The latest report from retail data firm, Springboard, shows that footfall in Northern Ireland shops was up by 5.1% in the week after Christmas, compared to the same period last year.

This was a weaker rate of footfall growth when compared to the UK as a whole, which was up 7.2%. Northern Ireland’s rate of increase was the second weakest, while seven out of 10 regions across the UK reported stronger shopper numbers.

However, when compared to the same post-Christmas shopping period in 2019, pre-pandemic and before the increased reliability on online shopping, footfall in Northern Ireland was down 22.5%.

When compared to the UK’s average rate of decline, which was 19.7%, NI’s was the second-worst rate of decline of all the UK regions.

KEY DATES FOR RETAIL

Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard, Diane Wehrle said: “Not surprisingly, footfall across UK retail destinations during the week of Christmas was significantly lower than in the week before that in the final trading week.

“Footfall was higher than in the same week last year, but not significantly, despite Christmas 2021 being overshadowed by Covid.

“A key factor here is the offset of Christmas which meant that [last] week began on Christmas Day – when footfall is at its lowest – whilst in 2021 the week began on Boxing Day when many stores were open and trading.

“What is significant – and what has been an emerging trend for several years – is that footfall on December 27^th 2022 was higher than on Boxing Day.

“Furthermore, footfall rose further on the following two days peaking on December 29^th, with the first decline from the day before occurring on December 30^th, which then continued into New Year’s Eve.

“This demonstrates that whilst Boxing Day is somewhat of a marker in the annual retail calendar, the key dates for retail spending are now the subsequent days when consumers are likely to have completed visits with family and friends and have time to make trips out.”

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Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon is now sale agreed after it was placed on the market earlier this summer with a price tag of £57m. It’s understood there was significant interest in the property.

The post Rushmere retail park and shopping centre sold for £56m first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Staff members got together to support Sharon as she took part in Brave the Shave – where she had all of her hair shaven off – for Macmillan Cancer Support. Sharon raised £3,422 for the organisation which provides care and services to families and individuals affected by cancer, including Sharon and her colleagues.

There was a great turn out from friends, families and customers, while local cake suppliers made generous donations of their bakes which could be enjoyed by shoppers in exchange for a donation to the team’s cause.

Sharon was overwhelmed with the amount of support she was shown; “The support from my team, our shoppers, families and friends has been incredible over the past few months, helping us raise money in the lead up to the big day.

“We chose to fundraise for Macmillan as mine, and our store charity representative, Leah Spratt’s, families have been directly impacted by cancer and we have seen first-hand the support that Macmillan give. They made my family feel supported, showing compassion and care throughout the diagnosis and always went the extra mile.”

Joanne Young from Macmillan Cancer Support commented, “This donation will go such a long way to help people affected by cancer all across the country and it is so appreciated by all at Macmillan. Braving the shave is not an easy thing to do and we want to extend a huge thank you to all the staff and shoppers for taking part and donating.”

To find out more about Macmillan Cancer Support, or if you think you could Brave the Shave, visit: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

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