This document discusses potential impacts of changes to Sunday trading regulations in the UK. It provides statistics on the size and breakdown of the convenience store industry. Research findings suggest only 30% of shoppers welcome the changes, and most retailers view it negatively as it could reduce staff hours and numbers. Experts argue it will not increase overall sales but simply shift them between stores. The document outlines research solutions from him! to provide insights into shopper and retailer behaviors and perspectives around convenience shopping.

1. Him!’s take on:
Sunday Trading
The potential impact changes to
Sunday trading regulations will have
on the convenience industry

2. him! have spoken to convenience shoppers for over 20 years. We work
with FMCG, retailers and associations to bring them closer to the shopper,
and help them to understand their customers

3. There are 49,617 convenience stores in the UK…with lots of variety
• Symbols 15,423 stores (+1.6% YonY)
• Independents 18,507 (-0.7%)
• Co-operatives 2,765 (+3.2%)
• Multiple Convenience 4,173 (+10.6%)
• Independent Forecourts 5,464 (+5.5%)
• Multiple Forecourts 1,688 (+3%)
• Oil Company Owned Forecourts 1,507(-17.2%)
• Compared to just 10,058 supermarkets
Convenience is the biggest shopping channel in the UK

4. UK mega trends are directly impacting shopper behaviour
Shrinking house
sizes
Shopper Behaviour
Ageing
population
More
single
dwellers
Busy life
styles
Longer
working
hours
Lengthy
commutes Greater
discretionary
spend
Employment
Status
Technology
Source: him! 2015

5. The convenience landscape is ever evolving

6. It’s therefore becoming ever more important to keep up to
date with the cause and affect for shoppers and retailers
Recognise the attitudes, behaviours and influences
of shoppers which are driving their purchasing
decisions
sales data gives you the WHAT
him! research tells you the WHY
Protect & Grow. Shopper insight will help you
identify how to keep your core shopper and
attract new ones

7. One of the biggest issues that may impact the convenience
channel at the moment is the changes to Sunday Trading
Local shops have condemned Government plans to
give major towns and cities the power to remove
Sunday Trading regulations, warning that the move
will be complicated, ineffective at increasing trade
on the high street and would threaten the
livelihoods of convenience store owners.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Giving
local authorities the responsibility for setting Sunday
trading hours will lead to inconsistency and
confusion for businesses and shoppers. In areas
where large stores’ trading hours are extended, we
will simply see the same amount of trade spread
over more hours and shifting from small stores to
large stores, as was the case when the laws were
suspended for the 2012 London Olympics, when
overall retail sales actually fell

8. Only a minority (30%) of shoppers actively welcome the
proposed changes to the Sunday Trading restrictions when it
comes to grocery retailers
57%or shoppers say THEY ARE NOT AWARE
that the UK government of proposed changes to
Sunday Trading regulations.
The UK government are proposing a relaxation on Sunday Trading laws to allow shops previously restricted to open
for longer. How do you feel about the proposed relaxation on supermarkets?
him! Online survey February 2016
30%
40%
30%
I don't think the restrictions
should change for grocery
stores
I don't care either way I welcome the proposed
changes for grocery stores
?
Opportunity to influence
shoppers that don’t feel
yet concerned
Additionally, the majority aren’t actually aware changes have been proposed!

9. From a retailer’s perspective, the proposed change seems to
be viewed in an unfavourable light
The law will affect retailers that will have to cut cost regarding staff
If the government remove Sunday trading
regulations, will this have a positive or negative
impact on your business, or will it have no impact?
9%
37%
54%
Do you think you would do any of the following if the
government removed Sunday trading regulations?
Top 3 answers
15%
• Reduce staff hours across the
business as a whole
10%
• Reduce staff numbers on a
Sunday specifically
5%
• Reduce staff hours on a Sunday
specifically
him! telephone interview February

10. What retailers could do to drive traffic on Sunday?
• Focus on the local community and events happening during the weekend
• Breakfast solutions
• Highlight local suppliers products
• Create a “Sunday deals” in-store section to make sure your store is still
driving footfall
Sainsbury’s Local Tesco Express Nisa

