Positive news for UK physical retail over the Black Friday weekend. The event kicked off with a 4.8% year-on-year rise in related footfall on the main day (29 November) and store visits continued to rise on Saturday (30 November), up 1.4% compared to the year before. 

That’s according to ShopperTrak Analytics insights platform, which we’re told captures and analyses 40 billion store visits globally each year. It said the promise of big deals helped to lure shoppers into store, so traffic on Saturday also delivered a 30.8% week-on-week jump, with the high street seeing the greatest footfall gains, rising to 39.9% compared to the week prior.

After a stellar performance over the Friday and Saturday, store visits dipped on the Sunday (1 December), down 1.2% year-on-year, as the weather turned wetter and more wintery. However, the day’s footfall was still 11% up compared to the week before, with Shopping Centres the best performing retail destination, seeing shopper counts rise 14.6% week-on-week.

Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic Solutions’ EMEA retail consultant said: “The timing of Black Friday is likely to have helped boost footfall performance.  Taking place a week later than in 2023, Black Friday landed on or just after payday for many consumers this year.  This, as well as the discounting event coinciding with the start of Advent, will have helped retailers gain early share of spend, as shoppers sought out Black Friday deals and picked up discounted Christmas gifts.”

He added: “After a shaky start to the Golden Quarter earlier in October and the start of November, retailers will have welcomed the boost to store traffic Black Friday delivered.  With several of busiest in-store shopping days still to come in December, many will be hoping this run of positive footfall performance continues as they look to capitalise on critical Christmas trade.”