UK Retail: 2024 Christmas Footfall

Christmas. The busiest time of year for many industries, especially retail. But will this year's festive footfall be naughty or nice? We reviewed data published by MRI Software to find out.

It's hard to consider this year's retail trends without first looking back to 2019, pre-pandemic. And the good news is that 2023 saw a return to 'normal' for Christmas retail trends with this year following suit.

As always, Black Friday kicks off the start of the silly season spending. Now with Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, how is the rest of the month faring?

Data from MRI Software predicts a rise in footfall for all shopping locations, including 1% increase in retail parks, 2% in shopping centres and 5% on the high street.

Jenni Matthews, MRI Software's Marketing and Insights Director, suggests high streets historically perform better during the festive season due to Christmas attractions (such as markets and lights) drawing crowds to town centres.

Matthews offered advice to retailers looking to attract footfall in to store rather than online, commenting that promotions, special shopping evenings or workshops could help drive traffic.

She also remarked that maximising convenience for customers was key, offering click and collect options and store opening times that make it easy for people to shop around their working hours. Ensuring that the atmosphere in store is welcoming, not too hot or cold.

Using data from your point of sale system to identify your business' own shopping trends and using that to manage your staffing and store operations.

Though Black Friday is considered the 'biggie' when it comes to the Christmas shopping calendar; it's worth noting that Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday this year. With some predicting that Saturday 21st December will be a 'super' Saturday with people rushing to finish their shopping.

And let's not forget the Boxing Day sales madness! According to MRI Software's data, Boxing Day shopping in recent years has only been a tad 'mad,' as families presumably prefering to continue their festivities at home. Whilst 2023 saw a peak in footfall on Thursday 28th December as people ventured out of their Christmas lull.

So, though the Christmas countdown is on, there's still plenty of December shopping days left to make 2024 a very bright and prosperous year in retail.

If you need assistance with retail reporting from your EPOS Systems' point of sale system, then one of our EPOS Experts will be happy to help. Contact our support team today.

Christmas Tech Tips (For Hospitality)

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring... expect those in hosp!

Christmas, well-known as the busiest time of year for the hospitality sector. In fact, this year is set to be busier than the last, with Britons due to spend £12.3bn at hospitality venues over the festive period. That's an increase of 2.3% from 2023.

So with everyone rushed off their festive feet, it's the perfect time to put your hospitality tech through its paces to ease some of the burden.

We've pulled together some top tips of how you can get EPOS Systems' hospitality tech working for you over the festive period:

Menu Pre-Orders

Avoid the kitchen bottleneck and manage waste more effectively by requesting menu pre-orders. Simply use the custom field on our hospitality ordering app to collect menu choices from each of your diners.

Pop-Up Payments

Perfect for pop-ups, Christmas markets, small businesses and more... TouchPoint lite is a powerful and portable point of sale solution. Operating over 4G connectivity with minimal set up, it allows you to take orders and payments all from one lightweight device.

Reservation Deposits

There's nothing worse than a no-show, particularly when you could have sold that table 10 times over! Our reservations package enables you to request a deposit payment at time of booking, allowing to manage your stock, staff and table plan more confidently.

Digital Orders

Let your team and your customers enjoy a smoother and swifter service with digital order pads. Giving staff menu information in the palm of their hand, allowing them to send orders straight from the table to the kitchen.

Manage Kitchen Orders

It may be cold outside, but it's definitely hot in the kitchen! Keep your orders in check with our kitchen order management system. Speed up service, turn tables over quicker and maintain exceptional customer experiences even at the busiest time of the year.

Christmas Ticketing

Running a Christmas event? Our ticketing solution provides an affordable way to manage and sell tickets for all kinds of events. Use the scanner app on entry to beat the queues!

Manage Christmas Stock

Whether you're selling mince pies or mulled wine, never run out of your best sellers with our stock management software. Providing all the data you need to drive sales revenue, manage inventories and even plan for next Christmas!

Maximise Christmas Revenue

Use our hospitality ordering app to maximise revenue by creating Christmas categories selling all your festive goods. From Christmas hams to Christmas hampers, let your customers make orders at the click of a button.

Contact us today for more information about how our hospitality tech can help you manage the Christmas chaos.

Outdoor Smoking Ban - Another Knock for UK Hospitality?

With 80,000 deaths attributed to smoking in the UK each year, the Government are reviewing new steps in cracking down on the habit. Their hope is that banning smoking in certain outdoor spaces; such as beer gardens, outside sporting venues and even small parks; will help relieve the burden smoking puts on the NHS and also tax-payers.

The proposal has been met with scepticism by many of those in the hospitality industry. Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality commented, “A ban on smoking in outdoor spaces comes with the prospect of serious economic harm to hospitality venues. You only have to look back to the significant pub closures we saw after the indoor smoking ban to see the potential impact it could have.

“This ban would not only affect pubs and nightclubs, but hotels, cafes and restaurants that have all invested significantly in good faith in outdoor spaces and continue to face financial challenges.

“The government must embark on a full and detailed conversation with affected parties on the impact of such a ban before any legislation is laid. It must also assess whether such a ban would achieve its aims of meaningfully reducing smoking or simply relocate smoking elsewhere, such as in the home.”

With many hospitality businesses juggling with the huge economic pressures that have impacted the sector in recent years, one independent hospitality owner spoke to EPOS Systems about the concerns they have over the ban. "After a challenging few years with COVID, followed by increased costs and a cost of living crisis, as a small independent business we need to be supported through these challenging times. And whilst I understand and support improving public health in general, this policy is at the wrong time and will negatively impact the hospitality sector that’s already struggling."

If implemented, the ban would see smokers receiving a Fixed Penalty Fine of £150 if found smoking in a restricted area. Those refusing to pay would be liable for prosecution. Businesses could also be fined up to £2500 if they do not put reasonable measures in place to comply with the restrictions. The ban would follow the same procedures enforced after the indoor smoking ban was put in place in 2007.

According to Action on Smoking Health (ASH), the indoor smoking ban led to a 2.4% reduction in hospital admissions for heart attacks, and a 12.3 % reduction in admissions for childhood asthma.

Following the 2007 ban, until 2015, around 7000 pubs closed their doors, many citing that the smoking ban was largely to blame. Yet other factors such as a hike in tax imposed on alcoholic drinks and the 2008 recession are also likely to have had an impact. Equally, many pubs florished in the ban's aftermath, deciding to become more food or family-focused.

With compelling points from both side of the argument, perhaps the best way to move forward is to do so together. Reiterating the comments made by Nicholls, if there is enough evidence to suggest the proposal will achieve the Government's objectives, then conversations must be had with any affected parties. That way a mutual solution that not only contributes to the improvement of public health, but also encourages the hospitality sector to thrive will hopefully be achieved.

Is the UK Becoming a Cashless Society?

As reported by the Evening Standard; "No orders for new coins intended for general circulation have been sent by the Treasury to the Royal Mint this year." Furthering speculation that the UK is fast becoming a 'cashless society.'

EPOS Systems reviewed the Payment Markets Report for 2023, produced by UK Finance in collaboration with Accenture, which explores the past year’s payment trends. As suspected, cash was on the decline but debit card remained the most popular means of payment. We are pleased to share the key findings that impact the EPOS industry in our infographic below.

If you need assistance in digitising your business then we would love to help. Give our team a call today on 0800 059 0991.