{"id":45720,"date":"2014-07-29T09:41:32","date_gmt":"2014-07-29T09:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=8a096a1f1bbd41b10e8cd5ad345fb225"},"modified":"2014-07-29T09:41:32","modified_gmt":"2014-07-29T09:41:32","slug":"press-release-convenience-culture-drives-high-street-revival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=45720","title":{"rendered":"Press release: \u2018Convenience culture\u2019 drives high street revival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A new in-depth study<\/a> into the state of British high streets has revealed how town centres are adapting to meet the changing demands of the nation\u2019s consumers.<\/p>\n

Researchers at the University of Southampton reveal how \u2018fundamental\u2019 changes to Britain\u2019s \u2018convenience culture\u2019 are transforming the way we shop and bringing new business into town.<\/p>\n

New High Streets Minister Penny Mordaunt today (29 July 2014) welcomed the study\u2019s findings as proof the country\u2019s most dynamic and flexible town centres were experiencing a retail resurgence despite the competitive pressures of internet shopping and out-of-town stores.<\/p>\n

It comes as the Department for Communities and Local Government and leading retail experts step up the summer search to find the best high streets in Britain. <\/p>\n

In one of the most definitive studies into consumer habits ever conducted in Britain, the University of Southampton Retail Research Group discovered there has been a \u2018fundamental shift\u2019 in what consumers mean by \u2018convenience\u2019 shopping.<\/p>\n

Throughout the 1980\u2019s and 1990\u2019s this was defined as one-stop shopping in big out-of-town developments but increasingly convenience means \u2018topping up\u2019 the groceries in local stores.<\/p>\n

\u201cConvenience retail in town centres\/high streets, both independently and corporately owned, has experienced significant growth over the past 15 years, a growth sustained during the economic crisis and subsequent period of austerity,\u201d the report finds.<\/p>\n

That trend is expected to continue over the next 5 years, with convenience stores accounting for a quarter of the entire grocery market by 2019. Over the same period the market share for superstores is expected to fall from 42% to 34.9%. <\/p>\n

The study also concludes there has been a \u2018modest resurgence\u2019 in specialist retailers such as \u2018artisanal bakers, butchers and tea and coffee merchants\u2019 on high streets were independent stores stand alongside big high street names.<\/p>\n

At the same time retailers are exploiting opportunities created by on-line shopping \u2013 particularly with the rise in click and collect buying. Within 5 years, 7 out of 10 on-line shoppers will prefer to collect goods themselves rather than risk missing a delivery at home.<\/p>\n

The study also finds the \u2018leisure aspect of shopping trips is a significant driver of footfall\u2019 and that high streets that include a good range of cafes, bars, restaurants not only increase the \u2018dwell time but the average spent during trips to town\u2019.<\/p>\n

The University of Southampton study suggests that the long-term shifts towards leisure, health and beauty services \u2013 such as nail salons, hair dressers and gyms \u2013 will continue. While consumer spending on leisure is projected to increase over the next 10 years, spending on \u2018recession-related\u2019 retail, like pawnbrokers and betting shops, will slow.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew relationships are being established in town centres and high streets, creating opportunities and contributing to their resilience,\u201d the study concludes.<\/p>\n

Minister Penny Mordaunt said: <\/p>\n

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This report shows our high streets to be adaptable, creative and resilient. The Great British High Street competition is a chance to showcase those strengths, to bust myths about the long-term future of our town centres and to reward the local talent, team-work and energy that goes into making our high streets great places to visit, work or live.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Simon Roberts, Managing Director, Health and Beauty UK and Republic of Ireland, Alliance Boots, and Future High Streets Forum Co-Chairman said:<\/p>\n

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We welcome the report\u2019s findings and continue to work with the Future High Street Forum to drive this agenda forward. High streets are changing with clear evidence of effective business engagement and leadership making a real difference. Town centres matter to our customers \u2013 they are at the heart of many communities, providing identity as well as growth, development and jobs.<\/p>\n

The Great British High Street competition provides an excellent opportunity to recognise and celebrate some of the fantastic work being delivered at local level to strengthen town centre prosperity. We are delighted to work with the Future High Street Forum member organisations to offer our support to high streets across the UK, together making them great places for our customers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The competition<\/a> is being run by the Future High Streets Forum<\/a> and the Association of Town and City Management<\/a> until 30 August.<\/p>\n

There are 7 categories: city centres, town centres, market towns, coastal communities, villages, parades and London. Winners will receive a share of prize money and support worth \u00a350,000, provided by Forum sponsors, as well as access to a tailored package of mentoring from industry experts. <\/p>\n

This could range from one to one coaching to advice on creating business plans to attending workshops on digital marketing. <\/p>\n

Further information<\/h2>\n

The University of Southampton report can be viewed at on the Great British High Street website<\/a> alongside high street best practice and guidance.<\/p>\n

Recent high street research<\/a> by Deloitte, (April 2014) showed the high street remains the number one destination for shops, services and leisure, compared to online and out-of-town.<\/p>\n

Consumer confidence<\/a> in May 2014 was at the highest level since April 2005.<\/p>\n

Winners will receive a share of prize money and support provided by Forum sponsors Boots, Costa, M&S, and BIRA. <\/p>\n

The University of Southampton study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)<\/a> which funds research into the big social and economic questions of the day. Its research informs public policies and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective. The Council is an independent organisation, established by Royal Charter in 1965.<\/p>\n

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New high streets study reveals town centres are meeting the changing demands of consumers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45720"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45720\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}