The winners and losers in the retail war

It will take more than a cut in parking tariffs to revive the fortunes of run-down town centres, believes Experian's Richard Jenkings

24 October 2014

High Streets now seem to be dominated by coffee shops, betting shops...

…phone shops and charity shops

High streets around the country are losing their distinctive characters, with independent family businesses being replaced by bookmakers, convenience stores, takeaways and charity shops. And, in the wake of a long recession, shop vacancies continue to rise in many regions.

Yet, while many town centres are losing their retail appeal, others are thriving, observes Richard Jenkings, public sector consultant at Experian, an information services company that collects data on retail trends and...