England game hits footfall
England's opening World Cup match had a double impact on high street retailers, according to retail data company FootFall. Shopper numbers dropped 22.6 per cent on Saturday, when consumers preferred to be in pubs and bars watching the match. However, in the three days leading up to the game, footfall was down 2.8 per cent compared with last year, which is an improvement on the average deficit of about 4 to 5 per cent so far this year.

Selfridges has gone all out to keep shoppers in-store during the World Cup. The department store chain has installed an Umbro Football Fever Lounge in its Oxford Street branch, where fans can watch the matches on more than 20 Sky HD boxes and Sony Bravia LCD high definition screens, installed specifically for the tournament. A Smirnoff No.55 Black Bar is also on-site, offering supporters cocktails and quality lagers.

Thirsty football fans could be in danger of drinking the supermarkets dry, according to the latest research by Deloitte. The professional services company said retailers keen to cash in on increasing beer sales during the World Cup may struggle to forecast how much they need to order, to satisfy demand. The survey also found that 50 per cent of consumers feel brand is more important than price when buying beer.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, Baugur boss Jon Asegir Johannesson, already a fan of the UK high street, is now a firm supporter of the England football team as well. On Saturday, he hired a private jet to take him and several friends to watch England take on Paraguay in their first match of the tournament.

Topics