Shopper footfall in Scotland improves but still down -SRC

September’s performance is the best result for Scottish high streets since February 2015, excluding Easter distortions, but remains below the UK average rate -0.2 per cent.

Across the UK, footfall in September was 0.2 per cent lower than a year ago, but an improvement on the 1.6 fall in August. This was above the three-month average of -0.9 per cent.

Footfall in retail park locations increased 4.0 per cent year-on-year. This is the highest figure since January 2014, excluding Easter distortions.

High Streets and Shopping Centres reported a decline in footfall of 1.4 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively. This is High Streets best performance for seven months, excluding Easter distortions.

Three regions reported positive footfall growth in September, with the greatest rise seen in the East Midlands. All other regions and countries reported footfall below the UK average.

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Shopper footfall in Scotland wilted once again in September, albeit at a less pronounced rate than the month before and also when contrasted to the average of the past three months. Footfall fared worse here than in any of the other three constituent parts of the UK last month, the first time this has happened since July 2013.

“Retailers and shopping destinations are clearly going to have to work harder to attract custom, no doubt through a blend of improvements to areas including service, ranges, pricing and promotions. With the clock ticking down towards big upcoming announcements on the UK and devolved budgets in a few weeks’ time retailers’ will be looking for convincing action from the Chancellor and Scotland’s Finance Secretary to improve consumer confidence, as well as steadfast resistance to the relentless rise in government-inspired cost pressures which have been witnessed of late or are under consideration. Rising costs divert and exhaust resources which otherwise would be used to grow the business.”

Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard, said: “The perfect Autumn weather, additional bank holiday trading day and lowest UK vacancy rate for two years are key drivers behind relatively pleasing figures for September. In Scotland, the drop of 0.8 per cent was the best annual change for the past five months, and across the UK a drop of 0.2 per cent in footfall was the best year-on-year performance since March and the second best performing month over the last 17 months. Perfect seasonal weather is vital to high street fashion sales with over a quarter of retailers we asked (26.8 per cent) confirming that they brought forward store drops of Autumn/Winter stock this season. Together with the additional bank holiday trading day, this boosted overall sales of outerwear and accessories, including footwear.

“Scotland’s vacancy rate of 10.6 per cent was a result of the smallest rise since October last year (just +0.2 per cent from 10.4 per cent in April) and is undoubtedly helping to retain footfall in high streets and shopping centres, and a longer term trend to watch. Flexible leases are becoming increasingly available, with more property owners now comfortable with marketing their empty units to pop ups helping to bring much needed brands into empty space, and this increased “newness” is providing lapsed high street shoppers with a reason to visit.

“Footfall in Retail Parks in Scotland clocked up a 7.6 per cent year-on-year increase in September, the eighth month out of the past nine in which there has been a significantly larger rise in Scotland than across the UK as a whole. Convenience, no-cost parking and Click and Collect and strong weekend repeat customers are all helping to boost shoppers and footfall as a steady trend.”