Sales off to slow start as Boxing Day footfall slides

Shopper traffic was down 10.6% versus Boxing Day last year in the trading period up until 12pm yesterday, monitor Springboard reported.

According to another footfall specialist, ShopperTrak, Boxing Day footfall plunged 11.8% compared to Boxing Day 2018.

The slip was said by Springboard to reflect wet weather in many areas, which hit high streets in particular, as well as changes in shopping habits such as buying more online.

The 10.6% plunge in footfall the greatest since Boxing Day 2010, which fell on a Sunday so trading started later and occurred in the aftermath of recession.

High streets were hardest hit yesterday, suffering a footfall decline of 13.6%. In shopping centres traffic was down 8.8% and in retail parks there was a slip of 5.9%.

Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said that as the day went on performance might improve along with the weather.

But she observed: : “This result reflects a number of underlying structural changes in terms of how consumers shop with more going online, the increased spending around Black Friday, the growing demand for hospitality and experience, and the fact that many consumers are still celebrating Christmas on Boxing Day with their family.

“In combination, these changes mean that Boxing Day is indisputably a less important trading day than it once was.”

ShopperTrak global general manager Nick Pompa observed that trading today is likely to be better and said: ”As Boxing Day fell on a Thursday this year, it is anticipated that the peak in shopper traffic will take place today, as shoppers make the most of taking an extra day off to extend the Christmas break, allowing them to shop or return gifts.”