Strikes Create “extra Saturday” For High Street
Posted by Tom Shingler on
Wednesday’s nationwide strike resulted in a 38% increase in the number of shoppers on Britain’s high streets
Public sector employees and parents of schoolchildren hit the stores, boosting trade for retailers up and down the country.
Customer numbers were 20% higher than expected at Kent's Bluewater shopping centre, and Westfield Stratford City, in East London, experienced its busiest week since opening in September.
The day off was seen as an ideal time to stock up on food, drink and gifts for Christmas.
David Wilkinson, head of marketing at Bluewater, said, “It was a really good day for family shopping, with a lot more mums and kids in particular.
“The cinema had huge queues from the early morning as parents sought to entertain their children for the day, and our restaurants were still full at 9.30pm.”
Despite this initial boost, retail analysts warn that extra spending will take away profits from future weekends, as shoppers will have already spent money on Wednesday.
The Treasury estimates that the strike will cost the UK economy £500 million. Two thirds of state schools closed and around two million public sector workers were involved.
Share