Big hugs all round following a Mother’s Day (30 March) that turned out to be a bigger boost than expected for UK retail.

Not only did related footfall leap, but shoppers were tipped to have spent £2.4 billion on Mother’s Day this year, up 5% year-on-year, according to global retail solutions provider Sensormatic Solutions.

Data from its ShopperTrak Analytics insights platform showed high streets were happiest on Sunday, with a 13.4% footfall hike compared to last year, as total retail footfall on the day lifted 7.3% compared to 2024.

Shopper count on the Saturday (29 March) was also up an impressive 13.1% year-on-year with shopping centres the top performing destination that day with footfall rising 15.3% year-on-year.

Footfall in the week leading up to Mother’s Day (23-30 March) delivered an 8.2% boost to store visits compared to the week prior. 

Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic Solutions’ EMEA Retail Consultant, said:  “As a popular gifting day, retailers will have welcomed the ambient boost to footfall from Mother’s Day after shopper traffic performance experienced a bumpy few months of late.”
 
He added: “Gifting occasions, like [this] not only serve as seasonal revenue drivers, but with consumers shopping for others, they also attract new cohorts of shoppers, who perhaps are infrequent or new customers, in to store.  And that presents a valuable engagement opportunity to open up your brand to new audiences, making the delivery of compelling in-store buying journeys and enhanced CX all the more important, helping to turn first-time shoppers into repeat buyers.”

The Liberty Romford mall is about to undertake the next phase of its transformation with owner/operator Redical appointing developer HUB to oversee the work for the town’s shopping centre.

It’s part of the wider plan by the local Havering Council to create a “vibrant, mixed-use town centre, with a key element being the creation of new places for people to live in the heart of the town”. That, of course, will boost the number of consumers in the immediate catchment area for the mall.

HUB will now engage with the local community and other stakeholders, including retailers at The Liberty, “to develop proposals to enhance the properties and land surrounding The Liberty Romford.  The plans could also include “the creation of modernised retail space adjacent to the residential”.

“Adding residential to The Liberty will build upon the already significant multi-million pound enhancements implemented by Redical since it acquired the centre in 2022”, the operator said.

This includes having strengthened the centre’s retail mix, such as the arrival of Rituals and Miniso, and a revitalised brand identity and destination refresh, soon to be revealed through new entranceways and wayfinding signage.
 
Taking a phased approach, the plans will complement Redical’s improvements to date, “which have seen The Liberty’s strong performance continue to grow, while also driving the regeneration of the surrounding area”.
 
Stephen Daniels, head of Asset Management and Regeneration at Redical, added: “Building on our work to transform The Liberty Romford, the addition of residential will bring a different dimension to the centre, one with the potential to significantly enhance the contribution it makes to Romford, economically, socially, and practically.  HUB shares our vision and commitment to getting this right for Romford, and the team’s experience will be vital in realising The Liberty’s full potential and delivering the Council’s vision.”