This week should have been the busiest day for many businesses in the United Kingdom, with a potential increase in sales and revenues. Christmas week would be the best week for business owners.
However, a recent report revealed that business struggle to increase their sales despite the Christmas season and the men's football World Cup Finals. Many businesses have been affected by the heavy snow and freezing conditions.
Cold weather
In recent reports, the U.K. declared a cold weather alert due to the potential impact on health. Ice and snow warnings were also issued to alert residents about the severe weather.
Wapping, east London on December 12, 2022.
In England, the early week of December experienced heavy snow that persisted until Christmas. The reports noted that the coldest temperatures could be noticeable at night.
Meanwhile, significant travel disruptions and slowed commutes occurred due to the weather conditions. Many residents in the United Kingdom had to deal with slow commutes for hours. Road accidents also occurred due to the freezing conditions, which U.K. officials advised to drive slowly.
As the weather is expected to become colder, many residents in the United Kingdom cannot afford the high cost of the heating system. The use of hot water bottles and electric blankets is useful to warm. Many sellers of the hot water bottles reported that the supplies were sold last week.
On the other hand, the foot traffic only days before Christmas should have been higher than usual. According to the Guardian's recent report, the ice condition and heavy snow contributed to low foot traffic in malls, affecting transportation systems.
According to the Guardian report, pubs and restaurants suffered a heavy loss, with about a 50% fall this weekend. The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) explained that it should have been considered one of the year's busiest days as the Christmas season comes near.
Low sales and revenue
The challenge of the freezing and icy weather also raised concerns over many U.K. residents due to the high cost of heating and soaring energy bills.
The slowed commutes and travel delays resulted in a decline in shoppers and people wanting to socialize outside, especially during the extremely cold weather. People aiming to travel this week are advised to check on the weather, especially the icy conditions that could be extremely dangerous for motorists.
In addition, the Guardian reported that NTIA chief executive director Michael Kill explained that the industry lost about £2bn of revenue, causing icy conditions. It affected motorists and commuters, resulting in stranded motorists.
The report added the importance of government support for the affected businesses.
Retail stores were also impacted, with reported lower sales unexpected during the Christmas rush. The report also explained that online retailers were also affected.
On the other hand, many U.K. residents preferred to save their money for Christmas due to inflating and increasing prices of commodities.
Furthermore, the colder weather and soaring energy bills would be why many families chose to tighten their budgets.
Related Article: Weather in U.K. Expected to Become Colder; Met Office Warns Ice Warnings and Flooding in Portions of England
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