Latest news with #Sensormatic
Fibre2Fashion
a day ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
UK retail footfall falls 0.4% in July, BRC urges rate cuts
UK retail footfall has declined by 0.4 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in July, showing an improvement from June's 1.8 per cent drop, according to British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic data. UK retail footfall fell 0.4 per cent YoY in July, improving from June's 1.8 per cent drop, BRC-Sensormatic data shows. High Streets were down 1.7 per cent, shopping centres 0.3 per cent, while retail parks rose 1.7 per cent. Wales saw growth; other nations fell. BRC's Helen Dickinson urged deeper business rates cuts to revive empty shops, as sentiment stays cautious despite signs of improvement. High Street footfall fell by 1.7 per cent YoY, easing from a 3 per cent decline in June. Retail Parks recorded a 1.7 per cent YoY increase, rebounding from a 1.1 per cent fall in the previous month. Shopping Centres saw footfall dip by 0.3 per cent YoY, improving from June's 1.6 per cent drop. Regionally, Wales was the only nation to post growth, with a 0.4 per cent YoY rise in footfall. England saw a 0.3 per cent decline, Scotland dropped 1.3 per cent, and Northern Ireland recorded the steepest fall at 3 per cent, BRC said in a release. Persistent shop vacancies—with around one in seven stores empty—remain a barrier to revitalising shopping destinations, according to Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium. While welcoming the government's plan to reduce business rates, she called for a substantial cut to deliver meaningful benefits for communities and revive empty shops. She also stressed that many smaller retailers depend on larger anchor stores to draw visitors, cautioning that upcoming reforms must ensure no store faces higher costs to avoid potential closures or price increases. 'July failed to bring about the summer boost in shoppers many retailers had hoped for. Instead, footfall dipped in July for the second consecutive year. There were bright spots, with Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds all showing an improvement in numbers of store visits. Retail parks continued to outperform other destinations with some seeing big brands opening new outlets,' Dickinson said. 'The early-July heatwave, following a scorcher in June, may have lifted leisure footfall more than retail, while one year into a new Labour government, consumer sentiment remains cautious. The underlying footfall trend may be improving, but this is still negative growth on negative 2024 figures - raising the question: are shoppers returning, or simply shopping around more as they try to spend less? Either way, retailers who can offer value, experience, and convenience may be best placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth,' Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, commented. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Fashion United
4 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Retail footfall falters in July despite heatwave and events
In a month when the summer sun scorched pavements and the Lionesses lifted silverware, Britain's retail sector remained conspicuously tepid. July footfall figures, released by BRC-Sensormatic, reveal a marginal 0.4 percent year-on-year decline—an improvement on June's -1.8 percent, but still far from the revival fashion retailers were hoping for. Despite the seasonal promise of sun-soaked shoppers and destination dressing, High Streets suffered a 1.7 percent dip in foot traffic, while Shopping Centres edged down 0.3 percent. Retail Parks were the sole outperformers, registering a 1.7 percent YoY increase as consumers sought convenience and parking ease over promenade charm. This data paints a telling picture for fashion professionals: consumer sentiment remains cautious, discretionary spending thinly stretched, and even summer wardrobes are failing to lure feet through doors. Regional ripples Geographically, the footfall narrative is fractured. Northern Ireland led the fallers with a sharp 3.0 percent drop, while England as a whole slipped 0.3 percent. In contrast, Wales and key English regions like the North East (+1.6 percent) and Yorkshire and the Humber (+1.1 percent) offered glimmers of hope. Manchester emerged as the standout city, surging 3.9 percent, a performance possibly buoyed by event-driven traffic and continued urban regeneration. Yet as Andy Sumpter of Sensormatic notes, these surges are ephemeral. 'Events like the Oasis tour gave local uplifts, only for traffic to slide away shortly after,' he remarked. 'Retailers who can offer value, experience, and convenience may be best placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth.' For the fashion sector, these numbers underscore a deeper identity crisis. Physical retail remains indispensable for tactile engagement—fit, feel, and the emotional charge of purchase. But one in seven shops lie empty, eroding the theatre of the High Street shopping experience. In major cities, this vacant sprawl is particularly jarring. London, despite its global fashion stature, saw footfall fall 0.5 percent YoY. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, was blunt: 'Customers want a vibrant shopping destination, but... more needs to be done to turn town and city centres into places people want to visit.' Indeed, for fashion retailers reliant on anchor tenants and bustling urban ecosystems, the state of public realm and commercial mix is no longer peripheral, it is existential. Policy reform The UK government's proposed reduction in business rates for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure premises has been welcomed, but sentiment across the sector is that incrementalism won't suffice. 'Only a substantial cut will truly benefit communities nationwide and help bring thousands of empty shops back into use,' Dickinson added. Without meaningful reform, many independents and department stores alike may struggle to justify bricks-and-mortar footprints—particularly when e-commerce and hybrid models continue to outpace physical recovery. Looking ahead As August progresses, fashion professionals will be eyeing back-to-school and early AW25 collections as the next real test of consumer intent. But unless footfall begins converting into full baskets, and doing so consistently, confidence in retail-led recovery will remain fragile.
