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Original poster

Retail seems to have dropped off a cliff?

104 replies

Neverendingdust · 14/06/2022 14:10

Went into Manchester City centre yesterday and couldn’t believe how quiet it was even for a Monday especially as it was a lovely sunny day, the shopping centre and Selfridges were rather lacking in customers which given the current economic climate isn’t a shock I know but still…

I have a few friends in retail and they’re all saying how quiet it is in the city.

Obviously the rising cost of living issue is having a widespread impact but I’m wondering if those on here who work in retail (not just supermarkets but fashion, home, entertainment etc) have seen a massive decline the last month or so too around the country? Has everyone simply stopped spending?

OP posts:
ForestofD · 14/06/2022 16:26

Petrol prices. I live rurally, no more more 'popping into' town/shops etc.

I write a list and then go in and get it all done on the same day- library/shopping/chores etc.

Or I plan things so I can collect/do on my way home from work, so no extra trip is needed.

I have to watch every mile as the petrol is so expensive. And we only have 1 garage in the nearby village, so if I want cheaper petrol, I have to drive for another 6 miles to get some.

QuebecBagnet · 14/06/2022 16:28

Yep. Spending all my money on bills, petrol and food. Not clothes, etc

Badbadbunny · 14/06/2022 16:29

Whenever I go shopping, I come home virtually empty handed. Not only are there much fewer shops, the ones who have survived seem to have very little stock. I think shops are shooting themselves in the foot.

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Cost of living
Ilikewinter · 14/06/2022 16:32

I used to work in the city centre so would have mooch around most days, since feb I changed my job and WFH 3 days a week, office days arent in the city centre etiher, I havent been back in town sine Feb!.
I pick basics up, ie T-Shirts from the supermarket and havent bought anything else apart from toiletries this year

justasking111 · 14/06/2022 16:37

Popped into Conwy this afternoon for a watch repair, bought an ice-cream, it was busy footfall wise but the shops are quiet. Last week Llandudno M&S reasonably busy food wise, Primark only one checkout operator very few staff about. Boots and Superdrug quiet. This was a Thursday.

Shopping habits have changed I think

Orangesandlemons77 · 14/06/2022 16:43

I was in Waitrose earlier and noticed all of the Essentials £1 free range eggs had sold out. Big spaces for the cheap items. Haven't noticed that before.

MumbleAlwaysMumble · 14/06/2022 16:48

Well I (try to) go shopping. Signs everywhere saying ‘not all sizes available in the shop. Please go online’.

Well that’s fine but I’ll just shop completely online then. Not go in the shop to have to go back online anyway…

Sparklingbrook · 14/06/2022 16:53

I never go clothes shopping in person, just have it all delivered and send back what I don't want.
But I did go into town to Boots today and there were a lot of completely bare shelves, like the whole range of things were gone. Same in Savers.
Cafes and restaurants all seemed busy though.

MumbleAlwaysMumble · 14/06/2022 16:54

Frolicinameadow · 14/06/2022 16:10

Work in retail supply.
sales have declined so it’s not online vs instore. It’s that people have been locked up for 2+ years and are now spending on trips, seeing family etc. Plus the cost of living crisis.

I’m not sure people are spending much more of their money in trios, seeing family etc…

People ARE taking some hols, like they’ve always done but rejoicing at the fact they hadn’t done that for a while.
Weve been able to see family for a long time now.

I think people are feeling the pinch. Everything has gone up. I mean £100 for a tank of petrol means that people have about £30 less to spend on clothes than they did a couple of months ago. Food has increased, etc etc…
Thw money just isn’t there.

MumbleAlwaysMumble · 14/06/2022 16:55

Plus I’d say people have got used NOT shopping all the time too. They learnt that they don’t need some much clothes etc… Why going back to something you now see as not essential?

Chaoslatte · 14/06/2022 17:17

The data show that retail spending is down but only by around 1% - hardly off a cliff.

Adamantspants · 14/06/2022 17:21

Definitely quieter, only busy place consistently is Primark.

