10 ways festive shopping may be different this year

SAVE LIVES: WASH YOUR HANDS MORE OFTEN FOR 20 SECONDS

1. You can shop 24 hours

Ever fancied popping into Primark at 3am?

Well, this year you can. The government has waived restrictions on shops’ opening hours, meaning retailers are free to welcome customers around the clock if they wish. So far, Primark is the highest-profile chain to announce plans to stay open all hours.

Some 11 of its stores have already begun trading around the clock.

2. Your favourite shops might have closed

It’s no secret that 2020 has been tough on brick and mortar retailers. Many shops across the nation have closed their doors for good.

If you were planning to shop at Debenhams, you might have difficulty as the historic retailer began liquidation earlier this week. The Arcadia retail group has also entered administration, meaning high street staples Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge could also close down before long. If you have vouchers for any of these stores, we’d recommend using them as soon as possible. If you buy anything for over £100, consider paying with a credit card so you’re protected by Section 75.

3. You might bag a bargain

As we know all too well, Black Friday isn’t always the best time to buy. So even though November’s much-hyped sales season is over, there’s still a chance you’ll be able to find great gifts for less – especially as prices have been falling in recent months.

4. You may need to book a shopping slot

John Lewis is offering pre-booked shopping slots to help keep numbers at a safe level. You can book your slot up to two weeks in advance, and you’ll need to show a confirmation email when arriving. If stores get busy and you haven’t booked online, you may be able to join a ‘virtual queue’, meaning you can go and shop elsewhere and return when notified on your phone. M&S is also offering pre-booked shopping slots.

5. Parking might be free

Several local councils are waiving parking fees in a bid to encourage shoppers to return to the high streets. Councils in areas including Basingstoke, Carmarthen,

Colchester, East Suffolk and Warwickshire have already announced free parking for the run-up to Christmas. The AA is backing a campaign to get more councils to do the same.

6. You may have to shop local

COVID-19 restrictions across the country mean leaving your local area to go Christmas shopping might be against the guidance or even illegal. Travelling into or out of Tier 3 areas in England for anything other than essential purposes is not permitted.

The same goes for Level 3 and 4 areas of Scotland.

If you usually drive outside of your area to shop for Christmas, say to an out-of-town shopping centre or retail park, you’ll have to check which Tier it’s under before you hit the road.

7. You could walk on the road…

… well, if you’re shopping on Regent Street in London. And only on certain days. The street will be closed to vehicles from 10am to 9pm on December 19, allowing people to more comfortably shop on what is normally one of the country’s busiest shopping streets.

8. You may spend less

Millions of people have been hit hard financially by the pandemic. Unemployment figures are climbing, many have been on reduced incomes and it’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of self-employed people don’t qualify for the government’s support scheme. With all this in mind, it’s no wonder 47% of consumers told Which? that they expect to spend less this Christmas than they did last year.

Some 35% think they’ll spend the same amount, and only 14% think they’ll spend more.

9. More people will shop online

Online shopping has ballooned throughout

2020, not least because the internet was the only place you could buy non-essential items for long stretches. Recent Which? research found that 62% of consumers expect to do more of their Christmas shopping online this year, which could result in high streets being less busy than they have been in previous years – though still busier than they were during lockdown.

10. Some shops will be closed on Boxing Day

The Boxing Day sales are famous for offering great discounts, not to mention the chance to spend gift vouchers and return unwanted presents. But this year, several major high street brands have announced they won’t be opening their stores on 26 December. The Entertainer, John Lewis, M&S, Pets at Home and Wickes are among the chains that have announced they’ll stay closed on Boxing Day, allowing staff to spend time with their families.