The retail industry in the UK experienced a frenzied and record-breaking shopping period leading up to Christmas. Super Saturday, which occurred on December 23rd, saw a remarkable surge in last-minute Christmas shoppers flooding into stores. According to data from Sensormatic Solutions, retail footfall on Super Saturday increased by 35% compared to the previous year. Notably, retail parks saw the biggest increase in visitor numbers, with footfall rising by 9.3% week-on-week.
Frenzied Friday, which took place on December 22nd, also witnessed a significant rise in retail shopper visits. Footfall increased by 43% compared to the previous week, and it is estimated that UK shoppers spent a total of £4.89 billion in the four days spanning from December 21st to December 24th.
Andy Sumpter, a retail consultant at Sensormatic Solutions, emphasized the significance of the footfall increase on Super Saturday, particularly due to last year’s Super Saturday falling on Christmas Eve when stores had limited trading hours. Consumer behavior played a role, as many shoppers purposely waited until the last moment to make their purchases in order to find the best deals. Some even held off in the hope that retailers would offer early Boxing Day discounts.
On Boxing Day, footfall in stores experienced a week-on-week increase of 39.2%, according to Sensormatic Solutions. The report also noted that there was only a slight year-on-year dip of 1.2% in footfall. Retailers benefited from the surge in footfall as eager shoppers flocked to stores in search of post-Christmas deals.
Zaki Hassan, the GM EMEA for retail tech solutions specialist Aptos, highlighted the extraordinary queues seen at Bicester Village on Boxing Day as shoppers flocked to the outlet center for post-Christmas deals. The center had even hired additional staff to manage the crowds, leading to queues in the parking lot to prevent overcrowding. In Central London, despite some retailers choosing to remain closed on Boxing Day, shoppers were out in force. Notably, tourists played a significant role in contributing to the high footfall in the area.
Overall, the pre-Christmas shopping frenzy in the UK demonstrated consumers’ increased desire for bargains and discounts. Retailers saw a substantial surge in footfall during the busiest shopping days, with both physical stores and retail parks experiencing an influx of visitors. The Christmas shopping season ended on a positive note for the retail industry, as shoppers eagerly sought out the best deals and sales.
Useful Links:
– BBC: UK Retail Sales Show Sharp Growth in December
– The Guardian: UK Retailers to Offer Pre-Christmas Sales to Cope with Lockdown
