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Retail Barometer 2019
Sunshine & Showers While other retail surveys look at a broad retail landscape, the 14th year of our unique, PG&H Retail Barometer reveals what life is really like for independent gift retailers on Britain’s high streets. With the survey conducted earlier this year, (before the coronavirus outbreak became a global pandemic), the picture painted was, unfortunately, but understandably, less upbeat than the previous year, with Brexit and the General Election impacting on consumer confidence, with a blazing summer followed by a winter of torrential rain and flooding. Showing typical resilience however, gift indies upped the ante to keep consumers shopping with them as the survey reveals.
How was Christmas 2019?
With Brexit and the General Election dominating the headlines in 2019, many gift retailers confirmed that once the Election was done and dusted, confidence returned to the high street with Christmas ‘delivering’ for well over half of respondents (58%). Looking at the year as a whole, some 61% of indie respondents said that their businesses did better or held the line on the previous year. Engaging with customers through social media certainly played an increased role for independent gift retailers with almost all respondents (96%) confirming that they used Facebook, some two thirds took to Instagram and just over a third used Twitter. Also on the ‘up’ was sourcing sustainable environmentallyfriendly products, with 95% of respondents confirming that this is now very important to them. Other product categories that stood out in 2019 were fashion accessories, greeting cards and confectionery/edible gifts. For the full findings of the PG&H Retail Barometer, read on...
(Last year’s figures are Increased significantly Increased slightly Remained the same Declined Declined significantly
While Christmas trade was decent for well over half (58%) of indie gift retailers, sadly 42% experienced a decline compared to the previous year. However two thirds of those surveyed (69%) said that the average spend increased significantly, increased slightly or remained the same.
27% 42%
31%
Compared to Christmas 2018, how did the average spend compare? shown in brackets) 5% (5%) 35% (53%) 29% (30%) 22% (7%) 9% (5%)
What effect did Brexit and the General Election have on gift sales in your shop in the last year? (Last year’s figures are Increased slightly Remained the same Declined Declined significantly
shown in brackets) 10% (18%) 24% (50%) 52% (26%) 14% (5%)
How Did Your Business Fare Over The Last Year? PG&H looks back at seven years of Retail Barometer data 2018 v 2019 Better 37% Same 24% Worse 39%
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2017 v Better Same Worse
2018 45% 28% 27%
PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
2017 v Better Same Worse
2016 37% 21% 42%
2016 v Better Same Worse
2015 56% 18% 26%
2015 v Better Same Worse
2014 50% 27% 23%
2014 v Better Same Worse
2013 53% 24% 23%
2013 v Better Same Worse
2012 46% 26% 28%