Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Poland, there were a total of 24 weeks of trading limitations placed on retail schemes above 2,000 sq m, and many tenants were not permitted to operate. Retail tenants and landlords were hard hit by the restrictions on physical retailing. According to respondents, major inconveniences of the trading limitations caused by the pandemic included the inability to shop in their favourite stores, access F&B facilities and spend free time pleasantly, meet friends, or to go to the cinema. More than half of the respondents found such retail restrictions inconvenient, with only 14% saying the contrary.
FREQUENCY OF VISITS
Experts of Cushman & Wakefield also asked respondents whether they had visited retail facilities in the past month and about the reasons for their visits. More than three-fourths of the respondents did and the key motivation for 58% of them was an opportunity to touch, feel and try on a product before purchase – an undisputed advantage of the physical shopping experience.
Cushman & Wakefield’s consumer survey was carried out by Inquiry in June 2021 using the CAWI method (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) on a representative sample of consumers (N=1003).