Brits back bricks and mortar retail but safety concerns remain

71% of UK shoppers will make a conscious effort to support bricks and mortar retailers now non-essential stores have reopened, with 66% saying they had missed the high street during coronavirus lockdowns.

That’s according to research by Sensormatic Solutions, involving over 1,000 Brits.

A further 67% have become much more grateful for human interaction when shopping in-store, while 74% stated that it would be liberating to be able to shop in person rather than from behind a screen.

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At the same time, however, 55% remain wary about safety in-store.

Social distancing is the top concern, with 73% fearing other shoppers wouldn’t respect the 2m rule, while 59% worried about contracting the virus in a retail setting and a further 48% were concerned they might unwittingly pass Covid-19 on to others whilst in-store.

When it came to making customers feel safer, better policing of social distancing came out top for 49% of people, while 47% wanted more contactless experiences, such as self-check-out or ‘just walk out’ technologies..

44% wanted the number of shoppers allowed inside stores more closely monitored. 42% called for a mask detection system, while 29% said temperatures should be taken on the door before allowing customers inside physical locations.

Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic’s Retail Consultant for EMEA, comments: “We have already started to see the green shoots of retail’s recovery beginning, fuelled by growing consumer confidence and the promise of greater freedom as society and the economy open up. “

“There is clearly a huge demand for real-life shopping experiences after months stuck shopping from behind their screens, causing many to rekindle their love of the high street after it was closed for so long in the past year.”

He adds: “But the real test will be ensuring that this isn’t simply a case of pent-up demand.”

“After a year of yoyoing in and out of lockdown, retailers will be counting on the continued support of shoppers if any sort of bounce back can be sustained in the long-term.”

“And that requires re-evaluating the in-store experience so it’s both safe and engaging for the shopper.”