Buy now, pain later: the layby movement’s existential crisis

Buy now, pain later: the layby movement’s existential crisis
(Image: Getty)
Peter Griffin
They started out with the worthy goal of disrupting the credit card companies and taking a digital-first approach to paying debt that better suits the needs of millennials.But the buy now, pay later (BNPL) market, dominated by the likes of Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay and New Zealand-founded Laybuy, is facing major headwinds as the cost-of-living crisis sees consumers tightening their belts and rising interest rates eat into margins.High-growth tech stocks have taken a hammering across the board this year, but the BNLP players have witnessed a deva...

More Opinion

Organic traffic is softening thanks to AI
Opinion

Ben Goodale: Organic traffic is softening thanks to AI

AI still can’t replicate experience. And that’s where brands need to double down.

Why folks worry about the end of Buffett country
Opinion

David Chaplin: Why folks worry about the end of Buffett country

If there were a Pope of capitalism, Buffett would be the only candidate.

The business end of Defence’s big investments
Opinion

Josh Wineera: The business end of Defence’s big investments

Businesses vying for contracts will have to understand what Defence wants.

Josh Wineera 05 May 2025