New Research: Paper Receipts Fall out of Fashion

76% of shoppers now choose digital receipts in-store

New research from Yocuda reveals that 76% of fashion shoppers now choose a digital receipt when it’s offered in-store, signalling a major change in customer expectations around convenience, sustainability, and post-purchase experience.

For years, receipts have been treated as little more than proof of purchase. Functional. Forgettable. Usually crumpled up at the bottom of a shopping bag.

But in a world where fashion retailers are investing heavily in customer experience, omnichannel journeys, and retail tech innovation, that tiny piece of paper is suddenly becoming far more important.

Or perhaps more accurately: far less relevant.

📊 Download the full infographic here

Paper receipts are becoming last season’s accessory

The research points to one clear trend: shoppers are ready to move on from paper receipts.

• 87% of fashion shoppers expect there to be fewer or no paper receipts within five years.

And it’s not just about sustainability. The modern fashion customer expects retail experiences to feel seamless from beginning to end - including what happens after they leave the store.

That’s where digital receipts are starting to play a much bigger role.

Convenience never goes out of style

One of the clearest findings from the research is that shoppers are choosing digital receipts for a very simple reason: they make life easier.

• 52% cite convenience as the main reason for choosing digital.

Because let’s be honest - losing receipts is practically a retail rite of passage.

The problem is, it creates friction at one of the most important moments in the customer journey: returns and exchanges.

And fashion shoppers know it:

• 69% have lost a paper receipt they later needed for a return.

For retailers focused on customer experience, that’s a significant pain point hiding in plain sight.

📊 Download the full infographic here

Fashion retail is becoming more connected

The rise of digital receipts is also part of a much wider shift happening across retail tech. Today’s shoppers don’t separate “online” and “in-store” experiences in the way retailers once did. They simply expect everything to connect. This includes purchases, loyalty, recommendations, returns and post-purchase communication.

The data reflects this growing expectation for personalisation:

• 64% expect retailers to tailor offers based on shopping history.
• 55% are more likely to shop with brands that do.

This is where digital receipts become much more than a digital version of paper. They become a bridge between physical retail and digital engagement.

Loyalty stitched into the checkout experience

Fashion shoppers now hold an average of four loyalty cards, yet many retailers still treat receipts and loyalty as separate experiences.

Customers clearly don’t see it that way.

• 79% want a digital receipt every time they use their loyalty card.

And it makes sense. Why would shoppers want disconnected experiences when everything else in retail is becoming more integrated?

Retailers are increasingly realising that the receipt is one of the most overlooked touchpoints in the entire customer journey. It’s expected, it’s opened, and it arrives at the exact moment customer engagement is highest.

That’s incredibly valuable real estate for retailers thinking seriously about loyalty and customer retention.

Sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have”

Fashion retail has spent the last few years under growing pressure to improve sustainability credentials - and customers are paying attention.

The research found:

• 81% would be more likely to choose digital receipts if they knew 25 million trees are cut down globally each year to produce paper receipts.

That tells us that customers are willing to change behaviour when retailers make the value exchange clear.

📊 Download the full infographic here

The future of receipts is digital - and strategic

What’s becoming increasingly clear is that digital receipts are no longer just a small operational upgrade.

They’re evolving into:

• A real customer experience-enhancing tool.
• An important loyalty touchpoint.
• A key sustainability initiative.
• A high-performing post-purchase communication channel.

As Ed Drax, MD, Yocuda, explains:

“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.”

When you stop thinking about receipts as proof of purchase and start seeing them as a digital engagement channel, the opportunity becomes much bigger.

Turning receipts into relationships

Retailers such as Longchamp, Fred Perry, Mulberry and Sephora are already using digital receipts to:

• Identify in-store customers.
• Personalise post-purchase engagement.
• Strengthen omnichannel experiences.
• Drive loyalty and repeat purchases.
• Reduce paper waste.

In other words: turning receipts into long-lasting customer relationships. And judging by the research, fashion shoppers are more than ready for it.

Download the full infographic here

Book a demo with Yocuda below to discover more about how digital receipts can drive customer loyalty for your business.