The Newtrade Retail Sentiment tracker surveys 200 retailers to understand how the market feels about the state of the nation, and what they are focusing on to drive sales and profits. The most recent report shows that while sales and profits are under pressure, retailers are proactively looking at how to improve their fortunes.
Over two-thirds of stores, however, find it difficult to find new products; and 71% are shopping around wholesalers to find better deals and the right products for their stores.
While confidence in the next 12 months isn’t high, the desire to do whatever they possibly can to improve things, and to seek support on the categories that they think could help them drive sales and increase footfall, is clear.
10%
of retailers are very confident they will increase their profits in the next 12 months
66%
of retailers are slightly or very satisfied with their wholesaler – up 6% from the last tracker
68%
of stores said that newspaper & magazine sales were down in the last 12 months