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Original poster

Footfall in shops on Boxing day down 50%

64 replies

RoyalFamilyFan · 28/12/2021 00:38

Many people are putting themselves into a voluntary lockdown. Footfall in shops was down by 50% on Boxing Day. People keep saying that no restrictions are to protect businesses and the economy, but businesses are being affected anyway.

www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/shoppers-stay-home-on-boxing-day-as-footfall-drops-by-almost-half-on-pre-covid-levels/ar-AASbHPo?ocid=msedgntp

OP posts:
RancidOldHag · 28/12/2021 07:31

@KatherineJaneway

Shops shouldn’t be open on Boxing Day imo.
They very rarely were when I was small - petrol stations and newsagents perhaps in the mornings, but that was about it.

Then in the 1970s, big stores started having their sales start on Boxing Day itself, and then it spread.

But that was a blip.

Christmas never used to be a compete shut down. For example, London buses were running on Christmas Day itself until 1973. It was more a two day holiday than a complete shut down.

Florelei · 28/12/2021 07:31

The shops near me were heaving yesterday once they all reopened after being closed on Boxing Day.

Doesntfeellikexmas · 28/12/2021 07:36

I hate data like this. A presumption that it must be 'X' reason. When there's loads of different reasons, as mentioned above, contributing.

MarieG10 · 28/12/2021 07:38

Leeds was rammed. Some struggled to even park. Restaurants and cafes pretty busy as well.

Lot of people not wearing masks indoors....beginning to see an "up yours" attitude I think now

FindingMeno · 28/12/2021 07:41

I doubt it's because of covid tbh personally.
Kids will be back at school before we know it and covid will have a continued free for all so shopping in a mask barely registers in comparison.

Sparklingbrook · 28/12/2021 07:42

John Lewis has never opened on Boxing Day. I think other shops have followed suit maybe.
I can see how people wouldn't want to cram into packed shops at the moment, and you can order your sales stuff online on Christmas Day.

I love to go shopping in January after all the sale clutter has gone so I'll be going in about 2 week's time.

scaevola · 28/12/2021 08:02

@MarieG10

Leeds was rammed. Some struggled to even park. Restaurants and cafes pretty busy as well.

Lot of people not wearing masks indoors....beginning to see an "up yours" attitude I think now

Leeds wasn't rammed yesterday - plenty of space in Woodhouse Lane multi-storey and Morrisons in the Merrion.

Yes, plenty of people, but not feeling either busy or full

MrsLargeEmbodied · 28/12/2021 08:11

the media are blaming it on worrying about the virus
perhaps it is lack of cash, rotten weather,
all walking lock down dogs.
just enjoying time at home

MarieG10 · 28/12/2021 08:11

@scaevola
Interesting. We only just got into Victoria car park before closed as full. Friends couldn't get in St Johns either. Certainly felt busy and not like people were locking themselves down

MrsLargeEmbodied · 28/12/2021 08:12

and of course there are online sales,

Sparklingbrook · 28/12/2021 08:13

Yes the John Lewis online sale started Christmas Eve. No need to leave the house.

MaryBoBary · 28/12/2021 08:14

I also don't believe it has anything to do with people self imposing a lock down. It's just that a lot of the shops were shut this year.

CallMeNutribullet · 28/12/2021 08:18

I was shopping yesterday at the nearby very large retail park and it was extraordinarily busy. There were multiple marshal's controlling traffic and I had to queue for a parking space in spite of there being capacity for over 2k individual cars.

CallMeNutribullet · 28/12/2021 08:19

That was in Glasgow

Uniforn · 28/12/2021 08:20

@User754390

Most of the large stores were shut Boxing Day, even Next, I went on the 27th and it seemed quite busy but I didn't buy much. Boxing Day sales are generally not that good anyway, people all seem to buy online on Black Friday now.
Yes I was going to say a lot of shops closed so not surprising. There are also so many sales throughout the year that the boxing day sales just aren't the big event they once were.
Againstmachine · 28/12/2021 08:40

Also many stores such as Debenhams, Topshop, Burton's ect have closed which will reduce footfall.

Although I do doing where these figures come from so quickly.

MiniPumpkin · 28/12/2021 08:57

IMO Boxing Day is a day for pjs, staying at home playing games with the kids and eating selection boxes. After the chaos of Xmas who would want to.. although I have a baby and 3yr old so I suppose that makes getting about harder. Like some others I accessed the next vip sale, got some things on 23rd. I have been browsing online and the sales have been quite awful.

megletthesecond · 28/12/2021 09:03

Maybe people are finally realising it's better to have a slow day on Boxing day. No one needs to shop that day.

mafted · 28/12/2021 09:10

I've never understood why, after what feels to me like months of shopping or thinking about shopping anyone would want to be buying more on Boxing Day.

Northsoutheastwest76 · 28/12/2021 09:18

Well far more shops were shut and rightly so. For me Christmas Day and Boxing Day are about spending time with extended family. This year that was more important than ever after being unable to do so last year.

MissPeregrine · 28/12/2021 09:19

I’ve never understood the need to stand outside Next at 5am on Boxing Day. Are there really any bargains to be had? Surely they just wheel out the obscure sizes and shite stock?

User754390 · 28/12/2021 09:25

@MissPeregrine

I’ve never understood the need to stand outside Next at 5am on Boxing Day. Are there really any bargains to be had? Surely they just wheel out the obscure sizes and shite stock?
I usually get an online slot for Next and it is very good for branded items, this year I bought Fatface and Seasalt clothes and Emma Bridgewater mugs, the shop is very inferior as only Next branded items
stripyleopardsleep · 28/12/2021 09:25

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]Many people are putting themselves into a voluntary lockdown. Footfall in shops was down by 50% on Boxing Day. People keep saying that no restrictions are to protect businesses and the economy, but businesses are being affected anyway.

www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/shoppers-stay-home-on-boxing-day-as-footfall-drops-by-almost-half-on-pre-covid-levels/ar-AASbHPo?ocid=msedgntp[/quote]
It's hardly a 'voluntary lockdown' to not go near a shop in Boxing Day, don't be so dramatic.

Thickasmincepie · 28/12/2021 09:37

Nope. All my bills have gone up. I am too worried about affording the coming year to just go spending on stuff I don't really need.

And if I do need it, it's easier online.

Angel2702 · 28/12/2021 09:52

I imagine this is the case without COVID though.

People have moved away from Boxing Day shopping, especially this year spending it with family having missed out last year. The emphasis is now on Black Friday for sales more than post Christmas, plus you are bombarded from Christmas Day with emails and ads for online sales so less need to go to the shops.