Research reveals consumers prefer shopping in-store
Published
17th Dec 2012
by rachael
Research has proved that British consumers would rather shop in-store than online - good news for salon owners who make retail a priority.The survey of 1,000 UK consumers by Hitachi Consulting revealed that 65% prefer to shop in person, with consistent stock levels and good customer service cited as the most common reasons for choosing real-life over virtual shopping.
Providing hope for the high street and salon retail, the research also showed that a fifth of respondents felt that knowledgeable staff would encourage them to visit a bricks-and-mortar shop over an e-tailer.
Putting a firm emphasis on the personal touch, more than half of those polled (55%) would walk out of a shop if the service wasn't up to scratch - with the figure rising for those aged 55 and older.
Chris Gates, director of retail at Hitachi Consulting said: "Despite the massive growth in online shopping over the years, it's good to see that consumers haven't fallen out of love with the British high street. The retail sector has clearly been having a difficult time lately, but our research shows that in-store shopping still has a crucial role in the modern shopping journey.
"The real challenge is to focus on the areas that consumers really value when it comes to the in-store experience; implementing better stock management systems and providing employee training."