Department stores are winning a decisive victory over small, high street shops in the battle for customer numbers, new figures show.
Department store visits have climbed a massive 12.3% on the year over the last week, while many smaller shops have noticed significant declines, according to the retail analyst FootFall.
While July’s heat and August’s rain have deterred shoppers from visiting most smaller, independent shops, department stores have offered consumers a refuge from the elements, FootFall argues.
“The department store sector continues to thrive this summer, partly due to its 'one-stop-shop' appeal for pre-holiday shoppers,” said Natasha Burton, spokesperson for FootFall.
“Also, the covered, air-conditioned spaces offered by these stores give shoppers the opportunity to hide from the weather, whether it's the sweltering heat we saw in July or the dreary weather we're experiencing this August.
Overall, the number of people visiting the high street rose 2.3% on the week from 14 August to 20 August; however, on the year the retail index posted an increase of just 0.2%.
Still, Burton pointed out that footfall levels are slowly starting to rebound from a post-World Cup low.
