Weekend trips to physical stores increases by 25%

With relaxed lockdown rules and warm weather over the weekend of 15 May, it’s perhaps no surprise that the number of trips to physical stores increased. Our Channel Solutions Director and Daily Trips expert, Simon Quirk, reveals more.

On Monday 11 May, a new roadmap for England’s lockdown plan was shared. With this came an easing of some restrictions, including more time outside and the re-opening of garden centres. Combine this with this weekend’s sunny weather and you can perhaps understand why the nation increased the number of trips to physical retail stores by 25% on Friday 15 May and Saturday16 May (vs 8 May and 9 May). The larges t trips shift by far was from DIY and Garden centres (+70%) who now hold a significantly greater share of retail trips than before COVID-19.

We also increased our trips to Pet Stores (+30%) and Food & Drink Specialists (+10%) but that’s not all, Cafés and Restaurants began rising upwards from a low base (+3%). Potentially showing the appetite is there as this channel tentatively re-open premises for take-away items.

Clearly a mixture of circumstances has driven us to the shops this weekend. With even hotter weather forecast this week, it will be interesting to see how this evolves.

Real shopper behaviour, on a daily basis
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