Footwear Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK  

“The footwear sector picked up in 2019 after a tough 2018. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 will have a significant and lasting impact on the sector. The category was previously geared towards the in-store experience, but since lockdown many of the leading retailers have announced significant numbers of store closures. Instead, the focus has moved to upping the online offering and recreating some of the in-store experience in a virtual setting. Demand for branded and sports footwear is likely to pick up as people turn to well-known products in times of uncertainty, but the mid-market segment will have to adapt and show a true point of differentiation to stay relevant.”

– Chana Baram, Senior Retail Analyst

Furniture Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK  

“COVID-19 will have a profound impact on the furniture market, both in the loss of sales in 2020, and in the far-reaching legacy impact of changing shopping behaviours. There are opportunities in this landscape, however, not least in the boost to office furniture with increased working from home, while the redirection of demand online is sure to open avenues of growth for online-only and well-equipped multichannel retailers.”

– Marco Amasanti, Retail Analyst

• UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  “Although footfall remained below pre-coronavirus levels in June, UK retail sales increased by 1.5% from June 2019 (ONS), as consumers made the most of their occasional shopping trips. Nevertheless, whilst non-essential retailers have been allowed to reopen since 15th June, only about half of shops have resumed activities and footfall remains low. With England enforcing the use of face coverings in shops and supermarkets from 24th July, it will be interesting to see how this will affect consumption in-store and which opportunities this might bring for retailers to explore.”– Armando Falcao, European Retail Analyst, 24th July 2020
• European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  “The leading European economies continue to progress on their path back to ‘normality’ at different paces, with countries like Germany leading the way while others like Spain continue to enforce new restrictions in certain areas. Consumers remain concerned about the risk of being exposed to the virus, which reflects on how uncomfortable many of them feel to resume certain out of the home activities such as going to the cinema, visiting a restaurant and going to the gym. Nevertheless, the pandemic continues to bring opportunities for those willing to adapt and explore different ways of engaging with consumers while ensuring their safety.”– Armando Falcao, European Retail Analyst, 24th July 2020
• Convenience Stores: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK  
  Convenience Stores: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK

  

  “The shift to localised shopping during the peak of COVID-19 will have benefited the convenience sector, driving larger-basket demand and sales as consumers necessarily shopped more in their local communities. Longer term the importance of c-stores within these communities will only be reinforced, presenting opportunities for convenience retailers to tap into.”– Nick Carroll, Associate Director of Retail Research
• Garden Products Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK  
  Garden Products Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK

  

  “Garden product retailing continues to evolve with the loss of market leader, Wyevale, from the garden sector being balanced out by the expansion of a number of other aspirational chains such as Dobbies, British Garden Centres and Blue Diamond. Going forward those operating outside of the horticulture market continue to capture consumer interest with the COVID-19 crisis likely to hasten alternative methods of retailing such as home delivery, click and collect and shopping online.”
• European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact consumer behaviour, creating many challenges for retailers in a variety of sectors. As non-essential stores gradually reopen in most European countries while having to enforce social distancing in-store, there are a number of opportunities for retailers to partly offset the decrease in sales they have experienced. While some attempt to strengthen their online presence, others are focusing on innovations and the use of technology to keep consumers engaged and encourage them to spend.”Armando Falcao, European Retail Analyst
• UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  "On June 15 all non-essential retail stores within the UK will once more be allowed to open their doors, subject to strict regulations.We estimate the lockdown, and the closures of non-essential stores will have cost the retail sector some £21.7 billion between March and June 2020, and with this period passing the biggest hit to the sector in 2020 will pass. Of course trade will not snap back to ‘normal’ immediately and store-based trade will be significantly impacted throughout 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic." Nicholas Carroll, Associate Director - Retail
• DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - France  
  DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - France

  

  “The French DIY market has been buoyant, with the boom in e-commerce and the arrival of pureplayers strengthening competition and driving prices down. Big-box retailers still dominate though, with the top two retail groups, ADEO and Kingfisher, generating over half of sector sales. The largest chain is the very successful Leroy Merlin, and we expect to see it further extend its lead in the post-COVID world.”– Natalie Macmillan, Senior European Retail Analyst
• DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Spain  
  DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Spain

  

  “Leroy Merlin is the largest and most successful DIY retailer in Spain, more than three times the size of its nearest rival. It dominates both in-store and online. All DIY stores were forced to close during the COVID-19 lockdown and the requirements to reopen are strict. Many retailers will struggle to survive the hit to sales and profits from the epidemic and only those that can ramp up their online model will be able to benefit from the permanent changes to consumer behaviour”– Natalie Macmillan, Senior European Retail Analyst
• DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Europe  
  DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Europe

  

  “The DIY markets across the leading European countries vary a great deal, due in part to differences in home ownership levels and the development of housing prices. The recent generally good performance of the DIY sector is being interrupted by the current threat of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, while the coronavirus outbreak has led to a series of challenges, it is also creating opportunities and driving demand for light DIY tasks, and those retailers that are quickest to respond to the changes and develop their online capabilities are the most likely to succeed.”– Armando Falcao, European Retail Analyst
• DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK  
  DIY Retailing: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK

  

  “COVID-19 will have a mixed impact on the DIY market. Extended periods inside will open opportunities amid a renewed focus on the home and garden, while enforced self-reliance could return the appetite for DIY in the longer term. However, ultimately these opportunities will be unable to offset the sales lost by store closures, withheld spending and a slowdown in the housing market; while this disruption will further accelerate fragmentation in the market, as new demand is fulfilled by non-specialists, both online and in-store.”
• UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  "Retailers across a variety of sectors continue to face different challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the UK is one of the later countries to allow non-essential stores to reopen, stores have already had to adapt to social distancing and other safety measures but the coronavirus crisis is creating opportunities to partly offset the sales lost during lockdown. Some are already strengthening their online platforms while others focus on innovations and other factors that can help them outlive the outbreak."- Nick Caroll, Associate Director - Retail