Leader - with Clare Turner

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Navigating our way through this pandemic continues to bring its own set of challenges. As Gary continued unleashing of consumer demand. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson says that with many people taking staycations or cheaper Grant, founder and executive chairman UK-based holidays, many have found they have of The Entertainer put it so succinctly in a little extra to spend at the shops. last month’s issue: “We’re not out of the Her opinion is reflected in the stories shared woods yet. It’s sort of one step forward and half a step back.” A case in point is the so-called Freedom Day “ Consumer comfort with by independent toy retailers in our Talking Retail feature, and reinforced by the words of this issue’s MD Interview subject Yogi Parmar of on Monday 19 July, when this next stage buying group Toymaster. “There has England moved to Step 4 of the roadmap. Retail of the always been a place for independent bricks-and-mortar toy shops and I data provider Springboard roadmap will believe there always will be,” he says, forecast that UK footfall would rise by 19.7% in the be key to the “as they have shown they are able to adapt and evolve over the years week following the day that ongoing and survive in an ever-changing retail most restrictions on social contact were removed in England. But in fact, following an above average start, the growth in footfall in success of retail ” world”. As for online trading, KPMG head of retail Paul Martin notes that while the high street saw sales up 10% in June, online sales fell back by 7% compared UK retail destinations slowed considerably with June 2020. However, penetration rates for from Tuesday onwards. online sales remain much higher than their pre-

Springboard marketing and insights pandemic levels, he says, suggesting the shift director Diane Wehrle said this was likely to online is here to stay. The view of this issue’s to have been driven by a combination Retail Interview subject Nicole Sweeney, toys of the extreme heat, the start of the category manager at The Very Group, supports school summer break, and an increased this. “More people than ever have shopped nervousness amongst shoppers in visiting online due to Covid and we believe this shift potentially crowded areas created by the will be permanent,” she says. growing ‘pingdemic’ which could force Nonetheless, in the words of Helen Dickinson, them to self-isolate. UK retail is still facing strong headwinds,

For businesses, the ‘pingdemic’ has with many retailers still making up for ground impacted shops and distribution centres lost during the previous lockdowns. She says but at the time of writing, the British consumer comfort with this next stage of the Retail Consortium (BRC) said retailers roadmap will be key to the ongoing success were working closely with Government of retail, adding: “Many customers are looking to identify hundreds of key distribution forward to a return to a more normal shopping sites that would benefit from the new daily experience, while others may be discouraged contact testing scheme. by the change in face covering rules. The

On a more positive note, BRC has Government will need to reassure the public on reported that the second quarter saw safety, while pushing forward with its hugely exceptional sales growth as the gradual successful vaccination programme.” unlocking of the UK economy encouraged So, what’s been your trading experience, as a release of pent-up demand built up over a toy retailer or supplier? I’d love you to get in previous lockdowns. According to its latest touch and share your story. You can connect data, while growth in food sales slowed with me via LinkedIn or email me at in June, non-food sales were bolstered clare@lemapublishing.co.uk. I look forward to by growing consumer confidence and the hearing from you!