Retail sales figures for the month of March from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will come as no surprise. They confirm that overall retail sales fell by 5.1 per cent during a month which would ordinarily see high levels of consumer spending on DIY, gardening and clothing. Food and online shopping both saw a sharp uptick but clothing fell by a whopping 34 per cent. However, online retailers benefited from the lockdown and the channel achieved a record of 22 per cent of all retail sales.
With lockdown set to continue, many retailers are finding it difficult to extend their eCommerce capabilities whilst also meeting stringent social distancing requirements in their distribution centres. Some, like, Next, Schuh and Dunelm initially paused all online trading while they made the preparations necessary for safe working practices to be introduced and for staff to be trained. Meanwhile, the DIY suppliers have been attempting to maintain supply via a mix of Click & Collect and direct despatch of online orders from suppliers. Some. notably, B&Q, have already now moved to re-open some of their stores with safe distancing measures in place.
Fuel sales also fell by 3.7 per cent as fewer consumers used their cars to travel to and from work or for schools runs or outings. Food sales rose by 11 per cent, inflated by panic buying. All of the supermarket chains have adapted to manage customer visits, limiting the number of customers at a time in each store, sanitising trolleys, and operating distance marked queueing lanes both outside stores and at check-outs. Many have also introduced dedicated shopping times for the elderly and vulnerable as well as for NHS and other key workers.
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