NEARLY half of respondents to the most recent Household Expenditure Survey said they never go to town or the Bridge, or if they do, it is for less than an hour a week.
Some retailers admitted that they have noticed a decrease in footfall, mainly since the Covid pandemic, while others were shocked that 40% spent less than an hour a week in Town and at the Bridge, excluding time spent working, over a three-month period, and that 9% did not go at all.
‘The trend we’ve seen post-Covid is that there is a lot less footfall, whether that be down to tighter budgets – which I think it is – or that we have fewer people coming to the island, or a change in people’s lifestyles,’ said Bridge jewellers Ray and Scott.
‘We are still busy, but there is less footfall, and businesses that are dependent on footfall with low price thresholds will be hit harder.’
Many people are facing high living costs, with rising rents, food prices and utility bills and so many are turning to shopping online. The household survey was clear on that point – 22% of an average person’s spending now goes outside the island, to the detriment of local shops.
Ellie Schreibke, owner of Maison Lifestyle in the Arcade, said that she had noticed that there has been a fall in people casually shopping in town.
‘It definitely is the case, I have a lot of repeat customers who come in, and then other people come in saying it’s their first time into town in a year, but we do rely heavily on repeat customers,’ she said.
‘I opened up when the cost-of-living was at its worst, and we do have some really lovely loyal customers, but of course it would be better if more people came in.’
Miss Schreibke said that she believed that long-held issues for town traders, such as parking and physically getting into town, puts a lot of people off.
‘I wouldn’t say it’s a price thing any more. I think people still love a mooch, but it’s more of an accessibility issue. I have a lot of people telling me parking times make it difficult, say they come in for a nail appointment and park in a three-hour space, they get the bits they need, and after that they don’t have time for casual shopping,’ she said.
In the survey respondents were asked questions about how shopping accessibility can be improved. 18% of comments referred to wanting improved physical accessibility of shops, such as adding things like ramps, or wider doorways, and identified issues such as steps, kerbs and cobbles, particularly in town. 13% complained about parking and wanted to see more of it, closer to the shops.
Gemini Clement from clothes shop Nautilus in Mill Street said that she was surprised to hear the statistics from the survey. She thought that town was still pretty busy.
‘Shopping is a seasonal thing, in summer town is always busy with people shopping and going to cafes,’ she said.
‘Town is the crown jewel of Guernsey. We have tax-free shopping, so why spend more shopping online? When visitors are here it’s a nice vibe and I think generally Town seems quite busy.’
Megan Davies from Rocks, jewellers in the Pollet, said that the business had not been massively affected by a decrease in footfall due to a strong returning client base, but she had noticed that footfall around the streets appeared to have declined.
Another shopkeeper said they had to remain optimistic. Footfall did seem down, they said, ‘but who comes in on a nice summer’s day.
‘I don’t like to be all doom and gloom – with retail you never really know.
‘We have our ups and downs, and trade is still good enough for us to stay open. We’re still here.’