As more people return to work in-office, they are choosing to shop in-store and support local business after work and during lunch, according to the recently released Virgin Media 02 Business Movers Index.
The research looked at retailers and office workers in the UK – during the past three months with 89% of employees commute at least once a week. Driving a summer boost in retail sales, retailers are embracing post-work Friday, payday and lunch break shopping from commuters and in-office workers. Fridays are the most common day for in-office workers to engage in post-work shopping, and 38% of millennials and Gen Z are spending more at stores near their place of work than they did three months ago.
In addition, 40% of UK workers spend more near their workplace on payday. Pay-spending contributes to an additional £822 million to the British economy.
Retailers are taking note of these return-to-work retail boosts. Half of those surveyed said they noticed lunch deals, 28% noticed mid-week retail promotions and 32% noticed happy hours.
“Our latest Virgin Media O2 Business Movers Index shows Brits increasingly choosing to shop in-person and spend more to support local business,” said Jo Bertram, Managing Director of Virgin Media 02 Business. “This coincides with rising office attendance, leading to a boost in lunch and post-work spending in towns and cities.”
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
