// 63% of respondents said receiving a gift voucher would encourage them to return to high streets
// 35% feel more inclined to purchase gift cards for their favourite brands to help businesses get back on their feet
With retail reopened and almost all Covid-19 restrictions eased, new research has found that gift vouchers are a key driver in encouraging shoppers back to the high streets.
According to a survey of 2000 shoppers, conducted by the Gift Card and Voucher Association (GCVA) as part of its “Gift Back” campaign, gift vouchers will encourage 63 per cent of shoppers to get out and support businesses on the high street.
GCVA’s research also found that 35 per cent of shoppers feel more inclined to purchase gift cards for their favourite brands post-pandemic to help businesses get back on their feet following successive lockdowns and other restrictions.
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GCVA said shoppers intend to support local and independent retailers post-Covid, with over 15 per cent of consumers intending to shop more often at local high streets and one in eight shoppers planning to visit close-by independent retailers.
This research comes shortly after the ONS reported that the UK economy grew 2.3 per cent in April, which is the fastest growth since July 2020.
This was attributed to the boost in footfall shopping centres and restaurants have seen after lockdown restrictions began to ease.
“It has been extremely encouraging to see how motivated customers have been to get back out onto the high streets,” GCVA director-general Gail Cohen said.
“It is a crucial time to be supporting our favourite businesses as they embark on a road to financial recovery after months out of action.
“Gift cards have played a vital role in reintroducing customers to their favourite brands and shops, whether it be returning to a firm favourite or experiencing a new brand.
“To know shoppers feel encouraged to return to the high street is reassuring to UK businesses, especially our independent shops which are not supported by a global or national infrastructure.”
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