3.7 million plan to skip King’s Coronation in favour of retail therapy - London Daily News

Fewer than two in five (39%) adults in the UK are planning to celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation this Saturday – just more than half the proportion who watched Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953 (75%).

• Two in five (41%) adults are not going to watch or celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation on Saturday 6 May 2023
• While many will carry on as normal, 17 per cent will hit the shops, with under 35s likely to make this part of a wider day out
• With shopping increasingly viewed as leisure, experts advise retailers to think creatively about how to attract shoppers

According to new research from customer experience marketing agency Gekko, those planning to avoid the ceremony outweigh those who will either watch it on TV or attend a street party. While one in five (21%) has not yet decided on their plans for Coronation Day, 41 per cent of UK adults – equivalent to 21.8 million nationwide – will avoid the event, despite it being the first in their lifetime.

Those who are opting out are planning to go about their lives as normal. Those choosing to abstain from festivities are planning to see family and friends (36%), do housework (18%) or work (18%) – and 17 per cent – approximately 3.7 million – are planning on going shopping.

Despite the ‘one-in-a-lifetime’ event, consumers are planning to shop nearly as much as they would on any other Bank Holiday weekend. Previous research revealed that 13 per cent were planning a retail trip at the start of ‘Bank Holiday season’, and even with the Coronation 10 per cent are still expecting to go shopping.

Under 35s are more likely to indulge in some retail therapy (21%) – but this group are likely to combine their trip with other activities too. More than two in five (43%) view shopping as a leisure activity, rather than purely functional, with 35 per cent agreeing it forms part of a wider day out – more than double the number of over 35s who feel the same way (17%), suggesting that over 35s are more likely to be shopping with purpose.

To read the full article please visit London Daily News

Featured Photo by Patrick Robert Doyle on Unsplash