Partner Article

Olympic trading hours would provide boost for retailers

Extending Sunday trading hours will provide retailers with a short-term opportunity to boost trading - but it is unlikely to result in higher spending in the long term.

Research by Deloitte has shown that 84% of retailers are confident that London 2012 will boost demand, and the changes in regulation will allow them to benefit from the thousands of visitors to the UK this summer.

However, this change is unlikely to be permanent.

Consumer business partner for Deloitte in the North East Paul Feechan commented: “If this anticipated measure is confirmed in George Osborne’s Budget this Wednesday, it should be welcomed as a pragmatic decision which will provide retailers with a short-term opportunity to boost trading.

“In the longer term, it would not be a huge surprise if extended Sunday trading became the norm.

“The customer really is king and increasingly expects to be able to shop for what they want, when they want it.”

Nonetheless, Feechan believes that if the measures were to be extended, it is unlikely that revenues witnessed during the Games would be permanent.

He added: “Such a move would allow retailers to offer their customers greater convenience, but it is also likely that it would increase costs as the period of time when consumers do their shopping would be stretched, rather than increase the spending pot itself.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .