SRC: Retailers hope Covid relaxation will spark shopping recovery

3^rd August 2021

In a preliminary response to the First Minister’s announcement that Scotland will move beyond Level 0 on the 9^th of August, Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Scottish Retail Consortium Head of Policy, said:

“Retailers will hope next week’s relaxation of Covid restrictions will spark a shopping recovery after a very difficult year. Removing restrictions such as physical distancing in shops and welcome changes on self-isolation rules, should simplify store operations. However, many retailers are likely to maintain some existing measures to keep customers and colleagues safe.

"Hopefully the changes for events and hospitality should give customers a good excuse to return to the high street to restock wardrobes and homes; albeit that may be tempered as there is no timeframe for workers to be encouraged back to the office.

“There is little doubt the retail industry remains under enormous pressure. Sales and footfall figures are still down on 2019, whilst the Scottish vacancy rate has spiked to 16.1 percent. If next week’s relaxation doesn’t spark some economic activity then the case for intervention from policy makers to encourage shoppers back to retail destinations will become more urgent.  This could be through temporary free parking, an advertising campaign to encourage people back to city centres, or a high street voucher scheme like Northern Ireland is introducing. Today’s announcement is a positive step forwards, but the retail industry remains a long way from recovery.”