News - Snow equals bad Christmas for UK retailers

[HEXUS]

The December 2010 figures from Synovate reveal a bigger than expected decline in footfall.

Read more.

[watercooled]

So it's nothing to do with the retailers prices then? Most stuff you can get in a shop you can get online for cheaper, especially electronics. Retail shops really need to do something to lower their prices if they hope to compete.

[Agent]

So it's nothing to do with the retailers prices then? Most stuff you can get in a shop you can get online for cheaper, especially electronics. Retail shops really need to do something to lower their prices if they hope to compete.

This - A million times over.

We got given a HMV gift voucher for Christmas. We soon realised that we could almost get exactly twice the amount of items, including the things we were looking at buying online for the same cost.

[Funkstar]

There are a lot of people north of the border that wished they had shopped in the high street and actually been able to give their presents instead of having to wait for the Royal Mail and all the courier companies to catch up from the bad weather.

[MadduckUK]

Interesting bit in a BBC HMV article that noted that John Lewis did rather well over the holidays, pretty much suggesting that those who didnt (in that case HMV) are going down the toilet and the weather was merely an excuse.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12117510

[Stringent]

So it's nothing to do with the retailers prices then? Most stuff you can get in a shop you can get online for cheaper, especially electronics. Retail shops really need to do something to lower their prices if they hope to compete.

True, but dont retail shops have higher overheads than an on line store, hence the price.

[watercooled]

Yeah, I'm not arguing with that but whatever the reason the prices are higher and that's what matters to most people. TBH, when I go and look around a shop at stuff I often find what I want then go and buy it online anyway. I know doing stuff like that doesn't help prices when lots of people do it but like most students I save money where I can, I don't think I'm tight I just don't like to waste money.

[aidanjt]

True, but dont retail shops have higher overheads than an on line store, hence the price.

Which is precisely why retail is a dying market place. That, and other obvious reasons.