Latest news with #AndySumpter
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Darlington saw 'small but positive' rise in footfall as sunny April drew in shoppers
Darlington town centre experienced a 'small but positive' rise in footfall during March and April as unseasonably sunny weather encouraged shoppers to return to the high street, new figures suggest. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic, high street footfall across the UK rose by 0.2 per cent year-on-year when combining March and April to adjust for the timing of Easter. While the figures are national, the trend is reflected in local areas like Darlington, where retailers are hoping to maintain momentum into the summer. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: 'Adjusting for the late fall of Easter this year, footfall across March and April showed a small but positive trend, with retail parks continuing to perform the strongest out of all locations. "This reflected the unseasonally warm and bright weather right across the UK. Retailers will be hoping this momentum continues into the summer months.' While retail park visits saw a 2.7% increase nationally, shopping centres experienced a 0.7 per cent drop in visitor numbers, suggesting varied performance across different retail settings. Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic, added: 'The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores. "Looking at March and April together however, the overall picture for the UK is more balanced, with footfall across the two months up just 0.2 per cent year-on-year. "While this suggests that April's gains largely offset March's dip, it also highlights the importance of sustained engagement beyond seasonal peaks. Retailers will now be looking to build on this momentum as we move into the summer months.' National retailer Next also reported strong results over the same period, citing the warm weather as a key factor behind a better-than-expected quarter. Full-price sales rose by 11.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to April 26, generating £55 million more than forecast. The group increased its full-year pre-tax profit guidance by £14 million to £1.08 billion and now expects sales to reach £5.4 billion, up from the previously expected £5.3 billion. READ MORE: Closure of Bishop Auckland nursery would be 'devastating loss' for parents More than a third of adults are obese in Darlington and County Durham, data reveals Darlington family-run shop celebrates 50 years in business However, Next issued a note of caution about future sales. 'We believe much of the over-performance in the first quarter has been the result of warmer weather, which has benefited the sale of summer-weight clothing. "It is likely that some of these sales have been pulled forward from the second quarter. So, despite the strength of the first quarter, we are not increasing our sales guidance for the second quarter, or the rest of the year,' the company said. Next also warned of potential pressures ahead as higher national insurance contributions and wage increases could affect consumer spending. A spokesperson said: 'We continue to believe sales in the second half may come under pressure as the impact of the hike in national insurance will begin to filter through to the wider economy.'
Fibre2Fashion
12-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
UK retail footfall rises in April; combined data shows modest gain
Total UK footfall increased by 7.2 per cent in April year-on-year (YoY), reversing the 5.4 per cent decline recorded in March. However, this sharp rise is largely attributed to the timing of Easter, which fell in April this year rather than March as it did last year, distorting YoY comparisons, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) & Sensormatic Solutions latest released data. UK retail footfall rose 7.2 per cent YoY in April, rebounding from March's 5.4 per cent dip, mainly due to Easter falling in April this year. Combined March-April data shows a modest 0.2 per cent rise, revealing a more balanced trend. All UK nations saw gains, with Northern Ireland up 14.3 per cent. Retailers aim to sustain momentum into summer. 'April brought a welcome rebound in footfall, with shopper numbers rising +7.2 per cent YoY across all retail destinations. The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores,' Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, commented. High Street footfall rose by 5.3 per cent in April after a 4.0 per cent decline in March, while Retail Parks saw a stronger rebound with a 7.5 per cent increase following a 1.2 per cent drop the previous month. Shopping Centres also improved, recording a 5.6 per cent rise after a significant 5.8 per cent decline in March. "A late Easter and some welcome rays of sunshine encouraged shoppers to head out to their local shopping destinations in April. Adjusting for the late fall of Easter this year, footfall across March and April showed a small but positive trend, with retail parks continuing to perform the strongest out of all locations," Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said in a release. All UK nations experienced growth in footfall during April, with England reporting a 6.7 per cent increase and Scotland recording a rise of 6.9 per cent. Wales saw a notable surge of 13.6 per cent, and Northern Ireland led the growth with a 14.3 per cent YoY increase. Despite the strong April figures, the combined data for March and April, released to neutralise the impact of the Easter calendar shift, paints a more subdued picture. Total UK footfall rose by only 0.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, with High Street footfall also increasing by 0.2 per cent. Retail Parks outperformed other locations with a 2.7 per cent rise, but Shopping Centres continued to face difficulties, recording a 0.7 per cent decline. 'Looking at March and April together however, the overall picture for the UK is more balanced, with footfall across the two months up just +0.2 per cent YoY. While this suggests that April's gains largely offset March's dip, it also highlights the importance of sustained engagement beyond seasonal peaks. Retailers will now be looking to build on this momentum as we move into the summer months,' added Sumpter. 'The Labour Party pledged to revitalise high streets across the country, however, current proposals to reform the business rate system will lead to higher bills for many anchor stores on our high streets. These businesses drive footfall to key shopping areas and to the many smaller retailers, cafes and other businesses that reside there. If the government wishes to see thriving town and city centres, it must ensure no shop pays more as a result of business rates reform, thereby enabling retailers' ability to invest in their local communities,' Dickinson added. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Fashion Network
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Everyone agrees: April was a good month for UK retail footfall as Easter and sun encouraged crowds
