CHESTER, England, October 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
intu and mbna survey
reveals the ingredients for the perfect
shopping day out
- A three-hour trip around the shops - starting
at 10.28 on a Saturday morning - is perfect for the
nation's shoppers…but they're eager to
make their visit an
"experience"
- The perfect shopping day includes
visits to nine different shops, no more than seven
minutes queuing and a spend of
more than 100 pounds
- Social media is a major part of the perfect
shopping experience for many modern shoppers,
with the ideal trip including updates,
posts and pictures
- Savvy shoppers expect to be rewarded for their spending and
loyalty
The perfect shopping trip involves trying on or testing six
items from nine shops after starting at 10.28 on a Saturday morning
and finishing with a meal out.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160905/404050LOGO )
(Photo:
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To understand what makes the perfect shopping trip, a study was
commissioned by the shopping centre owner intu and credit card
experts MBNA to support the launch of one of the market's newest
retail credit cards - the intu credit card. Shoppers across the UK
were quizzed on their preferred shopping habits, with over 2,000
evaluated.
The ideal trip to the shops lasts three hours, with a total of
five items purchased and no more than seven minutes queuing. The
total cost of the day, which includes a refuel break for coffee and
cake, ends up costing £118.
Most people would prefer to be accompanied by their partner, and
half said they would make the day out extra special by going for a
meal together. Meanwhile, a third will take their chosen shopping
partners for a drink, 21 per cent will head to the cinema, and one
in 10 will take part in a family-friendly activity such as
bowling.
Three-quarters say they're most likely to shop in places where
they can earn rewards for their spending, with 60 per cent looking
for retailer discounts, 40 per cent wanting free coffee or cake,
and 35 per cent on the hunt for restaurant discounts and
offers.
Roger Binks, Customer Experience
director at intu, which owns 15 intu branded shopping centres
across the UK including intu Trafford Centre, intu Lakeside and
intu Metrocentre, said: "Everyone's expectations of what makes for
a great shopping trip have changed a lot over the last few years,
but this research shows that the majority of us will still leave
the house in return for a great day out, a chance to try out items
and earn valuable rewards that they can't get online.
"That's why we've created the intu credit card with MBNA to
reward our shoppers with great benefits, offers and discounts on
food and drink they can't get anywhere else."
The study also confirmed the importance of technology and social
media as part the overall shopping experience. Shoppers aged
between 18 and 44 update social media on average five times during
their trip. On top of that, they will send at least one text and
one picture to get advice from friends and family before making a
purchase. Two in five will also use their mobile to compare prices
between shops, and a quarter will go on to buy an item on their
smart phone whilst out shopping.
One of the UK's leading consumer finance experts, TV presenter
and founder of moneymagpie.com Jasmine
Birtles said: "For many, shopping is not just a job that
needs doing but a hobby. People will go on a shopping trip as a fun
way to spend a Saturday or a day off work rather than simply
because they need to buy something. Shopping is one of the UK's
favourite leisure activities, but shoppers are getting savvier and
more demanding as purchasing online now offers them all sorts of
attractive retail options. Discounts, loyalty points, freebies
and other incentives are all now part of what the British shopper
expects when they go out to spend their money.
"They're also looking for speed and convenience with their
transactions so that they can spend more time with the fun stuff
like trying on clothes and eating in cafes. A contactless
credit card with shopping rewards neatly combines the two, so it's
likely to be very popular with shopping devotees."
Michael Donald, MBNA's Commercial
and Payments executive, added: "It's clear from this research that
we're a nation of sophisticated and savvy shoppers. This is why
MBNA, the experts in credit cards and intu the experts in retail,
have collaborated to develop a unique proposition - the intu credit
card.
"The intu credit card is a new breed of reward card that offers
a range of benefits whenever customers spend. Cardholders can
access exclusive offers with retail and leisure brands in intu
centres, from entertainment to leisure and dining in a way that
they want to pay - from contactless to Apple Pay or Android
Pay."
"Bursting with benefits", the new intu credit card is available
for eligible customers over the age of 18 to apply for now. For
more information, terms and conditions or to apply, visit
https://www.mbna.co.uk/compare-credit-cards/rewards-credit-cards/intu/.
Representative example 16.9 per cent per annum variable on card
purchases. This is the equivalent to 16.9 per cent APR
representative variable based on a credit limit of £1,200.
Top 20 things needed to make the perfect
modern-day shopping trip:
- A location where I can shop, eat and socialise in one
place
- Being able to socialise with my friends or family
- Being able to find my way around easily
- Being able to use whatever payment method I wish (contactless,
Apple Pay, etc.)
- Being rewarded for my spending with discounts and offers at the
place I'm shopping
- Being rewarded when I spend a certain amount
- Free parking
- Ending up with several bags of goodies
- Finding something I have wanted for ages in the sale
- Finding somewhere new that I will return to on a future
shopping trip
- Discovering I fit into something a size smaller than I usually
wear
- Getting to the till to buy something and realising it is
cheaper than I thought
- Grabbing a bargain
- Having simple ways to pay to avoid the queues
- Loving the first thing I try on
- Making an unplanned purchase
- My favourite music being played in the shops
- Not paying full price for anything
- Returning to a tried and tested shopping destination
- Treating myself to something
intugroup.co.uk
@intugroup
NOTES TO EDITORS
About MBNA
MBNA Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America
Corporation (NYSE: BAC). It is one of the UK's leading credit
card providers and was voted by customers as Credit Card Provider
of the Year for the third year running in the Consumer Moneyfacts
Awards 2016. MBNA is committed to implementing innovations to
improve the credit card experience for its customers. Headquartered
in Chester for over 20 years, the
company has a long history of investing in community projects in
across North West of England and
North Wales.
About intu
intu is the UK's leading owner, manager and developer of prime
regional shopping centres with a growing presence in Spain. We are passionate about creating
uniquely compelling experiences, in centre and online, that attract
customers, delivering enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty.
This helps our retailers flourish, driving occupancy and income
growth.
A FTSE 100 company, we own many of the UK's largest and most
popular retail destinations, including nine of the top 20, with
super regional centres such as intu Trafford Centre and intu
Lakeside and vibrant city centre locations from Newcastle to Watford.
We are focused on four strategic objectives: optimising the
performance of our assets to deliver attractive long term total
property returns, progressing our UK development pipeline to add
value to our portfolio, leveraging the strength of our brand and
seizing the opportunity in Spain
to create a business of scale.
We are committed to our local communities, our centres support
over 120,000 jobs representing about 4 per cent of the total UK
retail workforce, and to operating with environmental
responsibility.
Our success creates value for our retailers, investors and the
communities we serve.