For all the talk of AI, automation, and online shopping, the reality on the UK high street tells a remarkably different story. Physical retail remains where the vast majority of our spending happens. In fact, Mintel reports that £7 in every £10 spent in UK retail in 2025 was still spent in-store.
This statistic reveals something vital: people shop for the physical experience. They genuinely enjoy seeing items in person, chatting with knowledgeable staff, and feeling part of something familiar. Shops are part of the rhythm of everyday life, not just transactional spaces. This is particularly true in the considered purchase sector for investment items, where physical reassurance matters.
Searchability
When people search locally, they intend to act fast. The ACS Local Shop Report showed that “Convenience Stores Near Me” searches hit absolute record levels in late 2025. These are high-intent shoppers ready to walk through your door and make a purchase.
Search habits are also shifting. Younger consumers increasingly favour visual social platforms over traditional engines. Around 40% of Gen Z in the UK now use TikTok or Instagram Maps to find local businesses, checking the atmosphere to decide if it is worth a visit.
For retailers, visibility now requires showing up exactly where people are looking, whether on Google, social media, or within local community conversations.
Digital Tools
Digital tools are powerful enablers of local engagement, rather than direct replacements for physical retail.
Location-based mobile advertising seamlessly connects businesses with nearby consumers at their highest point of intent. By targeting mobile users within a tightly defined radius, businesses reach customers who are ready to act, significantly increasing footfall. For example, geo-targeted Facebook ads for an IKEA store resulted in a 31% uplift in store visits among younger audiences and an 11% increase overall, definitively proving the effectiveness of hyper-local targeting.
Geofencing works similarly by creating virtual boundaries around physical locations, allowing businesses to deliver timely, relevant messages to people already within walking distance. Based purely on geographic proximity and intent, this is far more likely to convert into real-world visits than traditional digital advertising.
To read the full published article by Callum Puffett, Digital Marketing Manager, Gekko Group, please visit ERT Magazine