Young shoppers prefer 'bricks to clicks'
A UK-wide poll found 78% of 18 to 24-year-olds would choose the town centre as their preferred shopping environment
The majority of young consumers prefer shopping in store to buying online, a survey suggests. A UK-wide poll found 78% of 18 to 24-year-olds would choose bricks over clicks'' when buying goods, stating the town centre as their preferred shopping environment.
This compares with 55% of over-45s who said they find going into town appealing.
The YouGov research, commissioned by Colliers International, found many shoppers would like to see their favourite online store open physical outlets in their local area.
Young people would most like to see fashion brand ASOS open a shop in their neighbourhood, while older shoppers favoured Amazon.
In Scotland, 27% of those surveyed would welcome a branch of Amazon to their local high street, and 20% would like to see an ASOS store.
Just over a quarter (27%) of Scottish respondents said they buy groceries online - the second lowest after Yorkshire and Humberside.
John Duffy, a director for Colliers in Scotland, said: Retailers still want a store network, and shoppers still want to go and feel the goods.
I certainly think that more online retailers will be tempted to establish a physical presence, perhaps with a few flagship stores in premium locations as we have seen with fashion retailer Missguided.
The vast majority of shopping is still being done in person in the UK. The biggest difference the internet has made is that whereas national chains previously wanted 600 or more stores to give them full coverage, now they can make do with 400 and a good online presence.''
Shoppers in Scotland were identified as the most willing of all the regions to pay more for ethical items and back independent restaurants.
The poll of 3,081 people, including 264 in Scotland, found 64% of Scots would happily pay more for items with a proven ethical or environmental benefit, compared with 54% across the UK.
When asked what they wanted to see more of in their shopping streets and malls, 53% named independent restaurants, compared with 45% UK-wide.
In Scotland 14% said they were prepared to pay more for faster delivery when shopping online, with only the north west of England more willing to pay cash for speed at 17%.