Footfall up 321% at Merry Hill as shops reopen
Footfall at one Black Country shopping centre increased 321 per cent on the first weekend all non-essential shops were allowed to reopen.
Visitor numbers were up at Merry Hill shopping centre by 321 per cent on June 20 and 21.
Gavin Prior, operations director at intu, said: “Footfall at intu Merry Hill increased towards the end of last week and visitor numbers were up by 321 per cent on last weekend across all intu centres, with more than half of stores now open.
"We have welcomed well over one million visitors in total to intu centres across the UK and the safety measures we have introduced are working well.
“People are visiting us on shopping missions, determined to spend money in their favourite shops, and many stores have told us that basket sizes are up on last year with several ‘big ticket purchases’ such as high end jewellery.
“Fashion brands like Primark, Next and H&M have all been really popular, with a regular flow of shoppers.
“Visitors tell us they are excited to be out shopping again and feel safe at intu Merry Hill due to the measures we have in place. Research we undertook during lockdown showed that returning to the shops was high on peoples’ agenda, and we are now seeing that play out. As more brands re-open over the next few weeks, we expect visitor numbers to continue to grow.”
