More than half of Brits will be doing most of their festive purchasing online, with nearly a quarter prepared to spend £200 to £300 on presents, and 87 per cent will be getting their Christmas food from a supermarket instead of local retailers.
The Liberis survey reveals that although respondents understood the importance of buying locally, there was a 50/50 split in the amount of people who are going to make a conscious effort to do so next year. The majority say they are happy with their current shopping arrangements and almost a third state that there isn’t enough choice in local stores. Another barrier to local shopping was price. Some 60 per cent of shoppers interviewed believe that they pay a premium charge when shopping locally which over half felt was unfair/unjustifiable.
Liberis CEO, Paul Mildenstein said: “It’s seems that people want to support local shops, but sadly when it comes to it, it’s too easy not to. Unfortunately unless shoppers make the shift with their feet and wallets, then we shall continue to see small businesses close on our high streets.”
A shocking 80 per cent said that the face of their local high street had changed over the past five years, with 76 per cent believing it was due to local businesses closing down and 58 per cent saying there had been an increase in vacant properties left unfilled.
Regional variations:
- More shoppers in Northern Ireland (100 per cent) and Scotland (99 per cent) felt that shopping locally was important compared to the rest of the UK;
- Shoppers in Wales and Scotland look set to be the highest spenders when compared to the rest of the UK, with 31 per cent and 26 per cent respectively, planning to spend £500 or more on presents. This contrasts with only 12 per cent of people in the East Midlands;
- More people living in East Anglia (69 per cent) and Scotland (63 per cent) are doing their Christmas shopping online than in other parts of the UK;
- Shoppers in Wales (62 per cent) and Scotland (57 per cent) are more likely to shop locally in 2014 when compared to the rest of the UK. More women than men (54 per cent and 48 per cent) said they planned to shop locally in the new year too; and
- More people in Wales (95 per cent) felt that the face of their high street has changed over the past five years than in other parts of the UK. Small businesses closing down was cited as the top reason.
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