Festival-goers found themselves drenched at Reading and Leeds this weekend, however data has shown that this year‘s crowds were well prepared for the down-pour. Fears that they couldn‘t depend on the weather sparked a surge in searches for wet weather gear and Wellington boots on VoucherCodes.co.uk, the latter of which has seen a 260 per cent increase in the past week.
Last minute searches relating to camping gear lead to a 33 per cent peak in traffic compared to prior weeks, while search terms for warm clothes and wet weather gear have increased by 10 per cent in the past week. Camping and wet weather retailers – aware that Bestival and Reading festival goers gamble against the elements each year – have responded to demand, with a whopping fifty per cent increase in the number of discounts codes and offers available during the months of June, July and August. A survey of 2000 festival goers by VoucherCodes.co.uk showed 23 per cent of Brits planned to replace their festival wellies with cowboy boots in a bid to emulate the style of celebrities they‘ve seen at sunnier festivals like Coachella. But it appears Brits are backtracking with a 200 per cent increase in searches for Hunter wellies – the staple of festival regulars Kate Moss, Fern Cotton and Pixie Geldoff – as many choose to style out potential downpours like the stars. Reading festival is the fifth best for ticket value this year – with the price of the ticket vs the combined cost of seeing each headliner separately meaning attendees have saved themselves a whopping £132.32 overall. Claire Davenport, Managing Director at VoucherCodes.co.uk comments: “With sunshine one minute and cold rain the next it‘s not a bit of wonder festival goers have decided not to hedge their bets on the weather. “It‘s inevitable that attendees will be looking to make savings on last minute items – festivals can add up to be pretty expensive affairs. With tickets for this year‘s Reading festival costing £205 and the average festival goer spending £234 on their festival wardrobe it‘s great to see retailers helping out by offering discounts on everything from tents to extreme weather jackets.”