New Year sales fail to perform on high st
Published: 3 January 2017 - Jenny Wonnacott
Footfall over the New Year weekend fell by 16% on the UK high street, and by 50% in shopping centres according to retail benchmark analyst Springboard.
Poor weather was partly to blame for the early slump
The drop was due to poor weather as well as an early December rush as well as bank holiday trading hours deterring shoppers. Overall footfall for retail fell by 23.8%.
Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said, “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.
“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.”