11. Shopping little & often is becoming the norm
30%DON’T
do a ‘main weekly or monthly shop’
Shopping trips are then well-spread during the week
UK adults doing small, more frequent shops – with shopper spend being spread
more thinly across a higher no of visits - c-stores are well placed to capitalise on
this shifting behaviour

12. In Scotland, there has never been a law limiting Sunday
trading
This means that bigger outlets are unregulated
and can open that longer than six hours.
However, that does not mean that all shops open
on Sunday, though larger supermarkets usually
take advantage - some open 24hours.
Originally, the SNP opposed the reform because of fears longer trading hours in England
and Wales would drive down wage premium enjoyed by Scottish workers. However, it
now looks likely the party will abstain from voting – given the core changes only apply
south of the border.

13. Thoughts from our convenience experts
“More than one government
minister has said that a
deregulated Sunday trading
regime will “help High Streets”
which is, of course, utter
claptrap as it is the larger stores
that will benefit from longer
opening hours”
David Rees
Editor of Convenience Store
“It is devastating to find out that government want
to go ahead with this. It is not going to deliver any
growth for the market, but will simply shift the spend
of shoppers from one place to another. Independent
retailer sector is definitely going to lose out because
of this but also the leisure sector. We should also be
looking at this from the family perspective and family
dynamics, which I think are also going to be
negatively impacted”
Paul Cheema
Director of Malcolm's Stores ltd

14. Thoughts from him!
Louise Howarth,
Shopper Insight Manager Analyst
was at the HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT on
Monday 29th February
“It was fantastic to see so many convenience
retailers working with the ACS and the
Keep Sunday Special campaign to lobby their
local MPs on the subject. There were some
incredibly passionate speeches made in favour
of keeping Sundays special which touched
upon the benefits to small retailers, workers
and families.”
“Sunday Trading is a valuable piece of
legislation for convenience retailing, it
ensures that local communities continue to
support small, local businesses. We
continually hear from shoppers that one of
their main drivers to a particular store is that
they like to support them as a local business.
Even if the new legislation is to go there is a
lot to be said for shopper loyalty.”
Ruth Cousins,
Marketing Executive

15. The him! convenience research solution
DEPTH FREQUENCY
Our annual face-to-face survey of
20,000 shoppers is the most
comprehensive survey of shoppers
in high street, neighbourhood and
forecourt convenience stores
throughout the UK
Alongside our annual survey we conduct
1,000 interviews every month with shoppers
online to deliver the best barometer of UK
shoppers across all grocery channels to
understand where else they shop and to
identify the risk

16. DEPTH: The convenience tracking programme (CTP)
What?
How?
When?
20,000 Convenience store shopper
interviews
Face to face across 25+ convenience
fascia in the UK
Captured annually in stores between
February - April
Retailer sample TBC
Who?
Shoppers in store capturing all
missions and all demographics
Where? In large, small, high street, rural,
neighbourhood and transient
locations

17. FREQUENCY: The Omnichannel Barometer
What?
How?
When?
12,000 grocery shopper interviews
across convenience supermarkets,
discounters & online
Online data capture using one of
the UK’s largest panel providers
Captured every month delivering
on going tracking information
Retailer sample TBC
Who?
Nationally representative samples of
UK adults (+18)
Why?
To understand where else shoppers are shopping and
what trends are driving this to help identify the risk and
opportunities across total grocery

18. It’s not just about the shoppers…
..we also speak to the retailers too
As part of our annual shopper survey, when we are in the stores we will interview store
owner, manager and staff too to get an insight into what it’s like to run and work in a
convenience store
If you understand shoppers AND RETAILERS this will help you unlock great
implementation and communication strategies

19. At him! we can support you in various ways
through using our insight and expertise to help you delivery your channel strategy and grow your
key customers. Our team is your team, so contact us now for more information on how we can
help yours
Internal
workshops
Retailer
workshops
Insight for
field sales
Input into
trade press
Input into
trade shows
Key customer
meetings
Internal team
meetings
Range
reviews
00845 072 766
www.him.uk.com
info@him.uk.com
@thoughtsfromhim