London’s West End bucks Christmas shopping trends

EPABlack Friday has develop into one of many largest procuring days of the yearChristmas buyers have turned to the streets of central London to purchase their presents this 12 months, with excessive avenue footfall within the West Finish bucking the nationwide development.Within the week earlier than Black Friday, the fourth Friday of November, footfall was up 9% on 2024, in keeping with knowledge from the New West Finish Firm (NWEC). Throughout Black Friday week, it was up 4.1% and the next week up by 6.2%.The weekend of 6 and seven December was additionally busy as a result of pedestrianisation of Regent Road and stay performances on Oxford Road. NWEC stated the interval confirmed “actual momentum”. This contradicted the nationwide image, the place the Workplace of Nationwide Statistics stated retail gross sales fell unexpectedly in November.Black Friday originated in the USA and has been broadly adopted by many retailers within the UK. It has develop into one of many largest procuring days of the 12 months and for a lot of is the unofficial begin to the Christmas procuring season.”This weekend we’re nonetheless anticipating one in all our largest weekends when individuals who have left it perhaps to the final minute are available in to purchase presents and additional bedding and towels for visitors,” stated Rosie Hanley, model director at John Lewis.EPAFootfall within the West Finish was up on the finish of November and begin of DecemberThe NWEC stated the traffic-free occasion on Regent Road boosted footfall by 33.7% in contrast with the 12 months earlier than, and the next day of stay performances on Oxford Road elevated it by 25.1%. “Each occasions featured on-street festive activations and in-store affords and experiences, drawing crowds and inflicting footfall to surge by almost a 3rd throughout the weekend,” the spokesperson stated.Out on Oxford Road, one girl instructed the BBC she and her buddy had their day of procuring deliberate. “John Lewis for espresso, adopted by Selfridges, after which we’d have steak for lunch,” she stated.”We can’t cease yapping, consuming and procuring.”Others stated that they had completed the majority of their Christmas procuring firstly of the month. “Not final minute in any respect,” one man stated. One other man stated he preferred to go away his procuring to the week earlier than Christmas “to get into the spirit” – however would get all of it completed in a single division retailer.