Retailers hoping for a healthy flow of sale shoppers this weekend are set to be disappointed as snowy weather is expected to severely impact footfall in stores.
Non-food retailers on the high street, are expected to be hardest hit, according to market intelligence experts Rendle Intelligence and Insights.
Met Office yellow weather warnings are in place across large swathes of the UK from this weekend, with snow and ice expected across most of England and Wales and part of Scotland over the course of three days – with severe conditions forecast until Monday.
Saturday is expected to be the coldest day, with a yellow warning for snow and ice in place across all of England apart from the south west, and the majority of Wales.
“Adverse weather always impacts retailers due to its deterrent for shoppers to venture out, and retailers with stores in high streets are often more affected due to their external environments.” said founder and chief executive of Rendle Intelligence and Insights Diane Wehrle.
“Many of those shoppers who do venture out are likely to head towards shopping centres with enclosed environments. Typically non-food retailers, particularly fashion, gifts and jewellery, which are largely discretionary purchases will be hardest hit by severe weather. Some of this will be due to the “post Christmas slump”, but retailers that rely more heavily on an instore experience to entice shoppers to spend are likely to be hardest hit.”
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