Recent retail shopping figures suggest a significant reduction in in-store footfall at UK stores. Footfall fell by 4.8 percent in March and April. Why do people still choose to buy goods in-store (or offline), what implications does decline in footfall have for store profitability and what can be done to make store visits more attractive?

Consumer research gives a number of insights. It appears that the two things that put people off visiting the store are long queues and unhelpful staff. The positives mean they are more likely to visit include the 'joy of discovery ' instore, the atmosphere provided and tangible interaction.

In considering the pros and cons of an online presence vs. bricks and mortar it should be noted that for many retailers it is no longer a question of 'either / or'. Increasingly retailers are providing both online and offline options. Some online retailers, recognising that customers frequently want to 'touch and feel' products prior to purchase, have now opened their own physical stores. It is also true that digital technology now enables more effective marketing opportunities for those selling in-store as mobile technology enables them to deliver personal offerings, tailored messaging and redeemable discounts.

So, what is the overall position in the UK and elsewhere? Evidence suggests that though online purchases are increasing the majority of customers still prefer to shop in-store and value the interaction provided. According to the Office for National Statistics, internet sales accounted for 16.8 percent of total retail sales in the UK in March 2018. Put another way, that means five out of every six transactions took place in-store. How does this compare with other countries? In the US in 2016 online sales accounted for 11.2 percent of total retail sales by value and Statista estimates that the equivalent figure for Australia is 7.3 percent.

I recently read an article on smile.io that suggested that whether it was online or in-store there are five things that will determine whether a customer chooses to use the service - location, convenience, ability to demonstrate knowledge, whether the store is inviting and price. An important element of convenience will be the checkout experience and the deployment and availability of knowledgeable sales staff will impact customer perception and sales.

When it comes to a competitive pricing strategy a retailer's ability to compete may be enhanced by their ability to limit costs, using best in class technologies to gain efficiencies. At the same time recycling technology in a customer facing environment can enhance customer experience - shortening queues and waiting times while freeing up staff to deal with enquiries.

In 2016 40 percent of payments were made using cash according to UK Finance and cash will still account for 21 percent of all payments in 2026. Elsewhere in Europe Statista research shows that 80 percent of POS payments are in cash in Germany, compared with 68 percent in France. Meanwhile in Australia 37 percent of payments are made using cash. What does this mean for retailers? The way you manage cash will continue to have implications for costs, staff availability and customer satisfaction.

GLORY is a global leader in retail cash recycling solutions. We help retailers worldwide to manage the cash chain - reducing the burden and risks of back office cash processes and removing the need for staff to handle cash at the point of sale.

 Large numbers of people continue to shop offline and stores still need to process significant volumes of cash payments. Using best in class technologies not only enables you to lower costs and generate revenue by keeping the cash moving (rather than standing idle) it also enables your sales staff to focus more fully on customer interaction, making the customer experience an enjoyable one and making repeat visits more likely.