Scottish retail sector sees footfall increase, but rural stores struggle
For a third consecutive month, Scotland’s retail sector has seen an increase in footfall.
There were 1% more customers in stores this September than the previous year, according to new figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium (RSA).
Scotland is the only country in the UK to see positive figures, with the national average at a 2.9% decrease for the same period.
Shopping centres especially saw considerable growth in customers, as inflation continues to steadily fall, encouraging more shoppers through the doors.
A standout performer was Edinburgh, which has seen a considerably larger increase in shoppers at 7.5%.
The capital ranks at the top of the table for UK retail performance.
Meanwhile Glasgow saw the national average rate take effect.
The high street is yet to recover to its pre-pandemic performance levels, but the consistent growth is seen as promising by SRC director David Lonsdale.
He said: “Shopping centres and Edinburgh city centre fared well, and whilst Glasgow witnessed a dip it was slightly less worse than seen the month before.
“That said, overall shopper footfall in Scotland is still well shy of the levels seen prior to the pandemic.
“Overall, this is an encouraging prelude ahead of the start of the golden quarter in the lead up to Christmas and which remains a critical trading period for large swathes of Scottish retail.”
The growth is not equal nationwide, however, as rural areas affected by a downturn in tourism have seen less and less customers.
Spar shop manager Grace Bienert, from Salen Spar on the Isle of Mull, described the unique reality of rural retailers.
She said: “The customers who are coming are slightly more careful with buying.
“Every time somebody is paying, they’re surprised by how things keep going up and up and up.
“The prices change every week basically, and they notice with the prices up that they waste too much food.
“So, they plan better, or they try to shop around,
“They might go to the mainland because there’s more choices and cheaper products than small local shops on the Island.”
Prior to 2020, Scottish islands were some of the countries biggest tourist hotspots
This was great for retailers in the area with Grace describing it as “hectic” and describing items flying off shelves.
But UK tourism fell by 8% since 2019, meaning footfall dried up.
“It’s still busy” Grace continued, “but I think sales are kind of similar.
“I think it’s more connected with the price increase than the crowd disappearing.
“The people volume is definitely less.”
