Strong start to 2015 for shopping centre footfall
Shopping centres in the UK have seen an increase in footfall in the opening months of 2015, according to a report from Experian and the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC.)
The Footfall Monitor reports that overall footfall for the country increased by 0.9% in March, compared to February, which had seen a 2% increase month on month increase on January.
Commenting on the statistics, Edward Cooke, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the BCSE, said “It is a positive story for shopping centres with footfall up for the past two months of this year, reflecting a growing confidence amongst consumers.”
The North West enjoyed the largest month on month increase, up 6.8%, with the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber also having strong increases.
Despite these positive figures, some regions, including the South East, West Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland all saw month on month decreases in the number of shoppers.
Robert Wilkinson, Strategic Account Director at Experian Footfall, said: “While these figures are encouraging, it is imperative that shopping centres and retailers see any changes in footfall in the context of their wider business strategy.”
“In addition, by looking at associated activity such as marketing spend on seasonal events, loyalty schemes and staffing, shopping centres and retailers can assess where best to focus their efforts for the biggest return on investment.”
The report also found Saturday to be the most popular day for shoppers, with the peak of monthly activity seen in the last week of each month, which is of course likely to be pay day for most consumers.
Looking for retail property in the UK? Search thousands at here at novaloca.com
