Good news for independent retailers, gift and lifestyle shops included, is that the latest analysis from consumer watchdog Which? has revealed that indies and services have replaced retail giants on UK high streets.
“While it’s concerning to have seen so many well-loved brands disappear from UK high streets in recent years, our research suggests the future of our town centres isn’t necessarily as bleak as the reports of store closures would have you believe,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which? magazine.
“As shoppers needs and habits evolve, it’s vital that businesses keep up with these changing trends and consider how they can grow with them, in order to continue thriving on the high street.”
The consumer champion analysed almost 1.5 million Ordnance Survey (OS) business records to compare Britain’s retail and services landscape from 2014 to 2019 – and found that personal services, markets and specialists that focus on ‘experiences’ are increasingly replacing retailers hit directly by the rise of online shopping.
Despite ongoing concerns regarding the ‘death of the high street’, the research found that businesses offering services or experiences that cannot be replicated online have prospered in the face of the booming digital economy. Ironically, cafés and tattoo parlours have thrived while many major retailers continue to struggle.
These traders can also function as effective drivers of footfall to other businesses, with many traditional retailers now pivoting towards offering these kinds of services in-store.
Top: Independents offering services and experiences that can’t be replicated online are winning on the high street says a Which? report.
