12 days of Insights

Day 12 | Economic concerns over the next six months

We close out our 12 Days of Insights series with a brief outlook for the next six months. As we head into 2025, over half of shoppers remain concerned about rising living costs, but this is an improvement from earlier this year. Younger consumers, especially under-45s, are more affected by debt concerns. It’s important for retailers to stay on top of these shifting consumer priorities when planning for the next six months.

Day 11 | Travel plans for 2025

“People are travelling to make memories in 2024” – Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel

Key insights from one of the leading leisure travel agencies but how do travel plans impact retail and what does this look like in 2025? While almost a quarter of shoppers expect to travel more—led by affluent households and under-35s prioritising experiences—over half of older adults plan to scale back. Understanding these shifts in behaviour is crucial for retail planning, especially during the peak travel months.

Day 10 | Office vs Work from Home: Impact on Retail Destinations

Our latest research reveals that office days are driving visits to high streets and retail parks, while flagship and town-centre based shopping centres see consistent engagement regardless of work location. Weekends remain key for shopping and socialising, with over half prioritising these activities during their leisure time.

Day 9 | Office vs Work from Home: Time of Shopping Visits

As hybrid working evolves, so does the impact on retail footfall. Our latest Consumer Pulse report reveals that office workers prefer evening shopping, while work-from-home days provide flexibility with visits to high streets and town centres during lunchtimes and afternoons.

Day 8 | Identifying physical shopper personas

From goal-oriented Purpose-Driven Shoppers to social Leisure Shoppers, our latest Consumer Pulse report highlights five distinct shopper personas and their motivations for visiting retail destinations. Discover who’s driving retail trends this season and into 2025!

Day 7 | Under 35’s lead big ticket spending intentions

Are big-ticket purchases set to rise over the next three months? While spending remains steady for many, younger shoppers are leading the charge, with up to 38% planning to spend more on furniture, travel, and tech—driven by lifestyle upgrades and career milestones.

Day 6 | Consumers start to trade up as cost-of-living pressures ease

As we hit the halfway point in our 12 Days of Insights series we take a closer look at how cost-of-living pressures are beginning to ease, and consumer habits are once again shifting. While 42% are still cutting back, this is a sharp drop from 79% earlier in the year. Notably, 18–24-year-olds are leading the way in trading up to premium brands and increasing purchases, signalling an improvement in financial confidence.

Day 5 | Leisure & Hospitality drives footfall for younger consumers

The future of retail is being reshaped by younger consumers with under-35s visiting retail destinations on an average of 2.3 times monthly for dining and leisure. This highlights how retail spaces are evolving into social hubs and serving the needs of a new type of consumer which goes far beyond transactional purposes.

Day 4 | Savvy Festive Shopping Strategies

This Christmas, shoppers are chasing savings, with 55% prioritising discounts and 32% having turned to Black Friday for bargains. Younger consumers are leading the charge, highlighting how financial pressures are shaping holiday shopping habits.

Day 3 | Christmas Shopping Destinations

Are shoppers visiting physical retail destinations more this Christmas? While most expect no change in their shopping habits, younger consumers are leading the charge with increased visits to shopping centres located in town centres which could be linked to a desire to combine the experiential element of the festive season with the practicalities of gift buying.

Day 2 | Christmas Shopping Channels

Online shopping continues to dominate, with over half of shoppers planning to complete most of their Christmas shopping online. Younger shoppers prefer the convenience of digital, while lower-income and older shoppers lean toward in-store experiences for deals and tactile interactions.

This is the perfect opportunity for bricks and mortar retailers to adapt their strategies and create experiences for consumers to draw them into store, alongside offering in-store only promotions, and creating convenience for the consumer such as adjusting opening hours to cater for the post 5pm/after work audience.

Day 1 | Younger shoppers plan to spend more this Christmas

This Christmas, over a quarter of shopper plan to increase their gift budgets, with younger generations leading the charge. However, with economic challenges shaping a mixed outlook, over half of older shoppers (55+) intend to keep their spending steady.