Week 6 Weekly Wrap: Insights from Location Analytics and UK Retail Trends
Week 6 Weekly Wrap: Insights from Location Analytics and UK Retail Trends
Discover Week 6 UK retail trends, including Scotland’s notable 11.7% footfall boost – explore location analytics and location intelligence insights.
Introduction
Week 6 of 2025 has delivered a wealth of insights for those tracking UK retail performance through robust location analytics. Across a range of retail centres—from Local and Major Retail Centres to Shopping Centres, High Streets, and Retail Parks—the latest data reveal intriguing trends and regional variations that help us understand customer behaviour in today’s evolving market. Not only are these performance insights shaped by economic pressures, but weather conditions such as a deep freeze with temperatures dipping to -3°C, snowfall and freezing rain have also left their mark. In this feature, we delve into the week’s key findings, highlight the strong areas and discuss the challenges faced by retailers, with expert input from Joe Capocci, Huq Industries spokesperson.
Local Retail Centres: Steady Gains Amid Annual Declines
Local Retail Centres experienced an average daily footfall of 13,900 visitors this week, driven by a modest week-on-week rise of 3.7% despite a year-on-year fall of 19.2%. Regional contrasts add depth to this picture. For instance, England maintained its 13,900 average with a slight weekly boost of 3.6% alongside an 18.1% annual decline. In contrast, Scotland stood out with a lower average of 12,900 visitors, yet enjoyed a healthier weekly increase of 5.5% and a significant upturn in dwell time. Wales showed the most impressive week-on-week change, witnessing an 11.7% uplift, while Northern Ireland led in visitor numbers at 15,300, albeit with a marginal gain. For further detail on these performance dynamics, see the Local Retail Centres report.
Major Retail Centres: Strong Performance Under Pressure
Major Retail Centres continue to demonstrate resilience, with an impressive overall daily footfall of 71,000 visitors and visitors enjoying an average dwell time of 111 minutes. Regional discrepancies remain evident. Scotland, for instance, recorded an outstanding 85,100 daily visitors and boasted a substantial 137-minute dwell time per visit—a clear indicator of heightened customer engagement. Northern Ireland leads in visitor numbers with a remarkable 109,300 daily footfall that complements its top-tier dwell times, reaching 140 minutes per visit. England closely follows with figures at 70,000 visitors per day and a dwell time just shy of 110 minutes. These strong numbers underscore the effective use of location analytics to monitor and adapt to fluctuating market conditions. More insights are available in the Major Retail Centres insights.
Shopping Centres: Enhanced Engagement Despite Lower Footfall
UK Shopping Centres have also shown promising trends with an average of 27,700 daily visitors recorded this week. Dwell time witnessed an impressive surge to 123 minutes – a 17.1% increase compared to the previous week. Although footfall remains 5.8% below last year’s performance, the significant jump in customer engagement is noteworthy. England leads the pack with 29,800 visitors per day, demonstrating a steady 2.5% week-on-week increase, while Scotland and Wales have shown local fluctuations. These figures highlight retailers’ focus on enhancing customer engagement through longer in-store visits, an approach that leverages both location analytics and refined location intelligence strategies. Full details can be read in the Shopping Centres report.
High Streets and Town Centres: Mixed Results in a Challenging Environment
High Streets have seen an overall average footfall of 28,800 visitors with a slight week‑on‑week rise, although dwell time dipped by 2.1% to an average of 95 minutes. Regional discrepancies are apparent, with Scotland recording 24,700 daily visitors along with a reduced dwell time of 82 minutes. Conversely, England maintains a robust performance with 29,500 daily footfall and stable visitor engagement, while Wales reports a modest 15,000 visitors but retains a slightly higher dwell time at 97 minutes. These mixed results come at a time when economic sentiment and challenging weather contribute to the fluctuating customer patterns observed on high streets and town centres. For a detailed discussion, read the High Streets & Town Centres update.
Retail Parks: Signs of Recovery
Retail Parks have shown modest recovery signs with an overall daily footfall of 16,500 visitors despite continuing to trail behind last year’s performance levels. England’s retail parks achieved 16,900 visitors daily, hinting at short‑term improvements, while Scotland’s figures remain relatively steady at 15,900 visitors. Wales, however, lags with a lower average of 11,500 visitors. On average, dwell time across Retail Parks was recorded at 70 minutes, with Wales slightly ahead at 74 minutes and Scotland registering a modest 65 minutes. These subtler performance shifts may reflect external pressures such as economic uncertainty and inclement weather. For additional context on retail parks and their outlook, please check the Retail Parks report.
Expert Insights and Final Thoughts
Joe Capocci, Huq Industries spokesperson, remarked, “Despite the challenges imposed by economic uncertainty and harsh weather conditions, we are witnessing a resilient performance across several retail segments. Our robust location analytics have played a crucial role in identifying opportunities for improvement, ensuring that retailers remain agile in this evolving landscape.” His comments underscore the significance of harnessing advanced data strategies, including effective location intelligence and customer engagement practices, to navigate and capitalise on current retail trends.
In summary, while each retail centre type faces its unique challenges, the data clearly indicate shifts in customer behaviour influenced by external factors such as weather and economic sentiment. By focusing on comprehensive location analytics, stakeholders are better equipped to drive strategies that boost footfall and dwell times across the UK retail landscape.
About Huq Industries
Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. Traditional analytics show how stores are performing, but Huq goes further—uncovering why. By leveraging advanced analytics and an extensive location data network, Huq Industries helps retailers and analysts understand the real drivers of success, predict future trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise store performance in an evolving high street and town centre landscape.
Week 6 2025 Retail Parks: Key Insights from Location Analytics
Week 6 2025 Retail Parks: Key Insights from Location Analytics
UK retail parks show a modest recovery with improved footfall and dwell time, revealed by Location Analytics and Location Intelligence insights.
