Sunless summer sinks footfall  - BRC-SENSORMATIC IQ FOOTFALL MONITOR

BRC-SENSORMATIC IQ FOOTFALL MONITOR – AUGUST 2023

Sunless summer sinks footfall 

Covering the four weeks 30 July – 26 August 2023
According to BRC-Sensormatic IQ data: 

• Total UK footfall decreased by 1.6% in August (YoY), down from +1.8% in July.
  
  
  • High Street footfall decreased by 0.9% in August (YoY), down from +1.6% in July.
    
    
  • Retail Parks footfall was unchanged at 0.0% in August (YoY), down from +1.4% in July.
    
    
  • Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 3.8% in August (YoY), down from +0.2% in July.

• Of the UK nations, Scotland saw a YoY rise in footfall, showing an increase of +0.4%. Conversely, England saw a YoY drop in footfall, a decrease of 1.3%. This was followed by Wales at -1.7% and Northern Ireland at -4.7%.
  
  

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:
“Footfall took a turn for the worse in August as the summer sun failed to materialise. The impact was made worse when compared to last year’s heatwave, where many shoppers rushed to the shops to buy clothing, BBQs and other outdoor essentials. This month it was shopping centres that took the biggest hit, while high streets were also significantly down on last year.

“The rise in tourism, which returned to pre-Covid levels last month, did not help key shopping destinations. Government should re-introduce a tax-free shopping scheme to attract international shoppers, who are currently choosing other destinations. Unless action is taken, the UK remains the only European country without a VAT-free shopping scheme scheme.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, commented:
“An inclement August saw overall footfall dip marginally year-on-year after rallying in July, with dwindling shopper traffic not helped by nondescript weather, as well as the continued consumer caution and cost-of-living pressures that both shoppers – and retailers – have become increasingly accustomed to.  And while total footfall was down, August showed some positive performance when it came to destination shopping with some travel and tourism hub cities, including Edinburgh, London, Liverpool and Manchester, showing positive upticks from ambient footfall boosted by tourism and school holiday staycations.  Similarly, while our data showed the number of store counts of shoppers to retail units within shopping centres and retail parks dipped last month, the number of visitors to those retail settings remained positive.  So, even if consumers are being more purposeful, visiting fewer stores during each shopping trip, the opportunity to benefit from that ambient footfall remains – the key will be how retailers can tap into that opportunity to turn passing trade into store visits and sales through meaningful store experiences and a retail offer that speaks to value.”

MONTHLY TOTAL UK RETAIL FOOTFALL (% CHANGE YOY)

UK FOOTFALL BY LOCATION (% CHANGE YOY)

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY

Scots retail destinations see footfall rise and outperform UK

Covering the four weeks 30 July – 26 August 2023

According to SRC-Sensormatic IQ data:

• Scottish footfall increased by 0.4% in August (YoY), 5.5 percentage points worse than July. This is better than the UK average decrease of 1.6% (YoY).

• Shopping Centre footfall increased by 3.1% in August (YoY) in Scotland, 1.2 percentage points worse than July.

• In August, footfall in Edinburgh increased by 5.7% (YoY), while Glasgow decreased by 3.2% (YoY).

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said:

“Scottish footfall to retail destinations grew for the second successive month in August, albeit there was a marked deceleration in the growth rate. Scotland outperformed the UK average and was one of only three out of thirteen parts of the UK to witness any improvement at all last month. That said, Scottish footfall is still an eighth down on pre-Covid levels.

“Shopping centres fared well, perhaps bolstered by return to school preparations. Edinburgh was the top performing UK city in the survey, aided by tourists and the festivals. Foot-traffic in Glasgow dipped, albeit its recovery from the pandemic remains marginally better than that of its near neighbour along the M8.

