Let’s be honest, when you can order everything you need online at the click of a button, from the comfort of your home and with a glass of wine in your hand, why would you venture out to the high street, especially during bleak winter months?

Footfall is down in physical stores. The British Retail Consortium reported that attendance at UK shopping centres, retail parks and high streets was down 2.2% in December 2024 compared with the same period in 2023. And according to the Centre for Retail Research, 38 shops a day shuttered in 2024. That’s a loss of nearly 13,500 retail stores – a rise of 28% on the previous year.

However, some shops are certainly having a moment. Many bricks-and-mortar retail stores are employing innovative strategies to attract customers and provide unique, immersive experiences. From reimagining iconic products to creating community hubs, many brands are slowly transforming their spaces to meet consumers’ changing expectations.