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Hoped-for summer boost for retailers failed to materialise, figures show
Total UK footfall was down by 0.4% year on year in July while shopper visits to the high street fell by 1.7%, according to British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic data. Shopping centre footfall was down by 0.3% but visits to retail parks were up by 1.7% on a year ago, reflecting continued new openings by major brands. Footfall in Wales saw a 0.4% increase compared to the previous year but declined in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland by 0.3%, 1.3% and 3% respectively. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: 'July failed to bring about the summer boost in shoppers many retailers had hoped for. Instead, footfall dipped in July for the second consecutive year. 'Customers want a vibrant shopping destination, but with around one in seven shops lying empty, more needs to be done to turn town and city centres into places people want to visit. 'While government's plan to reduce business rates for most retail, hospitality and leisure premises is a step in the right direction, only a substantial cut will truly benefit communities nationwide and help bring thousands of empty shops back into use.' Andy Sumpter, from Sensormatic, said: 'England's Lionesses might have won the women's Euros in July, but footfall has not yet come home it seems. 'The early July heatwave, following a scorcher in June, may have lifted leisure footfall more than retail, while one year into a new Labour government consumer sentiment remains cautious. 'The underlying footfall trend may be improving, but this is still negative growth on negative 2024 figures – raising the question: are shoppers returning, or simply shopping around more as they try to spend less? 'Either way, retailers who can offer value, experience and convenience may be best-placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth.'
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Hoped-for summer boost for retailers failed to materialise, figures show
Total UK footfall was down by 0.4% year on year in July while shopper visits to the high street fell by 1.7%, according to British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic data. Shopping centre footfall was down by 0.3% but visits to retail parks were up by 1.7% on a year ago, reflecting continued new openings by major brands. Footfall in Wales saw a 0.4% increase compared to the previous year but declined in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland by 0.3%, 1.3% and 3% respectively. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: 'July failed to bring about the summer boost in shoppers many retailers had hoped for. Instead, footfall dipped in July for the second consecutive year. 'Customers want a vibrant shopping destination, but with around one in seven shops lying empty, more needs to be done to turn town and city centres into places people want to visit. 'While government's plan to reduce business rates for most retail, hospitality and leisure premises is a step in the right direction, only a substantial cut will truly benefit communities nationwide and help bring thousands of empty shops back into use.' Andy Sumpter, from Sensormatic, said: 'England's Lionesses might have won the women's Euros in July, but footfall has not yet come home it seems. 'The early July heatwave, following a scorcher in June, may have lifted leisure footfall more than retail, while one year into a new Labour government consumer sentiment remains cautious. 'The underlying footfall trend may be improving, but this is still negative growth on negative 2024 figures – raising the question: are shoppers returning, or simply shopping around more as they try to spend less? 'Either way, retailers who can offer value, experience and convenience may be best-placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth.'
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Hoped-for summer boost for retailers failed to materialise, figures show
Total UK footfall was down by 0.4% year on year in July while shopper visits to the high street fell by 1.7%, according to British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic data. Shopping centre footfall was down by 0.3% but visits to retail parks were up by 1.7% on a year ago, reflecting continued new openings by major brands. Footfall in Wales saw a 0.4% increase compared to the previous year but declined in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland by 0.3%, 1.3% and 3% respectively. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: 'July failed to bring about the summer boost in shoppers many retailers had hoped for. Instead, footfall dipped in July for the second consecutive year. 'Customers want a vibrant shopping destination, but with around one in seven shops lying empty, more needs to be done to turn town and city centres into places people want to visit. 'While government's plan to reduce business rates for most retail, hospitality and leisure premises is a step in the right direction, only a substantial cut will truly benefit communities nationwide and help bring thousands of empty shops back into use.' Andy Sumpter, from Sensormatic, said: 'England's Lionesses might have won the women's Euros in July, but footfall has not yet come home it seems. 'The early July heatwave, following a scorcher in June, may have lifted leisure footfall more than retail, while one year into a new Labour government consumer sentiment remains cautious. 'The underlying footfall trend may be improving, but this is still negative growth on negative 2024 figures – raising the question: are shoppers returning, or simply shopping around more as they try to spend less? 'Either way, retailers who can offer value, experience and convenience may be best-placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth.'
