Rugby, F1 and now even Retail Disappointment
The latest Retail Traffic Index (RTI) figures from research group SPSL, show that not only was the weekend a disappointment for fans of English Rugby in the World Cup final and of Lewis Hamilton in the last outing of the Formula 1 season, but retailers suffered too. Retail traffic, the number of people entering non-food stores for 20th and 21st October (Saturday and Sunday), was down 5.4% against the same weekend last year. On Saturday retail traffic was down by 7.2% against the same Saturday last year – slightly less than on the day of England’s success in the Rugby World Cup final in 2003, when retail traffic was down by 9.5%.
According to Dr. Tim Denison, Director of Knowledge Management at SPSL and leading retail psychologist; “This is another set-back for non-food retailers, one that they could have done without at present. Even though the sports action on both days was after most stores had closed, the change in usual weekend routines among many consumers was evident during the trading days. On the positive side, though, we can look forward to a future uplift in sports goods, as the events have undoubtedly stimulated new interest among a new generation of fans.
“Perhaps after the poor England football match results against Russia in mid week, more English were compelled to watch either or both events to show their patriotism, anticipating success in at least one final showdown. One commentator on the Formula 1 programme on ITV commented on the fact that nothing was ever simple for the sporting English. How very true.”
ENDS
