Boxing Day saw a notable drop in shopper numbers as major retail outlets remained closed, impacting footfall statistics.
- Overall Boxing Day footfall decreased by 7.6% compared to the previous year, with high street figures falling by 9.6%.
- Retail parks and shopping centres were also affected, witnessing declines of 6.1% and 5.1% respectively by 8pm.
- Coastal towns faced the steepest decline with a 20% drop in shopper numbers, while central London saw a reduction of 7.6%.
- Increased online shopping activity was reported, with early sales launching on Christmas Day, offering shoppers digital bargains.
On Boxing Day, there was a conspicuous reduction in footfall as several prominent retailers, such as M&S and Next, opted to keep their stores closed. This choice was reflected in the overall footfall statistics, which showed a decline of 7.6% compared to the previous year. High streets were particularly affected, with a 9.6% decrease in shopper visits, as reported by MRI Software.
Retail parks also experienced a downturn, recording a 6.1% fall in visitors, while shopping centres reported a 5.1% decline by 8pm when compared to the same day last year. This trend was most pronounced in coastal towns, where footfall plummeted by 20%. In central London, the drop was 7.6% and market towns saw a modest reduction of 2.2% in shopper numbers.
This decrease in physical store visits coincided with a shift towards online shopping, as highlighted by MRI Software analyst Jenni Matthews. She noted that many retailers initiated their Boxing Day sales online on Christmas Day, allowing consumers to secure bargains from the comfort of their homes. This trend is further evidenced by a consumer pulse report indicating that 53% of shoppers planned to complete a significant portion of their holiday shopping online, a pattern likely to persist into the New Year period.
Analyst Matthews anticipated a resurgence in footfall on December 27th, correlating with the reopening of more retail outlets, which could offset some of the declines observed on Boxing Day.
The trend towards online shopping continues to reshape consumer habits, significantly affecting physical retail footfall during peak shopping seasons.