Wheretheskyisblue · 14/06/2022 17:26

Chaoslatte · 14/06/2022 17:17

The data show that retail spending is down but only by around 1% - hardly off a cliff.

Does this include online? I expect it also varies hugely by area.

Chaoslatte · 14/06/2022 17:44

Wheretheskyisblue · 14/06/2022 17:26

Does this include online? I expect it also varies hugely by area.

Show quote history

Yes, it does include online. It also varies massively between categories - things like furniture are doing worse while fashion is doing pretty well. But as my DP said, everyone that was going to, redid their house in lockdown so they don’t need any more furniture this year! According to the BRC report clothing sales were up in May, both online and in store.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 14/06/2022 17:44

Petrol prices, traffic, high parking costs are putting people off going into cities and big towns for shopping or just a browse around. Summer weather has not been amazing until now so people will not have rushed to buy summer clothes. Lots of people have plenty of things they purchased over the last two years that they never got to wear on holidays so maybe between this and cost of living crisis they realise that they do not need as much.

SerendipityJane · 14/06/2022 17:44

Chaoslatte · 14/06/2022 17:17

The data show that retail spending is down but only by around 1% - hardly off a cliff.

The data you forgot to post a link to that is.

Meanwhile my secret data is there's been an across the board drop of c. 5% and that it's rate of decrease has yet to slow.

LetitiaLeghorn · 14/06/2022 17:49

I hate buying clothes online. I love shopping. I have money and I want to spend it. But despite going to several cities, I'm struggling to find anything nice to buy. The material is cheap, the designs are full of tiers and flounces and peplums. Sleeves aren't set in any more. They're just added to a box shaped top so they make you look two sizes bigger than you are.
If retailers want customers back spending, they're going to need to start producing something worth buying.

SausagePourHomme · 14/06/2022 17:52

Perhaps the people who could afford/want to shop are on holiday abroad right now

I totally lost my spending appetite over lockdown. I hate to spend money even when i can afford it.

nancy75 · 14/06/2022 17:56

LetitiaLeghorn · 14/06/2022 17:49

I hate buying clothes online. I love shopping. I have money and I want to spend it. But despite going to several cities, I'm struggling to find anything nice to buy. The material is cheap, the designs are full of tiers and flounces and peplums. Sleeves aren't set in any more. They're just added to a box shaped top so they make you look two sizes bigger than you are.
If retailers want customers back spending, they're going to need to start producing something worth buying.

I agree with this, I’m too old to dress like a milkmaid!

TwinklingFairyLights · 14/06/2022 18:00

Meanwhile my secret data is there's been an across the board drop of c. 5% and that it's rate of decrease has yet to slow.

Where's this from? It wouldn't surprise me. When people are feeling the pinch then discretionary spending is bound to drop.

EvilPea · 14/06/2022 18:01

It’s the parking I think is a huge killer.
if they gave you an hour or two free, you’d click and collect, and pick extra stuff up whilst your out.

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 14/06/2022 18:04

Chaoslatte · 14/06/2022 17:17

The data show that retail spending is down but only by around 1% - hardly off a cliff.

1% by £ spent but with the rising cost of things this is masking a reduction in the number of purchases.

TwinklingFairyLights · 14/06/2022 18:06

EvilPea · 14/06/2022 18:01

It’s the parking I think is a huge killer.
if they gave you an hour or two free, you’d click and collect, and pick extra stuff up whilst your out.

Yes, it's over £20 a day to park in central Manchester for the day now. Free over at the Trafford Centre though,

Iamthewombat · 14/06/2022 18:10

nancy75 · 14/06/2022 17:56

I agree with this, I’m too old to dress like a milkmaid!

Show quote history

Yeah, I love clothes but I don’t want to wear flouncy polyester sacks. Or thin viscose masquerading as cotton in a t shirt. Or those hideous ‘slider’ shoes. I was in Selfridges in Manchester City centre last month. Plenty to spend, couldn’t find anything I liked. Even the friends who like that stuff can only accommodate a finite number of tent dresses in their lives!