Maybe* shopping survey provides vital insight to independent retailers

So, will the country be flocking back to the shops?

Yes . . . and no! The good news is that 90% of people surveyed say they plan to return to shops, but it may be more of a trickle than a stampede. The crucial stat for independent retailers to overcome is that of the respondents, 47% of people are nervous about shopping again. 

Of those surveyed, 45% said they plan to shop less than they did pre-COVID-19 and 3.5% saying they have no intention of returning to the High Street any time soon. That may seem daunting, but 43% of people are still planning to shop as they did before and 7.5% say they are planning to shop more. So, there’s hope!

What can the you do to entice more shoppers?

Unsurprisingly, people want to feel safe. Whether they walk tentatively into the stores or sprint through the gates on June 15th, shoppers want to see social distancing measures taken seriously. 52.4% of surveyed shoppers want to see social distancing measures in place while 21% feel that limiting the shopper numbers is the most important factor to getting them back through the doors. Meanwhile, 10% see hand sanitiser facilities as the most important. 

What’s clear is that all retail, from independents through to shopping centres, have their work cut out to try and please everyone. Though 21% of people surveyed feel that shopper numbers should be limited, 64.4% of people flagged that long queues are their biggest barrier to shopping at all. 23% of people are most concerned about social distancing measures being followed, while 7.5% are concerned about taking transport to the shops.

How can Independents encourage shoppers back in?

Indie store owners are encouraged to embrace Independents’ Day UK - a campaign that encourages shoppers across the UK to use small shops on 4 July each year. 

Howard Robinson, a spokesperson for the campaign, said:

“Hundreds of thousands of small retailers will re-open their doors just in time for this year’s Independents’ Day and we’re calling on shoppers to pledge at least one pound’s worth of shopping to an indie in the run-up to and on Saturday 4th July.

“Whether it’s a morning paper or a pint of milk – if all of us go out of our way to support our local shops, we can make a huge difference to a sector that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 lockdown. Independents bring colour, choice and character to our high streets, they provide jobs and invaluable services to communities – and now more than ever, it really is a case of use them, or lose them. We’re at a critical time.”

Key takeaway

There’s light at the end of this virus-coated tunnel for retail but the question of when stores will return to their pre-COVID glory remains to be seen. People are scared and pretty sceptical about how well the recommended measures will be implemented and if enough is being done to keep them safe. This is particularly true of large towns and cities where 54% of people surveyed said they would visit less often.

But of course, the data speaks for itself. To put the minds of your customers at rest, you need to be seen to be doing all you can to keep them safe when they shop with you, whether that’s social distancing signage, new sanitising facilities or new systems to reduce physical contact. But remember, it’s not enough to have these measures in place in store and hope your customers stumble upon them. Utilise your social media channels to share what you’re doing in store so your customers can feel confident about finally stepping out of their front doors and in through yours.