in the store but at the checkout and after you’ve left. What we’re seeing from this research and among our clients is a clear shift in customer expectations. Shoppers want convenience, but they also want connection, personalisation, and more sustainable choices. Digital receipts sit right at the intersection of all three, turning what was once a simple transaction into an opportunity to build a longer-term relationship. Paper receipts are quickly becoming outdated in a world where everything else in retail has moved on.”
Key findings from the data – View and download the full data here.
Turning receipts into relationships
Yocuda is helping leading fashion retailers such as Longchamp, Anne Fontaine, Brunello Cucinelli, and Fred Perry transform receipts from a transactional necessity into a strategic asset and high-performing communications channel. By enabling digital receipts, retailers can:
- Identify in-store customers
- Engage with them post-purchase
- Drive loyalty and sales
- Deliver personalised omnichannel experiences
- Reduce environmental impact
About the research
This survey was conducted by Yocuda in collaboration with Dynata, the world’s largest first-party data company. Conducted in July 2024 with 1,015 consumers in the UK, this sample refers to 798 people who shop in fashion stores at least once a week. These statistics include equal sampling across age, gender and employment status.
