Selfridges Bucks Disappointing Boxing Day Sales Trends in Britain

LONDON – Wet, windy weather – and a torrent of pre-Christmas discounting – dented Boxing Day sales across the U.K., with premium and luxury, multi-brand stores such as Selfridges faring far better than their high street counterparts and the big retail chains. In terms of footfall, it was the worst Boxing Day in almost a decade, according to Springboard, which measures retail activity at bricks-and-mortar stores across the country, Springboard said footfall fell 8.6 percent on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, compared with Dec. 26 a year ago. The organization said that footfall improved during the day, with stores attracting more customers after 5:00 p.m. Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said that people are not only shopping later on Boxing Day, they are also traveling to bricks-and-mortar destinations to do things other than shop. She said activities tied to leisure and eating out strengthened year-on-year.   Balmain’s space, featuring B-Troop sneakers, at Selfridges’ Corner Shop in London earlier this year.  Courtesy   The picture was rosier in London’s West End, which includes the shopping streets around Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. According to London’s New West End Company, footfall rose 1 percent in the weeks between Nov. 29 and Dec. 26, with shoppers forming long lines outside

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