The office is a stones throw from Oxford Street. On my way back home over the past week I have been going the long way and doing a non-scientific retail audit. Taking a sector each day and looking at what is going on along the street. After all, this should be the biggest week of the year for most. On Monday my chosen sector was apparel. What struck me was how relatively empty of shoppers most of the apparel stores were. Which made me think where have all the shoppers gone? With the growth of on-line apparel and pure plays like Asos more and more are clicking.
But it was my last stop of the evening at the end of Oxford Street where the answer came. The one store that was literally heaving with hustling and bustling shoppers and long queues at the check out was – Primark the value retailer or as they would like to define themselves – keeping up with the latest looks without breaking the bank.
So that’s were they all were.
Indicative of the winners this holiday season? It’s a bit too early to tell but that’s where I would put my money in the apparel sector.