Figures show a "drab" December capped a disappointing year for retailers and the second in a row of falling shopper numbers.Even the Golden Quarter, typically the peak of shopping activity ahead of Christmas, provided little relief, with shopper visits down 2.5% over the period on 2023, according to the British Retail Consortium Sensormatic Footfall Monitor.Total UK footfall over the year was down 2.2% on the year before.The Daily Express is looking for strong views in 2-3 sentences from retailers about how confident they are feeling about the year ahead and what would help improve retail's fortunes.

poor service

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independent retailer

boarded up high streets

retail

management

corporate guff

human resources

headhunting

bad business practice

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artisan

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Business finance

SME finance

business

How confident are retailers feeling about 2025?

The shift from high street to cheaper online sources continues but even online retailers are feeling the strain. While the high street struggles with falling footfall, online businesses like mine face competition from ultra-low-cost platforms such as Temu and Amazon, making it harder for smaller retailers to compete. Ultimately, retail confidence hinges on consumer spending power, which is being eroded by high inflation, stagnant wages and increasing living costs. Coupled with tax rises that will push up costs and stifle employment growth, the outlook for 2025 feels challenging. To revive confidence, we need a stronger economic environment where disposable incomes grow, and both high-street and online retailers can thrive side by side. The Labour government must also actively consult with business leaders across the retail sector to develop policies that support growth and address the challenges we face.

With 20 years of experience spanning manufacturing, marketing, and business management, Richard now leads as Director at First Mats, blending his background in production with cutting-edge marketing strategies. Leveraging AI, automation, and emerging technologies, he has driven significant growth and innovation at First Mats, streamlining operations and enhancing customer experiences. Richard’s insights have been featured in major industry publications and news outlets such as Bloomberg Business, Reader’s Digest, and the Daily Mail, reflecting his reputation as a leader in marketing and technology. Drawing on his manufacturing expertise, he continues to deliver innovative products while pushing boundaries in business and marketing.

Richard O'Connor

People are still buying! Yes, there's clearly a shift away from high street to online but we've seen our sales grow each year since taking a strategic decision to focus online. Pre-covid, sales of our natural skincare products were split evenly between online, retail and Christmas and festival 'pop-ups'. The lockdowns were a game changer for us - realising that our customers were becoming increasingly interested in learning more about the ingredients in our products and the ethos of our company, we use our website to inform, educate and entertain - leading in more sales. I still think there's a role for the high street, but for us, online is the way forward!

Julie Macken 
After graduating with a Chemistry Degree and subsequent MBA, Julie spent 25 years ‘in corporate life' working for companies including Unilever, GSK and Abbott Healthcare with 18 months living in Tokyo. 
Realising there were more fulfilling ways to utilise her skills, Julie founded Neve’s Bees a family skincare business – creating a unique range of waterless skincare, using only natural products and sustainable ingredients blended with Oxfordshire beeswax, promoting healthy skin and a healthy eco-system. Neve’s Bees is on a mission to bring back the UK’s wildflower meadows and the pollinators these support – donating per sale to wildlife charities and including packs of bee-friendly wildflower seeds with online orders, creating thousands of ‘mini-meadows’ throughout the UK. Julie is also 2 years into a 6 year course in Herbal Medicine and traditional apothecary.
Julie lives in Rural Oxfordshire with her husband, 2 children, 3 cats, 4 hens, 5 beehives, 6-acre wildflower meadow…and Bella the Dog.


How confident are retailers feeling about 2025?

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Richard O'Connor

Director at First Mats

Julie Anne Macken

Deputy Queen Bee at Neve's Bees

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