![\"Ewan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/508d8280cf0b26bf60f6bd4f65f1eb2f-1760627736.jpeg\")
STV NewsEwan MacDonald-Russell from the Scottish Retail Consortium STV News<\/p>\nScotland\u2019s high streets are facing a \u201cnervous\u201d wait to see if shoppers return as the Christmas season approaches. <\/p>\n
New figures showed fewer people visiting city centres. Glasgow and Edinburgh saw drops of more than 2% in September, deterred by Storm Amy, while visits to shopping centres and retail parks also declined by 1.2%, down from a 0.8% rise in August.<\/p>\n
Retail park\u00a0footfall also\u00a0fell 1.3% last month \u2013 which was the same drop seen in August.<\/p>\n
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said shoppers are becoming increasingly deliberate with their spending amid the cost-of-living squeeze.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur research shows customers are being really specific and prioritising exactly what they want: they\u2019ll research and spend on the right thing \u2013 though perhaps not shopping all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything else is bargains and discounts. We see a real disparity between customers going for the most budget items and some of the very best items, but they\u2019re really specific. Everybody is really tight for money at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
That picture of cautious consumers is borne out in the figures. The Scottish Retail Consortium\u2019s latest monitor showed sales ticking up by 1.3% in line with shop price inflation in September \u2013 boosted by new phone launches and household goods \u2013 but the rise came even as footfall continued to fall.<\/p>\n
Non-food sales are only growing by around 1.7% on average over the last quarter in Scotland, indicating that spending continues to be very targeted.<\/p>\n
STV NewsEwan MacDonald-Russell from the Scottish Retail Consortium STV News<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit disappointing \u2013 but we\u2019re not too worried. Recent years have seen a pattern of shoppers pulling back in early autumn before seeking out Christmas deals. But if things don\u2019t pick up in October, there will be more than a few nervous businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s make or break \u2013 particularly after a very difficult 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the national slowdown, Glasgow City Council\u2019s August data suggested that those who are shopping are spending more.<\/p>\n
Sales in Glasgow city centre were up 9.4% in August 2025 compared with the same month last year \u2013 outperforming other major UK cities including Edinburgh (up 0.2%), Manchester (up 0.4%), Leeds (down 0.9%) and the UK overall (down 4.8%).<\/p>\n
The council said the fashion and food & drink sectors were central to this growth, rising 10.5% and 18.2% respectively, compared to UK-wide declines of 4.6% and 2.2%.<\/p>\n
City officials credited a series of major new store openings, including Uniqlo, Miniso, and & Other Stories, for helping to boost spending. Anthropologie and Restock3d are also set to open before the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at\u00a0Glasgow\u00a0City\u00a0Council, said: \u201cThese latest figures for\u00a0Glasgow\u00a0city centre are tremendously encouraging and show the strengths of its recovery \u2013 underlined by the confidence that a whole host of retailers are showing in the city centre through the investment in their new stores.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe success of the city centre over the past year is also shown by its performance relative to other UK cities, and is testament to the work being done by the\u00a0council\u00a0and its partners to make the area more attractive now and in the future to everyone who use the area, from shoppers and residents to investors and developers.\u201d<\/p>\n
What shoppers are saying![\"Shoppers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2e6bcac01af20906d62cc3b24da5179f-1760627939.jpeg\")
STV NewsShoppers have their say in Glasgow\u2019s Sauchiehall Street STV News<\/p>\n
On the city\u2019s so-called Golden Z, shoppers reflected a mix of habits and preferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to feel the material and try it on \u2013 to see what I\u2019m getting. I don\u2019t just want to look at a picture,\u201d said one.<\/p>\n
Another added: \u201cI still go out to shop \u2013 I don\u2019t do anything online.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two friends visiting from Airdrie said they were combining a theatre trip with shopping.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d probably buy bigger-ticket items online and the smaller items in shops.\u201d<\/p>\n
A visitor from London described blending online research with in-store visits.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love shopping and fashion. I pull together info online about trends, then go to the shops to feel the clothes and see how they flow.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many younger shoppers, convenience plays a big part.<\/p>\n
\u201cClothes always look different on models versus on the hanger,\u201d said one Gen Z shopper. \u201cIf you don\u2019t like them, you have to return them \u2013 and that\u2019s a hassle. Delivery also takes a while sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mixed picture across Scotland<\/p>\n
MacDonald-Russell said the outlook varies across Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cEdinburgh has consistently done very well, with a lot of attractions and huge international trade. Glasgow has probably done better with nightlife, not quite so well in the retail offer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s still an opportunity to make Glasgow a real shopping destination. Across Scotland, we\u2019d expect Edinburgh to do well and hope Glasgow does too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outside the central belt, however, it has been tougher.<\/p>\n
\u201cDundee and Aberdeen have probably struggled a little, with bigger brands pulling out of high-street anchor stores,\u201d he said. \u201cBut there\u2019s a strong culture and some investment in both cities and some creativity, with business rates relief in Aberdeen encouraging units back in.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that there are still \u201clots of strong high streets\u201d across Scotland, with creativity and cultural vibrancy key to their survival.<\/p>\n
![\"Tourism](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/55a0fdbf4740135ca8505ab73a1d6fec-1760628688.jpeg\")
Getty ImagesTourism and Christmas markets helps boost Edinburgh\u2019s footfall (AK Media) Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat will make them sing is the vibrancy that comes from culture and experiences you don\u2019t get in shopping centres or retail parks. That\u2019s where high streets find their unique selling points.\u201d<\/p>\n
He urged the next Scottish Government to put \u201chigh streets at the heart\u201d of economic decision-making.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to make it easier to build and refit stores, improve the planning system, and reduce business costs. Business rates are a huge burden in Scotland. We hope the next government will make it better to invest in high streets and elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
The future of the high street<\/p>\n
Retail analyst Dr Amna Khan, senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, said the high street\u2019s survival depends on offering more than just shops.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigh streets need to be more multi-functional \u2013 offering leisure, entertainment, space and places where people can do things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve evolved to serve their local communities, and what works depends on what that community is about.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that with consumers more cautious about spending, the sensory experience of shopping in person is key.<\/p>\n
Dr Khan points to street festivals and pop-up events as an example.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigh streets that thrive will be the ones that reflect and serve their communities \u2013 offering something unique, different and distinguished that keeps people coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n
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