UK retail parks recorded an average daily footfall of 16,500 in the week ending 2025‑02‑16, reflecting a modest week‑on‑week increase while still showing a notable decline compared with the same period last year. According to Location Analytics data, these figures signal a cautious recovery in the short term even though the longer‑term trend continues to present challenges for UK retail parks and overall footfall.
Regional Footfall Breakdown
Breaking down the data by region, England led with an average of 16,900 daily visits, experiencing a modest uptick over the previous week despite a clear year‑on‑year decline. Scotland’s retail parks followed with an average of 15,900 daily visits; although weekly numbers remained relatively steady, the longer‑term trend still points to a noticeable reduction compared with last year. In contrast, retail parks in Wales recorded a lower average of 11,500 daily visits, with both the recent metrics and historical comparisons indicating a downturn in visitor numbers. This analysis of footfall reinforces insights from both Location Analytics and Location Intelligence regarding consumer engagement.
Dwell Time Analysis
Complementing the footfall data, dwell time continues to offer insight into customer engagement across these out‑of‑town destinations. Overall, visitors spent an average of 70 minutes per visit during the reporting period—a slight reduction on a week‑on‑week basis that is outweighed by a small improvement over the longer term. In England, dwell time mirrors the overall average, whereas visitors in Wales spent a marginally longer period of 74 minutes per visit. This sharp increase compared with the previous year suggests that while footfall may be dwindling, those who do visit tend to engage more deeply in their dwell time. Meanwhile, Scottish retail parks saw an average dwell time of 65 minutes, with a moderate softening noted compared with the previous week.
Industry Updates
These emerging trends come as retailers continue to adjust their strategies amid shifting consumer behaviour and a dynamic economic climate. Recent industry news shows a mixed picture. For instance, Nike’s closure of its store at a Scottish retail park in Craigleith, as reported by The Herald, underscores the pressures confronting some brands in this channel. In contrast, a huge fashion brand is capitalising on growth opportunities with the opening of a new store at The Fort shopping centre in Birmingham, a move covered by MSN. The expansion strategy is further evidenced by Lidl’s plan to launch nine new UK stores, bolstering its presence on the retail park estate as highlighted by MSN. Conversely, the closures of several Homebase outlets—reported by both Time Out and The Sun—highlight the cautious approach taken by some retailers in the current market environment.
Weather Impact and Economic Outlook
The broader UK economic backdrop further adds context to the footfall results. While recent economic commentary from FashionUnited UK noted that January storms boosted online and non‑essential spending, other analyses have highlighted the ongoing uncertainty in consumer spending. For example, Retail Week reported that although wages are rising, the effect on overall consumer expenditure remains to be seen. Furthermore, a recent report by Investing.com UK flagged a notable decline in retail sales, while contrasting views from EDP24 and The Irish News suggest that the sector may be benefiting from sporadic bursts of positive momentum.
Weather conditions also played a role in shaping this week’s outcomes. Advanced weather maps indicated that many parts of the UK experienced a deep freeze with temperatures dipping as low as -3°C, followed by snow that gradually spread across the country, with rare warnings of freezing rain issued as noted by The Mirror and Metro.co.uk. Such conditions may have dampened visitor enthusiasm and influenced the overall footfall numbers, particularly in areas more sensitive to adverse weather.
Conclusion
Joe Capocci, spokesperson for Huq Industries, stated, "The current week’s data underlines the resilience of retail parks despite persistent challenges. While short‑term trends offer some reassurance, our team is closely monitoring how evolving economic and weather conditions impact consumer behaviour." In conclusion, the latest data from UK retail parks presents a picture of cautious improvement in the short term against a backdrop of long‑term challenges. Retailers continue to adapt, balancing store closures and new openings to align with evolving consumer habits and external pressures such as economic shifts and weather extremes. As the sector navigates these complexities, the ongoing tracking of footfall, dwell time, and overall consumer engagement remains a crucial tool for both Location Analytics and Location Intelligence insights.
About Huq Industries
Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. Traditional analytics show how stores are performing, but Huq goes further—uncovering why. By leveraging advanced analytics and an extensive location data network, Huq Industries helps retailers and analysts understand the real drivers of success, predict future trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise store performance in an evolving high street and town centre landscape.
Week 6, 2025 High Streets & Town Centres Update: Location Analytics Insights
Week 6, 2025 High Streets & Town Centres Update: Location Analytics Insights
UK high streets record a slight 2.1% drop in dwell time. Discover how Location Analytics reveal key retail footfall trends.
Introduction
UK High Streets and town centres across the country recorded an overall average daily footfall of 28,800 for the week ending 16 February 2025, reflecting a modest week-on-week increase amid a slight annual softness in visitor numbers. Harnessing advanced Location Analytics, the data—supplied by Huq Industries—also offers valuable Location Intelligence insights into the shifting dynamics of regional retail data.
Regional Variations
Analysing the data further, the week’s results reveal distinct regional variations. In Scotland, town centres achieved an average daily footfall of 24,700, recording a noticeable weekly improvement of 10.1 percent. However, the annual comparison indicates that the region is still contending with overall softness. England’s performance was slightly more robust, with an average of 29,500 visitors each day and a modest week-on-week gain of 1.5 percent—highlighting steady high street performance—with the year-on-year figures offering a picture of relative stability, even as the slight negative annual trend calls for continual monitoring. Meanwhile, centres in Wales averaged 15,000 visitors daily and experienced a weekly increase of 5.4 percent, though the annual performance points to a more pronounced contraction in visitor numbers.
Dwell Time Trends
Dwell time across these centres further underscores the evolving dynamics of consumer behaviour. The overall average visit duration stood at 95 minutes, marking a 2.1 percent softening compared to the previous week, yet showing a marked improvement on a year-on-year basis. In England, the average dwell time paralleled the national average at 96 minutes, reflecting a negligible change despite the fluctuations in footfall. In Wales, visitors spent an average of 97 minutes in the centres—a figure buoyed by a weekly rise—while Scotland recorded the shortest visit duration, with an average of 82 minutes and a notable weekly drop. Specific centre examples demonstrate mixed signals, one example being a centre on Abbeydale Road in Nether Edge, Sheffield that observed a decline, and another on Stratford Road in Solihull that saw its performance soften.
