Independent department stores hitting a sweet spot on local high streets.
Posted on in Business News
With large national chains increasingly disappearing from the high street, Drapers magazine has been looking at how independent department stores are stepping up their offerings to attract the next generation of consumers.
It says that regional department stores are bucking the trend and enjoying a buoyant trading period following a renewed consumer appetite for physical shopping. With a hyper-focused view of the local consumer and continued investment into stores, experiences and brand relationships, independent department stores are hitting a sweet spot on local high streets.
Faced with the constantly evolving retail landscape, it says, independent retailers have been quick to adapt, from investing in physical experiences and digital capacities to collaborating with brands and focusing on personal service. These department stores are future proofing their businesses to make sure they cater for their specific local consumer base for many years to come.
As of March 2024, there are 139 independent department stores in England and Wales, up from 122 in 2014, according to exclusive research compiled by Local Data Company (LDC).
Ronald Nyakairu, head of insight and analytics at LDC, is quotes as saying: “Independent department stores have remained resilient over the research period, due to their original, niche and often quirky offering, which cannot be replicated online unlike their chain equivalents who have almost completely disappeared from our high streets.”