Retail came under scrutiny this month as consultancy firm CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) released research into consumer attitudes towards fashion shopping in the UK – ‘arguably the most important single component of comparison goods shopping’. The report, which forms part of CBRE’s National Survey of Local Shopping Patterns initiative, focused on the impact of over-crowding on consumer high-street spending and highlighted the fact that the UK has less than half the per capita provision of shop space enjoyed in the US.

Far from seeing these high volumes of consumer ‘traffic’ as a plus for the retail sector, CBRE pointed out that ‘very high visitor volumes can also bring problems’. ‘For one thing, there is an inverse relationship between shopper income levels and a willingness to put up with shopper congestion – premium-spend shoppers are generally deterred by excessive high street crowds, reducing support for higher priced retailers and adding to the possibility of aborted shopping trips’.

The ‘quality of the shopping experience’, it seems, is paramount for striking a balance between sufficient concentration of shoppers and over-crowding. Yet this is made increasingly difficult as market concentration increases alongside population. The survey found that almost all of the complaints made related in some way to the issue of bumping into people, inadequate seating or stores being too small, for example.

All this seems to suggest that the trend towards consumer migration from town-centre to out-of-town is set to continue. More than half of the respondents stated a preference for out-of-town centres when shopping for clothing. Currently, centres of this sort receive higher visit rates than any city centre in Britain, except Central London. The increased accessibility, free parking, perceived high stock levels and improved facilities experienced in out-of-town centres affects the consumer response hugely and points to a tough time ahead for high-street retail.