Impact of Store Closures
This mixed performance comes at a time when the retail landscape is facing broader challenges. Recent industry news has highlighted a spate of store closures on the high streets. For instance, Daily Express reported that New Look is set to close a town centre shop in a matter of days, while The Sun detailed the closure of four more WHSmith stores. Similarly, Yahoo News UK noted the cessation of operations at a major Sports Direct outlet in Nottingham. These closures highlight the ongoing adjustments that many traditional retailers are having to make in response to changing consumer spending habits and an increasingly competitive market.
Economic and Weather Influences
Economic trends add further context to the data. A recent article from FashionUnited UK indicated that January storms provided a short-term boost to online and non-essential spending, a signal that while consumers are engaging with alternative retail channels, footfall in physical locations is subject to variability. Subsequent commentary from Retail Week raises questions on whether rising wages will sustain or reverse the current consumer spending habits across high streets. Although Investing.com UK and EDP24 have offered contrasting perspectives, the overall economic outlook appears mixed. Additionally, insights from The Irish News suggest that even modest growth in GDP may not immediately translate into more robust high street performance.
Weather conditions may also have played a role in shaping footfall patterns over the week. Reports from The Mirror noted that a deep freeze with temperatures dipping to -3°C affected parts of the UK, with snow expected to follow in several regions. Further warnings from Metro.co.uk about potential freezing rain could have had an impact on shoppers’ willingness to venture out, inevitably influencing retail footfall trends.
Industry Commentary & Conclusion
Joe Capocci, spokesperson for Huq Industries, commented, “Our latest data demonstrates that while there are encouraging signs in terms of week-on-week performance, particularly in regions such as Scotland and Wales, the broader context of high street retail remains complex. The interplay of weather conditions, local economic factors and evolving consumer behaviour means that retailers must remain agile in responding to these shifts.”
In conclusion, the latest data from Huq Industries reflects a nuanced picture for UK High Streets and town centres. While the overall picture shows a slight improvement in footfall numbers on a weekly basis, regional disparities and mixed dwell time trends caution against complacency. In an environment marked by retail closures, variable economic indicators and challenging weather conditions, stakeholders will need to monitor these trends carefully as they navigate a complex and evolving market landscape.
About Huq Industries
Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. Traditional analytics show how stores are performing, but Huq goes further—uncovering why. By leveraging advanced analytics and an extensive location data network, Huq Industries helps retailers and analysts understand the real drivers of success, predict future trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise store performance in an evolving high street and town centre landscape.
Week 6, 2025: Shopping Centres Show Resilient Growth with Location Analytics
Week 6, 2025: Shopping Centres Show Resilient Growth with Location Analytics
UK Shopping Centres’ dwell time rose by 17.1%, underscoring robust Location Analytics and emerging Location Intelligence trends.
Introduction
UK shopping centres recorded an average daily footfall of 27,700 during the most recent full week ending 16 February 2025. This represents a modest week‐to‐week increase of 1.1%, although figures remain lower than the same week last year by 5.8%. The overall performance suggests a short‐term recovery following recent fluctuations in consumer engagement. Utilising advanced Location Analytics, these insights offer vital clarity on consumer engagement and retail footfall trends.
Regional Analysis
Breaking down the data regionally reveals some nuanced differences across the UK. England leads with an average of 29,800 visitors per day and a week‐to‐week rise of 2.5%, even though its annual performance is down by 3% compared to the previous year. In contrast, Scotland’s shopping centres attracted an average of 21,200 daily visitors, with both week-on-week and year-on-year comparisons showing a decline. Wales reported a daily average of 6,800 visitors, registering slight softness this week and a notable drop over the same period last year. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland recorded approximately 8,100 visitors per day, although its figures have softened markedly in both the short-term and longer timeframe. These variations underscore significant regional performance differences in the retail sector.
Local Insights
Locally, the performance within specific retail locations reflects these mixed trends. Centres in Yorkshire and the Humber, for instance, have witnessed some downturns in select venues. One example is the performance of locations like White Rose Centre in Leeds and Castleford Junction 32 Outlet in Wakefield, which experienced declines compared to the previous week. Despite these local challenges, an interesting observation emerges when considering dwell time. Across the board, shoppers have increased the average duration of their visits to 123 minutes—registering a 17.1% increase from the previous week and a sharp rise over the same period last year—highlighting a remarkable dwell time increase even when retail footfall is variable.
Industry News
Recent retail industry news further contextualises these results. For example, a new tenant opening at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre was highlighted by Yahoo News UK, marking positive developments amid otherwise mixed retail performance. Similarly, another well-known fashion brand is reportedly preparing to launch at The Fort shopping centre, as documented by MSN. On the other hand, the sector is also facing challenges from potential store closures. An article from the Daily Mail has sparked concerns over the future of several long‑established retail outlets, while The Sun reports that a much‑loved shop within Union Sq is set to close within hours. Additionally, a major retailer at Meadowhall is currently holding a significant closing sale ahead of a move, as covered by MSN. These stories illustrate how the sector continues to adapt, with new retail openings paired with the reorganisation of existing retail portfolios.
Economic and Weather Impacts
Economic news from within the UK also paints an evolving picture of consumer spending. According to FashionUnited UK, January storms contributed to a boost in online and non‑essential spending. In contrast, analysis by Retail Week raises questions on whether rising wages will translate into higher consumer spending. Moreover, Investing.com UK reported a softer performance in retail sales, while EDP24 pointed to growth in January sales—a testament to the sector’s resilience amid a complex economic picture. These divergent economic narratives underscore the ongoing adjustment within the retail space, where consumer engagement is intricately linked to broader market trends. Weather conditions during the period may have also played a contributory role. Reports from The Mirror detailed a deep freeze last week with temperatures dropping to -3°C ahead of snowfall, while Metro.co.uk issued warnings of potential freezing rain. Such conditions may have encouraged shoppers to extend their stay at indoor retail venues, potentially influencing the marked increase in dwell time.
