October 2022
Featured in this insight: Retail
UK consumers planning to do a third of their Christmas shopping locally this year: A survey has found that UK consumers are planning to buy more than a third (36%) of their Christmas shopping from local retailers this year, with more than three-quarters saying that it’s important for people to spend their money locally (78%).
More than half of those who said they would buy a third of their shopping from local retailers this Christmas said they plan to do so in order to put money back into the local economy.
The survey by Smart Energy GB polled 2,000 UK shoppers to find out more about how and where they will spend their money this Christmas, with items on their local shopping list including food and drink, stocking fillers and wrapping paper.
It also found that in order to support their local high street, more than a third (36%) of shoppers would be prepared to spend a little more than they usually would – this is despite the cost of living crisis looming large and 24% revealing they need to cut back on what they spent in 2021.
The research also found that six in ten respondents were concerned about local businesses, with 46% saying that they would feel sad if one of their local shops was to close its doors permanently.
More than half said that local retailers were ‘part of the community’, with two-thirds saying that they considered a local business owner ‘a friend’.
Entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor, Deborah Meaden said: “It is heartening to see that many people really do value their local shops and are willing to put their hands in their pockets to support them."
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