This post talks about the exciting changes taking place on UK high streets.

Few industries have been hit as hard as retail over Covid-19 restrictions, specifically in-person retail. The closure of high street shops has resulted in a huge increase of online shopping, prompting new consumer behaviours, and buying patterns. Whilst the high street has now reopened, the closure of huge retail chains such as Debenhams has made space for new ventures.

Providing experiences It seems that consumer experience brands are starting to pop up all over the place, utilising the space that these large retail chains have left behind. An example of this is the former Debenhams Wandsworth site, which will now be developed into Gravity Southside, a new entertainment complex with large bar and restaurant. This project is set to have lots of immersive experiences and firsts for the UK entertainment industry.

Services rather than products For a few years now, retailers have had to think about the services that they offer, rather than just their products. Some brands such as Lululemon have expanded their offering to try and target a larger audience and remain relevant on the high street. Once just a yoga brand, Lululemon now offer fitness classes and a platform for which customers can connect with one another.

High streets are social places, where communities come together, but as times change and we become more technologically savvy, we are likely to see some exciting new additions to our pavements.

Man running in a gym on a treadmill concept for exercising, fitness and healthy lifestyle Finding the right uniform Uniforms play a pivotal role in brand representation and help to make employees feel part of a team. As part of a service, customers expect staff to be recognisable and approachable which is why choosing the right uniform should be seen by businesses, as a highly important requirement.