Industry Perspective
Joe Capocci, Huq Industries spokesperson, stated: “The latest data, while reflecting a modest uptick in visitor numbers, very clearly illustrates the resilience and adaptability of shoppers under varying conditions. The notable increase in dwell time is a strong indicator that shoppers are making the most of their visits, exploring more of what our centres have to offer even when faced with external challenges.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, while overall footfall figures signal modest progress, the diversity in regional performance and the ongoing evolution of the retail tenant landscape highlight the complex nature of today’s market dynamics. Increased dwell times coupled with fluctuating visitor numbers imply that shoppers are adapting to both economic uncertainties and variable weather conditions. As retailers continue to navigate these dynamics amid a backdrop of mixed economic signals and market redistributions, ongoing analysis—anchored by reliable Location Analytics and emerging Location Intelligence—is instrumental in identifying emerging trends and guiding future retail strategies.
About Huq Industries
Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. Traditional analytics show how stores are performing, but Huq goes further—uncovering why. By leveraging advanced analytics and an extensive location data network, Huq Industries helps retailers and analysts understand the real drivers of success, predict future trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise store performance in an evolving high street and town centre landscape.
Week 6, 2025 Major Retail Centres: Robust Insights from Location Analytics
Week 6, 2025 Major Retail Centres: Robust Insights from Location Analytics
UK Major Retail Centres report modest, sub-20% improvements in footfall and dwell time – a signal of resilient UK retail and evolving consumer spending.
The latest data from Huq Industries shows that UK Major Retail Centres are experiencing modest improvements in visitor footfall and dwell time for the week ending 2025‑02‑16. Using advanced Location Analytics, the overall average daily footfall now stands at 71,000, reflecting gradual enhancements compared to the previous week and marked year‐on‐year improvements in UK retail trends and footfall data insights. Visitor engagement remains robust with the average visit lasting 111 minutes, even though there has been a slight softening in this score on a weekly basis.
Regional Breakdown
Breaking the figures down by region, Scotland continues to outperform with a robust daily average of 85,100 visitors. Scottish retail centres have seen steady week on week increases in footfall and a healthy year‐on‐year improvement. Visitors in Scotland also spend more time in centres, with an average of 137 minutes per visit. This substantial improvement in dwell time highlights the region’s growing engagement with the retail environment. In contrast, Welsh retail centres report a daily average of 56,100 visitors. Although there has been a modest uplift in footfall and a sharp increase over the year, visitor dwell time in Wales is comparatively lower at 86 minutes per visit, and the year‐on‐year figures indicate a notable decline in the length of visits.
Northern Ireland and England Trends
Northern Ireland is another standout with retail centres attracting 109,300 daily visitors. The region has experienced both a healthy week on week boost and a sharp increase over the previous year. Notably, the average visit duration in Northern Ireland is among the highest at 140 minutes, despite a slight softening in this metric on a weekly basis. England’s figures are consistent with the overall trends, recording a daily footfall of 70,000 with modest week on week and annual increases, and an average visit duration of 110 minutes per visit. These insights into consumer engagement and dwell time further enhance our understanding of the UK retail industry.
Recent Retail News and Economic Sentiment
Recent retail news has provided additional context for these figures. For instance, a huge fashion brand is set to open a new store at The Fort shopping centre in Birmingham, replacing the old Wilko outlet that closed three years ago, signalling a reinvestment in high street retail MSN. In another development, Starbucks recently announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art store in a Livingston shopping centre, which is expected to generate 20 new jobs and enhance the local retail landscape further The Herald. Additionally, changes in the retail roster continue in other regions with examples such as Sports Direct in Nottingham transitioning to a new branch and a closing down sale in York’s Coppergate Shopping Centre, all reflecting broader dynamics in consumer spending and regional retail trends Yahoo News UK Yahoo News UK.
Economic sentiments are currently mixed within the industry. Recent reporting has suggested that while January saw a boost in online and non‐essential spending driven by adverse weather events, retailers have been cautiously optimistic about the period ahead. According to a report by FashionUnited UK, the severe weather conditions earlier in the month contributed to a shift in consumer spending patterns. However, other voices in the industry remain circumspect. For example, Retail Week has warned that while wages are rising, the effect on consumer spending remains uncertain. Meanwhile, conflicting data from Investing.com UK suggests a more subdued retail sales environment, indicating that consumer appetite may be tempered despite the year‐on‐year improvements in footfall.
Weather Impact and Final Thoughts
Weather too has played its part in shaping retail outcomes this week. The UK experienced a deep freeze with temperatures dipping as low as -3°C, and forecasts from the Met Office warned of possible freezing rain in some regions. These harsh conditions, as reported by The Mirror and Metro.co.uk, have likely contributed to the increased dwell time seen in several regions as shoppers took extra care navigating the wintery conditions.
Joe Capocci, Huq Industries spokesperson, remarked, "The consistency in the improvements of both footfall and visit duration across most regions reinforces the resilience of UK retail. Our data reflects subtle but positive shifts, even when external factors like inclement weather and evolving consumer sentiment complicate the picture."
In conclusion, the latest footfall data from Huq Industries offers cautious optimism for UK retail centres across major regions. While overall visitor numbers and engagement metrics continue their steady climb, regional variations highlight areas where further attention may be needed. Coupled with evolving retail strategies and shifting consumer fortunes influenced by economic and weather-related factors, the industry continues to adapt in a challenging environment.
About Huq Industries
Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. Traditional analytics show how stores are performing, but Huq goes further—uncovering why. By leveraging advanced analytics and an extensive location data network, Huq Industries helps retailers and analysts understand the real drivers of success, predict future trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise store performance in an evolving high street and town centre landscape.
