The following analysis contains data for the devices at Westdaw, S.C Fuller, Dorking Sports Centre, Calliope, Bernard Marcus, Renee’s Health Food Store, Dorking Light & Shade and Westcott & Williams (The Optical Studio is excluded as the device was down during the month).
- Across GB, footfall dropped in November as restrictions returned due to a rise in COVID cases. Footfall was down -70% year-on-year, at the level last seen in June before the non-essential retail had reopened.
- In Dorking, non-essential shops were shut – 54% of all units.
- With the second national lockdown ending on the 2nd December, Dorking was placed in Tier 2. We expect footfall to pick up in the weeks leading to Christmas, boosted by markets, small business Saturday and extended trading hours.
Weekly footfall profile
- Figure 1 displays weekly footfall volumes for November 2019 and November 2020.
- Footfall is now higher in the early part of the week than in 2019 and lower on the weekend, in contrast to what was tracked in October.
- However as lockdown 2.0 has resulted in the closure of non-essential shops and leisure venues this is expected.
Overall footfall volume
- Figure 2 shows the weekly footfall throughout November for the active footfall devices.
- Bernard Marcus and Westcott & Williams were the only devices to see no change in footfall in November, with both able to remain trading as they were classified as ‘essential’.
- Westdaw saw a big drop in footfall, as the clothing retailer closed and provides customers with a click & collect service.
- 6 out of 8 devices saw footfall rise in Week 48, with the shorter Christmas shopping period, extended trading hours for shops and the end of restrictions, December is set to be a busy month for all retailers.
Week-on-week change in footfall
- Figure 4 shows the drop in footfall across the majority of devices, with Dorking Sports Centre seeing the biggest week-on-week drop as the centre closed.
