shopping – Hinterland https://hinterland.org.uk Rural News Mon, 07 Feb 2022 08:37:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Impact of the pandemic on rural shopping habits https://hinterland.org.uk/impact-of-the-pandemic-on-rural-shopping-habits/ Mon, 07 Feb 2022 08:37:32 +0000 http://hinterland.org.uk/?p=14148 An ostensibly prosaic subject but in the hands of quality researchers of this calibre a really useful contribution to our rural store of knowledge. This article tells us:

Researchers at the University of Southampton have explored how the pandemic has impacted the shopping habits and attitudes of consumers aged 65+ living and shopping in rural communities in the South of England.

A series of practical recommendations to encourage older shoppers in rural areas back into local stores in the wake of COVID-19 have emerged from research commissioned by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE).

The research found that while many older shoppers were already returning to use rural retail stores, the majority also had similar concerns and apprehensions that prevented it being a ‘normal’ experience. For others, at the time of the survey in summer 2021, physical shopping remained a step too far, often for one or more of the reasons that were also inhibiting those who had already returned.

The findings led to seven recommendations for stores to help welcome more older shoppers back, make those who already had feel more comfortable, and encourage an improved experience for customers:

  • Simply recognise that pandemic fear persists
  • Maintain a physical distance
  • Offer multiple modes of payment to reduce anxiety
  • Encourage and facilitate [even more] personalised service interactions
  • Mitigate against merchandise contamination
  • Ask for feedback (and listen)
  • Go the extra (delivery) mile
]]> Can we save the UK and Ireland’s high streets with multi-use spaces? https://hinterland.org.uk/can-we-save-the-uk-and-irelands-high-streets-with-multi-use-spaces/ Sun, 27 Oct 2019 12:44:44 +0000 http://hinterland.org.uk/?p=10644 I am keen that we learn from other settings this week, Ireland is a bit closer than the USA but this re-use plan for a challenged modest town high street is worth thinking about and potentially copying. This story tells us:

Could a multi-use space be what it takes to transform our struggling high streets?

According to statistics from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium and Springboard, footfall on NI’s high streets was down by 5.5% last month, making it the worst region in the UK.

Some people in Bangor, County Down, think they may have found the answer.

The seaside town’s main shopping centre, the Flagship Centre, closed its doors earlier this year.

The premises is privately owned and is now in administration.

Louise Little, manager of North Down Community Network, believes a multi-use facility where community, voluntary, health, business, statutory and faith-based sectors can operate under the same roof could regenerate the community and create major footfall.

The director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said the group is “thinking in a way that a lot of town centres need to”.

“We need to be having these conversations now because this seismic change is already underway,” Aodhán Connolly told BBC News NI.

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