Week 6, 2025 Local Retail Centres Footfall Report & Analysis
Week 6, 2025 Local Retail Centres Footfall Report & Analysis
Week 6, 2025 sees UK Local Retail Centres report a modest 3.7% week-on-week footfall data improvement amid cautious recovery.
Overview
UK Local Retail Centres experienced steady activity during Week 6, 2025, with overall footfall averaging 13,900 daily visits. The latest figures from Huq Industries illustrate a modest week on week increase of 3.7% and a 19.2% decline when compared to the same period last year. While this marked week on week improvement suggests an ongoing recovery, the long‐term comparison indicates that visitor numbers still trail behind previous levels.
To ensure our analysis is comprehensive, we have integrated robust footfall data to provide in-depth footfall retail insights. Detailed footfall statistics and precise footfall counting methods support the findings throughout this report.
Regional Performance
Examining the performance across regions reveals some interesting contrasts. England’s centres maintained the overall average at 13,900 daily visitors, registering a week on week boost of 3.6% alongside a year on year decline of 18.1%. In Scotland, with an average daily footfall of 12,900, centres reported a slightly higher weekly increase of 5.5% although they experienced a notable decline compared to last year. Wales’ centres, averaging 11,700 daily visitors, stood out with the most pronounced recent weekly uplift of 11.7%, balanced against a similarly notable longer-term reduction in visitation. Northern Ireland’s centres led in terms of volume at 15,300 average daily visits but exhibited only a marginal week on week improvement of 0.9% while also enduring a notable year on year drop. These regional differences underscore varying local market dynamics and consumer responses within the broader UK retail landscape.
Dwell Time Trends
Dwell time data adds further nuance to the performance narrative. The average visit duration across all centres increased to 94 minutes, representing a week on week growth of 1.1% and a sharp increase when compared to the corresponding period last year. In England, a slight softening in dwell time by 1.1% was observed on a weekly basis; however, the annual figures show a marked improvement, suggesting that while consumers might be spending marginally less time in a given week compared to the previous one, they are engaging more deeply overall relative to last year. Conversely, centres in Scotland experienced a healthy weekly boost in dwell time of 13.7%, implying growing consumer engagement, whilst in Wales there was a decrease of 12.8% in average visit length, indicating that a change in consumer behaviour might be at play. Northern Ireland’s centres also displayed a robust improvement in visit duration on a weekly basis, albeit with only a modest change in the year on year comparison.
Retail Developments
Recent developments in the retail sector further contextualise these findings. For instance, a report from the Daily Express highlighted that New Look is set to close its town centre shop, a move that could affect local footfall patterns as retailers adjust to market challenges (Daily Express). In a contrasting development from Birmingham, a popular fashion brand has unveiled its new Bullring store following the closure of a previous well-regarded unit, as reported by Yahoo News UK (Yahoo News UK). Other industry headlines, such as the one from The Sun concerning the closure of a high street store, and another from MSN discussing a major store opening with ambitious plans at The Fort shopping centre, both point to an evolving retail environment where changes in store footprints are influencing local retail dynamics. Additionally, WHSmith’s confirmation of a closure at one of its city centre locations, as detailed by the Daily Express (Daily Express), further illustrates the shifting retail landscape.
Economic Indicators
Economic indicators complement the footfall data, suggesting a mixed sentiment in consumer spending. For example, FashionUnited UK reported that January storms boosted online and non‐essential spending, potentially mitigating some of the declines found in physical store visits (FashionUnited UK). Similarly, Retail Week discussed the impact of rising wages, questioning whether increased incomes will translate into more robust consumer spending in the near future (Retail Week). Other economic reports, such as those from Investing.com UK and EDP24, have also noted cautious consumer behaviour and measured growth in retail sales, a sentiment echoed in the positive albeit tentative remarks about the UK’s economic revival in The Irish News (The Irish News).
Weather Impact
Weather conditions during the week may also have played a part in the observed retail performance. Reports from The Mirror indicated that the UK experienced a deep freeze with temperatures dropping as low as -3°C, followed by snow in several regions (The Mirror). The rarity of freezing rain, as forecasted by Metro.co.uk, further reminds us that challenging weather conditions can have a tangible impact on footfall and shopping behaviours (Metro.co.uk).
Industry Perspectives
Joe Capocci, Huq Industries spokesperson, remarked, "The latest data reflects a cautious yet discernible recovery in consumer footfall activity. Although regional variations remain evident and some sites are still below their performance levels from last year, we are observing increasing visit durations that point towards enhanced customer engagement. Retailers and local centres alike will benefit from understanding these nuanced shifts as they continue to adapt to both evolving consumer behaviours and external factors such as weather conditions and economic pressures."
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Week 6, 2025 has shown encouraging week on week improvements in both footfall and dwell times within UK Local Retail Centres, overall recovery remains tempered by significant year on year declines. The interplay of regional differences, evolving retail industry strategies and the impact of current economic and weather conditions suggest that local centres are navigating a complex landscape. Retailers and stakeholders must continue to monitor these trends closely to adjust strategies in a dynamic environment.
About Huq Industries
Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. Traditional analytics show how stores are performing, but Huq goes further—uncovering why. By leveraging advanced analytics and an extensive location data network, Huq Industries helps retailers and analysts understand the real drivers of success, predict future trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise store performance in an evolving high street and town centre landscape.
How This Cultural Market Leveraged Huq’s Insights for Expansion and Optimisation
The Challenge: Navigating a Dynamic Retail Landscape in a New Market with Location Intelligence
Case Study
Client Overview
The Market Business Unit in the food and cultural market division of a popular Tourism Group, has been pursuing expansion in the United Kingdom, particularly in London. However, their previous efforts to establish a presence in the capital faced significant challenges. In 2016, an initial proposal to open near Spitalfields was rejected by Tower Hamlets Council. A subsequent lease for a 32,500-square-foot site in the former International Eurostar Terminal at Waterloo was cancelled in early 2021 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following these setbacks, the business unit needed to adopt a data-driven approach to site selection and feasibility assessment. The company required comprehensive and accurate insights to mitigate risk and make informed decisions about its expansion strategy. They needed a way to evaluate potential locations with greater confidence, understanding key factors such as footfall patterns, visitor demographics, dwell times, and spending behaviour in different areas.
