Omicron concerns have caused a decrease in the number of shoppers to take to the streets the weekend before Christmas, while others have begun their Boxing Day sales 10 day early.
Britons set out Saturday morning to pick up last-minute gifts as Christmas approaches quickly. However, a very low footfall was predicted. Retailers’ busiest weekends of the year due to Omicron, which has caused people to remain at home.
However, shoppers from cities like Liverpool, London, and Exeter still came out in large numbers to Christmas markets and the high street on Saturday morning. Some were even seen with face masks during their holiday outings.
The number of people visiting High Streets across the UK has plunged amid fears over the Omicron super-mutant variant, with Central London seeing a Footfall drops and shows in the West End are temporarily shut down
London’s central station Shopping and entertainment districts predicted that Christmas trade would be muted after customers traffic plummeted on Thursday. The highly transmissible Omicron Coronavirus variant kept people home.
OXFORD STREET: The number of people visiting High Streets across the UK has plunged amid fears over the Omicron super-mutant variant, with Central London (pictured on Saturday morning) seeing a footfall nosedive
LIVERPOOL: Britons rushed out Saturday morning to get last-minute gifts as Christmas fast approaches. However, a very low footfall is expected for the busiest weekend in the year for retailers.
EXETER: On Saturday, shoppers from cities such as London, Liverpool, and Exeter still packed the Christmas market and high streets, some even wearing masks during their festive excursions.
As they packed in Christmas shopping for the weekend, people poured into Exeter City Centre in Devon Saturday afternoon.
London’s central shopping district and entertainment district forecasted a quiet final weekend for Christmas trading following Thursday’s drop in customer traffic. Pictured at Exeter’s city centre Saturday morning
The New West End Company, which represents 600 brands, restaurants and businesses in London’s West End, said footfall on Thursday was down by 7 per cent from the previous week and down 32 per cent from pre-pandemic figures.
Jace Tyrrell CEO stated on Friday that Covid cases rising has dampened consumer confidence. Also, a Tube strike is scheduled for Saturday. We expect a quiet final weekend of trading during Christmas, at a time West End businesses could be benefiting from a needed boost.
He joined the call for financial assistance being provided temporarily to all leisure business owners in the United Kingdom.
Springboard data also showed that visits to high streets across the UK on Thursday morning were down 2.7 per cent on the previous week’s figure, The Guardian reported.
Visits to shopping centres also plunged by 2.6 per cent while it also recorded a 21.3 per cent drop across London, where Omicron cases have surged over the past week.
British retail sales rose faster than expected last month, helped by Black Friday discounts, early Christmas shopping and no lockdown restrictions that closed many shops last year, official figures showed on Friday.
Springboard data also showed that visits to high streets across the UK on Thursday morning were down 2.7 per cent on the previous week’s figure. Pictured: Shoppers in Exeter city centre on Saturday morning
The number of shoppers visiting shopping centers plunged also by 2.6%. However, it saw a 21.3 percent drop in London where Omicron cases are on the rise. Pictured: Saturday morning shoppers in Exeter’s city centre
Although it was expected that footfall would fall over the weekend, shoppers still went out in large numbers to shop for festive gifts in Exeter on Saturday
Retailers wait to gauge the effect of the Omicron strain on their trading in the lead up to Christmas. This is traditionally the busiest season. Pictured: Saturday morning, quiet street in Exeter City Centre
As they try to make the most of this last weekend before Christmas, shoppers visit Exeter City Centre in Devon Saturday morning.
Omicron however has raised concerns about Christmas trading.
Currys, a consumer electronics retailer, stated Wednesday that its market has softened over the past weeks. Boohoo, an online retailer of fashion, warned Thursday about annual profits.
In the meantime, Harrods launched its Boxing Day sales 10 days before the big day Harrods stated this so customers could shop “wherever they were”,
Sale will continue throughout Christmas and New Year.
Knightsbridge-based Harrods also suffered from the decline in foreign tourists. Harrods is reliant on high net worth shoppers coming from the Middle East, China and America for a large portion of its sales.
It has seven floors and approximately one million square feet.
The store is launching far earlier than the traditional Boxing Day celebration, but it plans to reduce prices and offer additional discounts on December 26.
Harrods will be still available for customers to shop in person, but it stated that the safety of its staff and customers was still their ‘prime concern’.
Harrods’ famous Boxing Day Sale was launched 10 days before the usual time so customers have an option to shop wherever they’re at all times. Pictured Saturday: Exeter City Centre shoppers
Omicron is worried about Christmas trading. Pictured: Saturday, Devon, Exeter City Centre.
Last weekend in December, groups of Christmas shoppers enjoyed festive markets in Exeter.
Michael Ward, Harrods’ managing director, stated: “As we enter an important period in our trading calendar, it is our pleasure to offer our customers the festive treat Harrods Winter Sale to enjoy anywhere they may be, whether that be at our Knightsbridge shop, online, or via our remote shopping service.
Ward stated that Harrods is not afraid to change to fit the needs of customers. He added, “Harrods believes in adapting and will continue to offer Harrods’ Christmas magic to all who are interested.”
Charles Henry Harrod founded Harrods in 1849 to take advantage of the trade opportunities created by nearby Hyde Park’s Great Exhibition of 1851.
It has served Oscar Wilde and Charlie Chaplin as customers, as well as many royals, such as Noel Coward, Vivien Lee, Vivien Laigh, and Noel Coward.
It has been owned by the Qataris since 2010, when the country’s sovereign wealth fund snapped it up for £1.5bn.
Britain raised concerns about Omicron in November 25th. Last week, Prime Minister David Cameron imposed more restrictive Covid regulations in England. People were required to use vaccination passes and wear masks to prevent the spread of the Omicron virus.