New Year's Day footfall down by almost half

Springboard data has shown that footfall in shopping centres on New Year’s Day was 49.5% down on the same date last year, with high street footfall down by 12.7%.

The weekend as a whole experienced a 16.1% decline as customers turned their backs on bricks and mortar stores and opted to shop online.  Springboard reports that online sales were up 6.8% during the same period and, on December 31^st, online sales were up 18.2% year-on-year.

Poor weather and bank holiday trading restrictions are among the factors cited for the decline in footfall.

Springboard’s Diane Wehrle, said: "Retailers traditionally see the first trading weekend of the New Year as a sign of things to come, and if this still rings true the industry is set for a rocky 2017.

"The ease and comfort of online shopping proved too enticing for shoppers keen to snap up further discounts in the sales rather than bracing the cold outdoors.

"Shopping centres in particular have a challenge ahead in 2017. Having experienced a decline in footfall during 2016, these destinations need to up their game in order to provide additional reasons to draw shoppers away from their devices with an offer going beyond retail."

Image: IR Stone / Shutterstock.com

Source : Springboard/Insight DIY

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