“Expanding into new markets comes with significant challenges, from understanding footfall patterns to assessing consumer demand. Without reliable data, making confident site selection decisions was a major hurdle.”
The Challenge
The business unit faced significant challenges in expanding into London, struggling to identify viable locations due to a lack of reliable footfall, demographic, and spending data. Previous setbacks highlighted the need for a data-driven approach to mitigate risk and ensure confident site selection.
Site Selection Uncertainty
Previous expansion attempts in London faced setbacks due to difficulties in accurately assessing the viability of potential locations.
Lack of Reliable Data
Without granular insights into footfall, visitor demographics, dwell times, and spending behaviour, making informed decisions was challenging.
Risk of Costly Investments
The absence of data-driven validation increased the risk of selecting suboptimal sites, potentially leading to financial losses and operational inefficiencies.
Huq's Solution
Our goal was to equip the business unit with precise, data-driven insights into footfall, demographics, and spending behaviour, enabling them to confidently identify and validate the best locations for expansion.
The business unit turned to Huq to provide detailed and reliable data to support its decision-making. By leveraging Huq’s location intelligence capabilities, the company sought to:
Data-Driven Site Selection
Huq provided detailed footfall, demographic, and spending insights to help identify high-potential locations with confidence.
Competitive Benchmarking
By comparing prospective sites against existing markets, the team could ensure alignment with successful locations worldwide.
Informed Decision-Making
Huq’s tailored reports enabled stakeholders to assess commercial viability, optimise negotiations, and de-risk expansion investments.
How Huq's Solution Helped
Huq provided the business unit with tailored benchmarking reports, offering granular insights into footfall, catchment area characteristics, visitor dwell times, and credit card spending trends around key locations. These reports allowed the team to compare prospective sites against their operational benchmarks in other cities, ensuring they selected locations with the highest potential for success.
Additionally, Huq’s reports were structured to align with internal decision-making processes, ensuring that key stakeholders could easily interpret and act on the findings.
Confident Expansion Decisions
he company leveraged Huq’s detailed footfall, demographic, and spending insights to make informed decisions about new locations. By understanding visitor patterns and engagement levels, they could select sites with the highest potential for success while avoiding locations that posed a greater risk. This data-driven approach significantly reduced uncertainty and improved the chances of a successful expansion.
Stronger Business Case
With comprehensive location intelligence, the company was able to present a compelling case to landlords and investors. By demonstrating footfall trends, visitor demographics, and spending behaviour, they could justify the commercial viability of their chosen sites. These insights not only strengthened lease negotiations but also provided tangible evidence to secure investment and funding for their expansion plans.
Optimised Investment Strategy
By benchmarking potential sites against successful markets in other cities, the company ensured that their investment decisions were backed by data. This approach enabled them to allocate resources efficiently, prioritise locations with the highest return potential, and fine-tune their business model to align with local market dynamics. As a result, they minimised financial risks while maximising long-term profitability.
Final comments
Since engaging with Huq, the business unit has been able to make informed and data-driven decisions regarding its expansion strategy. The company’s current negotiations for a London market at Piccadilly Circus are backed by comprehensive location intelligence, allowing them to move forward with a strong understanding of the site’s commercial potential.
If your business is looking to gain a competitive edge and make smarter location-based decisions, Huq’s location intelligence solutions provide the clarity and confidence needed to succeed in a fast-moving market.
“Huq’s insights have given us the confidence to make informed decisions about our expansion. Their ability to provide granular footfall and spending data has been invaluable in evaluating potential locations and ensuring we invest in the right opportunities”
Vice President of Development
Is your business facing similar challenges?
Our experienced team can demonstrate how to use location intelligence and analytics to augment a wide range of use cases, including:
- Identifying locations for new stores
- Optimising your existing store portfolio
- Informing your pricing strategy
- Improving the effectiveness of marketing
- Benchmarking performance across locations
- Understanding competitor landscape
- Optimising opening hours
Ready to get started? Speak to one of our location experts
Leveraging Location Intelligence for Strategic Expansion in Saudi Arabia
The Challenge: Navigating a Dynamic Retail Landscape in a New Market with Location Intelligence
Case Study
Client Overview
A leading global sportswear retailer embarked on an ambitious market expansion strategy in Saudi Arabia, aiming to establish a strong retail presence across key locations. As part of this initiative, the company sought to open over 100 new stores, leveraging partnerships and growing consumer demand. However, rapid expansion in a competitive and evolving market presented several challenges, including identifying optimal store locations, understanding local consumer behaviour, and benchmarking against competitors.
To navigate these complexities, the retailer required a data-driven approach to assess footfall patterns, catchment demographics, and spending behaviours. Traditional market research methods provided limited insights, making it difficult to make confident, data-backed decisions. To ensure the success of their expansion strategy, the company needed a scalable and reliable solution to optimise store performance and measure return on investment.
“Understanding consumer movement and market dynamics across multiple territories has been a persistent challenge. We needed a reliable, data-driven solution to optimise store performance, benchmark against competitors, and make informed expansion decisions.”
The Challenge
In 2022, this retailer embarked on an ambitious market expansion strategy in Saudi Arabia, aiming to open over 100 new stores by 2025. This initiative was driven by several factors, including new flagship partnerships with Saudi football clubs and the Saudi Pro League. However, this rapid expansion presented significant challenges:
Understanding the Saudi Retail Landscape
The retailer needed to gain a deep understanding of the Saudi retail landscape, including consumer behaviour, competitor activity, and the performance of existing stores. This information was crucial for making informed decisions about new store locations and optimising the existing retail network.
Data Scarcity
Traditional market research methods often proved inadequate in providing the granular, real-time insights necessary for effective decision-making in a rapidly evolving market like Saudi Arabia.
