British high streets are at the heart of communities up and down the country, and despite negative news stories, there is still a healthy appetite among consumers to shop in person. In fact, recent research from Statista shows that in January 2025 alone, there was an increase of 4.5% visitors to UK high streets.
Retailers at the heart of local communities
We know the high streets are not just places to shop, they serve as places for people to connect and socialise in their local neighbourhoods and are a place where people can easily access services such as opticians and audiologists.
Specsavers aims to offer easy and convenient access to care for people in their communities and high streets are the best place to do this. We believe it’s crucial to continually invest in our high streets and our stores, so our customers get the best experience.
Revamping the high street
At Specsavers, we’re not just passionate about supporting the high street, we believe in actively shaping its future to ensure that essential services are preserved and that customers can enjoy an engaging and efficient environment to shop in. We are committed to investing in our stores to improve the experience for customers and colleagues.
We know that customers increasingly value the experience they get from shopping on the high street which means we need to prioritise making our stores attractive places to visit, which is why we have made a commitment to invest in upgrading our stores.
Over the last two years Specsavers has invested more than £64m in revamping and upgrading 600 stores across our estate in the UK, transforming them into more inviting spaces to improve the experience for both our customers and our colleagues. We are due to complete the project this summer, having finished the 500th store in February. Through this investment we’re helping to create a space where colleagues feel confident and empowered to deliver a consistently excellent service to their communities – in turn, helping to drive customer loyalty.
Improvements have included new digital screens which have allowed us to change our customer messaging more often, while also cutting down on the paper waste associated with traditional paper displays. Improvements such as new illuminated product displays and upgrading the store interiors have been well-received by customers and have enhanced visibility of our products. Upgrading the colleague areas has also been well-received by the store teams and has boosted satisfaction.
We’re prioritising and investing in the high street because of the valuable role it plays and will continue to play in future. Whilst we know that no two retailers are the same and that online and in-store shopping offer different benefits to different businesses, we believe that a thriving mix of stores on the high street will create a positive cycle, encouraging customers to return and as a result, to spend more.
Ultimately, a healthy, vibrant high street nurtures businesses of all shapes and sizes. As high streets evolve, so too will the businesses that support them. Together, we can breathe new life into the heart of our communities, one store at a time.
