Week one of store trading post-lockdown – what you need to know

With non-essential retailers being allowed to reopen stores in England from last Monday for the first time since the end of March, footfall surged 45% week on week, according to the latest data from Springboard.

However, the year-on-year figure, although improved from around -80% at the height of lockdown, was still steeply down at -54%.

The reopening of stores delivered “the most fundamental change in footfall” since before the start of the lockdown, with English retail destinations up 46.7% compared with the previous week.

In Wales and Scotland, which have yet to reopen non-essential stores, footfall was up on the previous week just 8.5% and 11.5% respectively.

Scottish non-essential retail is due to reopen from June 29, while Welsh stores were allowed to open with social distancing measures in place from today.

City destinations hit by home working

While local suburban high streets and shopping centres enjoyed the largest footfall surges across the UK last week, up 47.5% and 45% respectively, Springboard said that urban city-centre high streets were still struggling, with people continuing to work from home and not commuting.

And despite the initial surge, overall footfall for high streets across England is 59.2% lower year on year, so the situation remains precarious for a retail sector gingerly feeling its way back from the coronavirus lockdown that has pushed many brands to the brink of collapse.

Last week, footfall in London’s West End was 80.8% down year on year, while central London as a whole was down 59.2%. 

Springboard’s insights director Diane Wehrle said: “The opening of non-essential retail in England on Monday June 15 had a substantial impact on footfall across all retail destinations. The overall result for the UK was subdued by Scotland and Wales, where retail reopening was yet to happen.

“We anticipate an additional uplift to come when retail in these areas of the UK also reopens and the hospitality and entertainment industry is given the green light to resume trading in the coming weeks.”

Calls for government intervention

New West End Company chief executive Jace Tyrell said the disparity in footfall recovery between once thriving retail districts, such as the West End, and ailing suburban high streets showed that the government needed to intervene.

“The disparity between the national and central London footfall figures highlights the need for further government action to ensure that retail and hospitality businesses can run viably throughout the summer and beyond.

“In the West End, we are hindered by a lack of international visitors and restrictions to the use of public transport, and businesses are being further held back by unnecessary regulations.

“Measures including reducing social distancing measures from two to one metre, the temporary relaxation of planning and licensing regulations for bars and restaurants, and relaxing Sunday trading laws in key retail destinations will boost sales and sustain footfall of local shoppers, and then domestic and overseas visitors, and ensure that our businesses can survive through the summer months.”

The government is expected to make an announcement with regards to reviewing social distancing measures at some point this week. There have also been reports that the Treasury is considering cutting VAT to try to encourage spending.