Standardised Intelligence
With a plan to open a large number of stores in a short period, the retailer required a data-driven approach to identify optimal locations and avoid cannibalisation within their network.
Huq's Solution
Our goal was to provide the client with precise, real-time insights into footfall, consumer behaviour, and market dynamics, enabling them to make data-driven decisions, optimise store locations, and maximise the success of their expansion strategy.
Illuminating the Path to Strategic Growth with Location Intelligence
The retailer turned to Huq Industries, a leading provider of location intelligence solutions, to address these challenges. Huq’s platform offered several capabilities that were particularly relevant to their needs:
Footfall Analysis
Huq's ability to accurately measure footfall traffic in and around specific locations provided the sports apparel retailer with critical insights into consumer behaviour and the catchment areas of their stores.
Credit Card Spend Analysis
Huq's platform provided insights into consumer spending patterns in the vicinity of the clients stores, helping them understand the purchasing power of their customer base and tailor their offerings accordingly.
Competitor Benchmarking
Huq's platform enabled the retailer to benchmark their performance against key competitors, providing valuable context for their expansion and optimisation strategies.
How Huq's Solution Helped
How the client leveraged Huq’s location intelligence platform to inform several key aspects of their market expansion strategy in Saudi Arabia:
Optimise Store Locations
Huq's footfall and catchment analysis helped identify high-potential locations for new stores, ensuring maximum reach and minimising cannibalisation within their network. For example, the platform allowed them to analyse footfall traffic in various shopping centres and identify those with a high concentration of their target demographic.
Measuring Marketing Campaign Effectiveness
Huq's platform enabled the marketing team to track the impact of their campaigns on store visits, providing valuable data for optimising their marketing spend and maximising ROI. They were able to correlate increases in footfall with specific marketing initiatives, demonstrating the effectiveness of their campaigns.
Gaining a Competitive Edge
By benchmarking their performance against competitors, the client gained valuable insights into market dynamics and identified opportunities to differentiate themselves. This data helped them tailor their offerings and marketing messages to better resonate with their target audience.
Final comments
The collaboration between the MENA team and Huq Industries exemplifies the transformative power of location intelligence in the retail industry. By harnessing the power of data-driven insights, the retailer has successfully navigated the challenges of a dynamic retail landscape in a new market and achieved significant business outcomes. As the client continues its ambitious expansion in Saudi Arabia and beyond, Huq’s location intelligence platform will remain a crucial tool for optimising their retail network, enhancing customer experiences, and driving sustainable growth.
If your business is looking to gain a competitive edge and make smarter location-based decisions, Huq’s location intelligence solutions provide the clarity and confidence needed to succeed in a fast-moving market.
“Huq’s location intelligence platform has been instrumental in supporting our market expansion strategy in Saudi Arabia. The platform’s granular insights into consumer behaviour, competitor activity, and store performance have enabled us to make data-driven decisions, optimise our retail network, and achieve tangible results. We are particularly pleased with the increase in footfall traffic and the improvement in store performance we have seen since implementing Huq’s solution.”
Market Expansion MENA
Is your business facing similar challenges?
Our experienced team can demonstrate how to use location intelligence and analytics to augment a wide range of use cases, including:
- Identifying locations for new stores
- Optimising your existing store portfolio
- Informing your pricing strategy
- Improving the effectiveness of marketing
- Benchmarking performance across locations
- Understanding competitor landscape
- Optimising opening hours
Ready to get started? Speak to one of our location experts
How A Sports Apparel Retailer Optimised its Europe and ME Strategy with Huq
How a Global Sports Retailer Used Huq to Optimise Store Performance Across EMEA
Case Study
Client Overview
As a leading global retailer in the sports and lifestyle sector, this company operates an extensive store network across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). In an increasingly competitive retail landscape, they sought to optimise their store performance by gaining a clearer understanding of consumer movement patterns, catchment demographics, and spending behaviours.
To maintain a strong market position, the company needed a data-driven approach to assess retail locations, benchmark performance against competitors, and refine its expansion strategy. However, fragmented regional data and inconsistent reporting methodologies made it challenging to derive actionable insights. The business required a scalable, standardised solution to support strategic decision-making and enhance collaboration across multiple territories.
“Understanding consumer movement and market dynamics across multiple territories has been a persistent challenge. We needed a reliable, data-driven solution to optimise store performance, benchmark against competitors, and make informed expansion decisions.”
The Challenge
The company struggled to gain a unified, data-driven view of consumer movement, retail performance, and competitor benchmarking across multiple territories, limiting their ability to optimise store strategy and expansion. So the retailer partnered with Huq Industries with the hope of leveraging its advanced data solutions to:
Asses Store Performance
Provide detailed insights into footfall, catchment areas, dwell times, and credit card spend around their stores and key competitor locations.
Dynamic Reporting
Enable dynamic and flexible reporting, allowing Nike to analyse data at both a macro and granular level to identify opportunities for store network optimisation.
Standardised Intelligence
Deliver standardised and scalable data solutions to support the retailers global and regional teams in achieving consistency and clarity.
Huq's Solution
Our goal was to equip the client with precise, real-time insights into consumer movement and market dynamics, enabling them to optimise store performance and confidently drive strategic growth.
The primary objective of Huq was to provide accurate, scalable, and standardised location intelligence that enabled the company to optimise store performance, benchmark against competitors, and make data-driven expansion decisions across multiple territories.
Key features of Huq’s solution included:
Detailed Location Intelligence
Huq’s platform enabled the measurement of footfall trends and dwell times in key retail locations. By analysing aggregated and anonymised GPS data, Huq provided insights into visitor behaviour within stores and surrounding areas.
Customised Reporting
The client utilised dynamic and aggregated KPI tracking, enabling consistent reporting across its territories. The platform’s flexibility allowed the analysis macroeconomic retail trends alongside store-specific data.
Historical Data Integration
Huq facilitated the integration of historical data to provide longitudinal analyses and insights into trends over time.