Despite the month-on-month/year-on-year disturbance in the force (Easter), April returned to offer some sort of normality, delivering a welcome positive boost for UK retail destinations. And for once, related data from both MRI Software and the BRC/Sensormatic footfall monitor were in agreement. Acknowledging Easter's shift into April from March a year ago had distorted year-on-year comparisons, the former said last month's footfall rose 4.3% compared to a year ago while the latter gave an even better increase of 7.2% in April, up from -5.4% in March. 'It was a much-needed lift as the sector deals with ongoing consumer caution', according to MRI Software. It said this boost was largely due to a 5.1% increase in activity at retail parks, bolstered by the shift in Easter holiday timings and a spell of warm weather. High streets and shopping centres also experienced gains with footfall rising 4.1% and 3.9% respectively, 'indicating seasonal events and attractions are drawing visitors back to physical retail destinations'. Over in the BRC/Sensormatic camp, April's high street footfall increased 5.3% (YoY), up from -4% in March; retail parks footfall increased by 7.5% in April, up from -1.2% in March; and shopping centres footfall increased by 5.6% in April, up from -5.8% in March. It also said footfall increased year-on-year across all nations: 6.7% in England, 6.9% in Scotland, 13.6 % in Wales, and the largest increase of 14.3% in Northern Ireland. Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said: 'April brought a welcome rebound in footfall. The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores. High streets and shopping centres both saw solid gains [and] retail parks continued to outperform… reinforcing their role as a resilient format.' Other MRI highlights included weekday footfall in April soaring 6.9% compared to last year, highlighting that more people were out and about during the school holidays and that the return to office 'is solidifying into a long-term trend'. And London was a big fan of April. It hosted the 45th London Marathon, drawing large crowds and boosting Central London footfall by 8.6% compared to last year's event. The evening of the marathon saw a significant 19.5% increase in footfall as runners and supporters celebrated, likely giving a much-needed boost to leisure and hospitality venues. As well as the Easter holidays, events including the FA Cup Semi Final and the opening of the IKEA store on Oxford Street may also have likely contributed to Central London footfall levels rising. 'It's encouraging to see retail destinations across the UK maintain positive trends amid several large retailers falling victim to a wave of cyber-attacks which may potentially impact the in-store experience', the MRI report noted. Looking ahead to May, it said trends are promising but retail leaders should remain cautiously optimistic: 'While events such as the bank holiday and school half-term break offer further opportunities to keep up the momentum, the cost-of-living squeeze continues to cast a long shadow. Retailers need to remain agile and focus on delivering value and experience which may help to convert footfall into spend as shoppers grow increasingly selective in how and where they part with their money.'
Fashion Network
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Everyone agrees: April was a good month for UK retail footfall as Easter and sun encouraged crowds
It said this boost was largely due to a 5.1% increase in activity at retail parks, bolstered by the shift in Easter holiday timings and a spell of warm weather. High streets and shopping centres also experienced gains with footfall rising 4.1% and 3.9% respectively, 'indicating seasonal events and attractions are drawing visitors back to physical retail destinations'. Over in the BRC/Sensormatic camp, April's high street footfall increased 5.3% (YoY), up from -4% in March; retail parks footfall increased by 7.5% in April, up from -1.2% in March; and shopping centres footfall increased by 5.6% in April, up from -5.8% in March. It also said footfall increased year-on-year across all nations: 6.7% in England, 6.9% in Scotland, 13.6 % in Wales, and the largest increase of 14.3% in Northern Ireland. Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said: 'April brought a welcome rebound in footfall. The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores. High streets and shopping centres both saw solid gains [and] retail parks continued to outperform… reinforcing their role as a resilient format.' Other MRI highlights included weekday footfall in April soaring 6.9% compared to last year, highlighting that more people were out and about during the school holidays and that the return to office 'is solidifying into a long-term trend'. And London was a big fan of April. It hosted the 45th London Marathon, drawing large crowds and boosting Central London footfall by 8.6% compared to last year's event. The evening of the marathon saw a significant 19.5% increase in footfall as runners and supporters celebrated, likely giving a much-needed boost to leisure and hospitality venues. As well as the Easter holidays, events including the FA Cup Semi Final and the opening of the IKEA store on Oxford Street may also have likely contributed to Central London footfall levels rising. 'It's encouraging to see retail destinations across the UK maintain positive trends amid several large retailers falling victim to a wave of cyber-attacks which may potentially impact the in-store experience', the MRI report noted. Looking ahead to May, it said trends are promising but retail leaders should remain cautiously optimistic: 'While events such as the bank holiday and school half-term break offer further opportunities to keep up the momentum, the cost-of-living squeeze continues to cast a long shadow. Retailers need to remain agile and focus on delivering value and experience which may help to convert footfall into spend as shoppers grow increasingly selective in how and where they part with their money.'
ITV News
09-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
‘Small but positive' rise in retail footfall as sunny April encourages shoppers
Retailers have seen a 'small but positive' increase in shoppers as the sunniest April on record enticed consumers into stores, figures suggest. Figures for March and April – which cancel out distortions due to this year's late Easter – indicate high street footfall increased by 0.2% on last year, while visits to retail parks were up 2.7%, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic. But shopping centre visits fell by 0.7%. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: 'Adjusting for the late fall of Easter this year, footfall across March and April showed a small but positive trend, with retail parks continuing to perform the strongest out of all locations. The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores. Looking at March and April together however, the overall picture for the UK is more balanced ... Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic 'This reflected the unseasonally warm and bright weather right across the UK. Retailers will be hoping this momentum continues into the summer months.' Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic, said: 'The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores. 'Looking at March and April together however, the overall picture for the UK is more balanced, with footfall across the two months up just 0.2% year-on-year. 'While this suggests that April's gains largely offset March's dip, it also highlights the importance of sustained engagement beyond seasonal peaks. Retailers will now be looking to build on this momentum as we move into the summer months.'
