London’s West End benefits from increased footfall in April
West End retailers saw sales rise by 7.6% year-on-year for the month of April thanks to all four bank holidays and the Royal Wedding falling within the month. Sales outperformed those of the UK high streets, which saw only a 5.2% rise.
New West End Company, which represents 600 retailers on Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, also reported an 8.6% increase year-on-year in footfall for the month.
The bank holidays helped to drive sales of summer fashion particularly with the early arrival of the warm weather. In addition, the Royal wedding holiday drew more out-of-towners and international visitors to the area, with international shoppers’ spending soaring by 122% year-on-year, according to Global Blue, the global shopping and spending experts.
Global Blue also found that wealthy international shoppers were out in force in the area, spending on average £596 in the month, compared to a UK average spend of £120.
Jace Tyrrell, New West End Company said: “The unusual trading environment in April worked to retailers’ advantage, with long weekends, extra bank holidays and the Royal Wedding all adding to the buoyancy of trading. Retailers are reporting that confectionery lines, and beauty and fashion departments saw particularly buoyant sales throughout the month, as shoppers stocked up on quintessentially British brands.”
Nigel Dasler, VP Global Blue UK added: “We have seen a significant uplift in spend by international visitors in April at +122% compared to April 2010. Driven largely by international visitors heading to the UK to experience the Royal Wedding and spending in stores while here, this is the largest increase in spend since March 2009. 2011 is set to be a strong year for international visitors coming to the UK, with the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee coming up in 2012, retail tourism is set to increase by 30% this year, offering retailers a welcome boost.”
A Selfridges spokesperson commented: “The last couple of days before the wedding went above our business expectations with Thursday being particularly exceptional in terms of sales. Many of our Will and Kate memorabilia product lines sold out on Thursday and many fashions areas including designerwear, shoes, handbags – especially clutches – and hats, outperformed sales of recent years. Pre-wedding day, our foodhall saw some of our highest store traffic with sales to match in convenience, fresh, party food and cakes as well as fine wine, Champagne and spirits. Overall, we’ve witnessed a higher than usual number of overseas visitors to our London store but also a higher than expected number of UK visitors in London for the weekend. Many of our VIP customers from abroad, some of whom attended the wedding, came to shop.”