“The challenges for shops and our retail destinations aren’t all in the rear-view mirror. Hybrid working remains prevalent in some sectors and means a chunk of office workers are no longer travelling into city centres as frequently. When shoppers do visit the high street they are spending less on fewer items as elevated levels of inflation, higher mortgage rates and taxes continue to chisel away at household disposable incomes. That’s why retailers are looking to policy makers – including the First Minister’s Programme for Government next week – for measures will lift consumers’ spirits, bring the energy and footfall back into our larger economic hubs, and stem the remorseless rise in government-inspired costs.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, commented:
“Despite nondescript weather, as well as the continued consumer caution and cost-of-living pressures that both shoppers – and retailers – have become increasingly accustomed to, August saw overall footfall remain resilient, buoyed by positive performance from destination shopping, with travel and tourism hubs, including Edinburgh, seeing upticks from ambient footfall boosted by tourism and school holiday staycations.  And, while our data showed the number of store counts of shoppers to retail units within shopping centres and retail parks dipped last month, the number of visitors to those retail settings remained positive.  So, even if consumers are being more purposeful, visiting fewer stores during each shopping trip, the opportunity to benefit from that ambient footfall remains – the key will be how retailers can tap into that opportunity and turn passing trade into store visits and sales through meaningful store experiences and a retail offer that speaks to value.”

MONTHLY TOTAL SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOTFALL (% CHANGE YoY)

UK FOOTFALL BY LOCATION (% CHANGE YoY)

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY

WRC-SENSORMATIC IQ FOOTFALL MONITOR – AUGUST 2023

Footfall slides as summer fails to lift shopper spirits

Covering the four weeks 30 July – 26 August 2023

According to WRC-Sensormatic IQ data:

• Welsh footfall decreased by 1.7% in August (YoY), down from -0.1% in July. This is worse than the UK average decrease of 1.6% (YoY).

• Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 4.7% in August (YoY) in Wales, 1.1 percentage points worse than July.

• In August, footfall in Cardiff decreased by 1.5% (YoY), 0.4 percentage points worse than July.

Sara Jones, Head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said:

“Hopes of a scorching summer of sales for Welsh retailers fizzled out following a slide in footfall.  Shopper numbers in August fell by almost 2 percentage points on the previous month and remain an eighth down on pre Covid figures. Whilst retailers will be hopeful that consumer confidence will improve over the coming months as inflation eases, resulting in a hopeful bounce in footfall, we are now entering mission critical territory as we move closer to the ‘Golden Quarter’ of retail shopping in the lead up to Christmas.

“Retailers are doing what they can to entice shoppers back to the high street with fantastic offers and experiences, but it is unquestionable that these destinations are transforming from a retail focus to a broader mix of shops, leisure and housing. This changing landscape needs to not only to be embraced, but to be supported. With an eye watering projected hike in business rates next April of £18million for Welsh retailers alone, we are calling for a freeze on business rates to support our bricks and mortar businesses which play such an important role in their communities. A freeze on business rates would be good news for retailers, for the high street ecosystem and for all of us who value retail as a mainstay of our local economies.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, commented:
“An inclement August saw overall footfall dip marginally year-on-year after rallying in July, with dwindling shopper traffic not helped by nondescript weather, as well as the continued consumer caution and cost-of-living pressures that both shoppers – and retailers – have become increasingly accustomed to.  And while total footfall was down, August showed some positive performance when it came to destination shopping with some travel and tourism hub cities, including Edinburgh, London, Liverpool and Manchester, showing positive upticks from ambient footfall boosted by tourism and school holiday staycations.  Similarly, while our data showed the number of store counts of shoppers to retail units within shopping centres and retail parks dipped last month, the number of visitors to those retail settings remained positive.  So, even if consumers are being more purposeful, visiting fewer stores during each shopping trip, the opportunity to benefit from that ambient footfall remains – the key will be how retailers can tap into that opportunity to turn passing trade into store visits and sales through meaningful store experiences and a retail offer that speaks to value.”

MONTHLY TOTAL WELSH RETAIL FOOTFALL (% CHANGE YoY)

UK FOOTFALL BY LOCATION (% CHANGE YoY)

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY