FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS has released a report on Christmas 2015 retail sales in the UK. The report found that only grocery sales saw an improvement over last year, while other merchandise groups like clothing, household goods, and department stores experienced declines. The number of retailers entering administration has decreased significantly since the peak in 2009 during the financial crisis. The report provides detailed like-for-like sales comparisons by merchandise group and analyzes the performance of retailers over the last three Christmas periods.

1. Christmas 2015
Issue 3 - 22 January 2016
FSP RETAIL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
FSP Christmas Sales Report

2. Like-for-Like Averages by Group
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FSP has updated the statistics on retailer Christmas sales
results. For the first report, including comment, please see
here
Like-for-like averages by Merchandise Group show an
improvement on last year only for Grocery, and to a much
lesser extent, Leisure
Number of retailers by category in this sample:
2013/14 2014/15 2015/16
Clothing & Footwear 14 15 13
Personal 6 7 7
Leisure 6 7 7
Department Stores 7 6 6
Food & Beverage 7 5 4
Grocery 11 12 10
Household 7 7 4

3. All Retailers
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4. 3 Year Comparison
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FSP’s 3 year like-for-like comparison graph shows how
fortunes can change.

5. Merchandise Groups – Department Stores
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6. Merchandise Groups - Personal Goods
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7. Merchandise Groups - Clothing & Footwear
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8. Merchandise Groups - Household Goods
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9. Merchandise Groups - Leisure Goods
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10. Merchandise Groups - Grocery
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11. Merchandise Groups - Online Sales
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12. Christmas Trading and Administrations
FSP records Christmas casualties as those who fail during
the key period of Christmas Eve through January.
Despite the reported tough Christmas in the face of the
onward march of online sales, so far only Brantano has
failed. With PwC continuing to trade the business, it may
yet resurface.
Blue Inc has not failed, but has put its subsidiary A Levy &
Sons into administration in order to dispose of loss-making
stores.
The number of retailers recorded on SnapShop entering
administration in each of the past few years is:
2015 – 4
2014 – 9
2013 – 43
2012 – 44
2011 – 57
2010 – 42
2009 – 93
2008 – 56
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13. Methodology
FSP Christmas Sales Report Methodology
FSP seeks to gain an accurate review of the Christmas period, hence the period end date must be at least Christmas
Eve and no later than the end of January; the period must be 13 weeks or less.
Online Sales are always shown as Total changes.
Graphs are ranked in order, highest to lowest, first by Like-for-Like change, then by Total change
FSP has gone to its best efforts to ensure this data is correct but the author reserves the right not to be responsible for the accuracy of information provided.
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14. FSP RETAIL BUSINESS
CONSULTANTS
19 Manor Courtyard
Hughenden Avenue
High Wycombe
UK, HP13 5RE
T +44(0)1494 474740
F +44(0)1494 474262
fspretail@fspretail.com
www.fspretail.com
www.snap-shop.co.uk
Tanu Bajaj
Wizard
T+44(0)1494 474740
F+44(0)1494 474262
Tanu@fspretail.com
Heidi Roberts
Scribe
T+44(0)1494 474740
M+44(0)7495 899827
F+44(0)1494 474262
Heidi@fspretail.com
Bekki Bedford
Guru
T+44(0)1494 474740
F+44(0)1494 474262
Bekki@fspretail.com