International shoppers are flocking back to London — and the West End is reaping the benefits, figures show.
Visitors have spent four per cent more in the shopping district in 2015 so far compared with the same period last year, according to travel shopping company Global Blue. London saw a dip in tourist shopping in 2014.
Today’s research shows that Chinese shoppers remain top of the board, accounting for 20 per cent of all international spending in the West End.
Visitors from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait both account for 8 per cent of spending, with Qatari shoppers spending an average of £1,906 per transaction.
However, the capital still misses out to Paris on being the most popular shopping destination. Gordon Clark, UK country manager of Global Blue, called on retailers to up their game and issued a list of do’s and don’ts for dealing with shoppers from overseas.
He said: “It is important for retailers to maintain their ambition to maximise the opportunity these top-spending shoppers bring.”
Long handshakes in...raised eyebrows out
Middle East
Do: Give a long, gentle handshake to convey respect
Put forward female sales associates to help female customers
Don’t: Give them a thumbs-up, as it is seen as an obscene gesture
Raise your eyebrow unless you mean to say “no”
China
Do: Be punctual, a key sign of respect
Encourage social media as this is a key influencer of what they buy
Don’t: Give them a hotel room starting with four — a symbol of death
Disrespect a customer by looking into their eyes for a prolonged time
South-East Asia
Do: Push accessories — their number one item to buy in the UK
Emphasise products made in Britain as this has big appeal
Don’t: Hold back on talking about English football as it is hugely popular
Forget about women — a growing consumer market in Thailand
