Online marketplace DownYouHighStreet.com has published a report looking at the evolution of the British high street and how Covid-19 has been a catalyst for change within the retail environment.
The report, entitled The Evolution of the British High Street, shows what customers value most has changed considerably in the last few years, and this has been accelerated by the pandemic – according to the report, customers value convenience above all else.
It states that consumer habits have also changed – people are more comfortable answering questions about themselves online, are less loyal to brands, and happier to buy online.
Although many independent retailers were already adding online to their bricks-and-mortar sales channels, the lockdowns have catalysed this move. For example, DownYourHighStreet.com, which helps independent retailers create online shops, has seen a huge increase in business, with more retailers moving online in one day (2nd November) than in the whole of January 2020.
