Recruitment agencies across the country could see an increase in demand for interim retail managers as the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) figures showed decreasing footfall on the high street. In a bid to boost sales numbers, retailers will need the expertise of skilled professionals, utilising interim managers to bring fresh and new advertising ideas to the plate.
In the BRC’s latest data, it was shown that the quarter to July saw a 5.5% decline in footfall on Britain’s high streets. Out of town locations did not fare as badly, with a drop of 1.2% being noted. Meanwhile, Greater London saw a dramatic decline in footfall numbers, with 8.9% less people visiting stores on the high street.
Much of the decline has been attributed to poor weather, with the BRC’s director general, Stephen Robertson, saying: “Some of the wettest weather on record drove a sharp decline in shopper numbers over the quarter. July saw the biggest drop in overall footfall, with high streets suffering the most. Apart from the Christmas boost in December, high street footfall has now been down for 18 months, driven by jobs fears and falling disposable incomes.”
For many struggling retailers, there will be an important priority placed on using interim retail managers to try and stymie the losses and increase sales once again. For recruitment agencies up and down the country, increased demand for those with sales and managerial retail skills could well be noted.
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