How Huq's Solution Helped
Since implementing Huq’s solution, the retailer has made significant strides in addressing its business challenges. The integration of Huq’s data into their retail planning and reporting workflows has empowered the company to:
Optimise Store Locations
The client used Huq’s catchment and footfall analysis to prioritise investments in high-impact retail locations. The EMEA team leveraged these insights to assess the performance of existing stores and identify opportunities for expansion. For example, Huq’s data enabled the retailer to evaluate trade zones in European retail parks and high streets, guiding their decision-making around new store openings.
Enhance Reporting Consistency
Huq’s dynamic KPI reporting has been a critical tool in the clients Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs). The EMEA team has consistently used Huq’s data since the summer of 2023 to track key performance indicators and benchmark their stores’ performance at a country and regional level.
Respond to Macro Trends
With the ability to analyse footfall and spending trends at a macro level, the retailer has been able to identify shifts in consumer behaviour. This capability has been particularly valuable during seasonal peaks such as ‘Back to School’ and Black Friday, where the client used Huq’s data to assess retail performance and inform holiday reporting analyses.
Final comments
The partnership with Huq Industries exemplifies the value of leveraging advanced data solutions to overcome complex business challenges. Through Huq’s detailed insights into footfall, consumer spending, and competitor benchmarking, the retailer has been able to refine its retail strategy, enhance reporting consistency, and stay ahead in a highly competitive market. This case study highlights the success that can be achieved when businesses integrate data-driven approaches into their operations.
If your business is looking to gain a competitive edge and make smarter location-based decisions, Huq’s location intelligence solutions provide the clarity and confidence needed to succeed in a fast-moving market.
“Huq’s data solutions have been instrumental in helping us understand consumer behaviour at a granular level while also providing the flexibility to assess broader market trends. Their insights have enabled us to optimise our retail network and make data-driven decisions with confidence”
Omnichannel and Digital Returns Insights and Analytics Head (EMEA)
Is your business facing similar challenges?
Our experienced team can demonstrate how to use location intelligence and analytics to augment a wide range of use cases, including:
- Identifying locations for new stores
- Optimising your existing store portfolio
- Informing your pricing strategy
- Improving the effectiveness of marketing
- Benchmarking performance across locations
- Understanding competitor landscape
- Optimising opening hours
Ready to get started? Speak to one of our location experts
How Kawai UK Optimised Retail Performance Using Huq’s Footfall Data Solutions
How Kawai UK Optimised Retail Performance Using Huq’s Footfall Data Solutions
Case Study
Client Overview
Kawai UK, the British arm of the renowned Japanese musical instrument manufacturer, has built a reputation for crafting world-class acoustic and digital pianos. Their product portfolio caters to a diverse range of customers, from professional musicians to hobbyists. However, despite their heritage and market presence, Kawai UK faced a critical business challenge: optimising their retail strategy in a highly competitive environment.
How to optimise their retail strategy in a highly competitive environment.
“Understanding local market trends and visitor behaviour was crucial for optimising our retail locations. We needed data-driven insights to stay ahead in a competitive landscape.”
The Challenge
The focus of this challenge lay in a key location famous for its vibrant music retail scene. While its cultural significance made it an obvious choice, Kawai UK had limited visibility into footfall trends, visitor demographics, and overall retail performance within the area. Without access to such data, it was difficult to:
Asses Store Performance
Assess the effectiveness of their retail location.
Cross-location Analysis
Understand how visitor trends evolved over time, and identify high-traffic zones.
Area Benchmarking
Benchmark Kawai's performance against historical and regional trends.
Huq's Solution
We’ve moved from making assumptions to making informed, data-backed decisions that directly impact our strategy. This level of clarity and precision has transformed the way we approach retail optimisation.
The primary objective was to leverage data-driven insights to refine their retail strategies, ensuring they could maximise their market presence and effectively engage with their target audience.
Recognising the need for a deeper understanding of footfall and consumer behaviour, the retailer turned to Huq Industries for a solution. They hoped Huq could provide:
Accurate Footfall Data
Accurate footfall data to track changes over time and pinpoint high-traffic areas.
Visitor Demographics
Insights into visitor demographics to better align their offerings with the local audience.
Decision-making Proccess
A mechanism to support future decision-making, including potential expansion to similar locations in the UK.
How Huq's Solution Helped
Huq delivered a tailored data solution to meet Kawai’s specific requirements. This included:
Core Monthly Reports
These reports provided a detailed breakdown of footfall trends, including year-on-year comparisons and density maps showing high-traffic areas.
Visitor Demographics
Insights into visitor profiles, such as age distribution, were included to help Kawai align their retail strategies with the preferences of their audience.
Historical Analysis
Reports incorporated three years of historical data, enabling Kawai to track long-term trends and identify shifts in visitor behaviours.
Final comments
Kawai UK’s collaboration with Huq Industries exemplifies the power of data-driven decision-making in retail. By addressing their core challenges with actionable insights, Kawai has been able to enhance their retail performance and position themselves for continued success. With plans to explore similar opportunities in other UK locations, their partnership with Huq is set to play a pivotal role in shaping their future growth strategy.
If your business is looking to gain a competitive edge and make smarter location-based decisions, Huq’s location intelligence solutions provide the clarity and confidence needed to succeed in a fast-moving market.
“Huq’s data has been a game-changer for us. The insights into footfall and visitor behaviour have given us the clarity we needed to optimise our retail strategy. We can now make informed decisions with confidence, and the level of customisation and support provided by Huq has been exceptional.”
Tom Haydney
Marketing & Product Manager UK
Is your business facing similar challenges?
Our experienced team can demonstrate how to use location intelligence and analytics to augment a wide range of use cases, including:
- Identifying locations for new stores
- Optimising your existing store portfolio
- Informing your pricing strategy
- Improving the effectiveness of marketing
- Benchmarking performance across locations
- Understanding competitor landscape
- Optimising opening hours
