More than one in three people believe that shopping has become more frustrating as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and 36% of customers have personally witnessed a shopworker being verbally or physically abused, research conducted for the #ShopKind campaign reveals.
The #ShopKind campaign – which is backed by the Home Office and supported by more than 100 leading high street retailers, the nation’s shopkeepers, and trade union Usdaw – aims to remind customers about the importance of being considerate to shopworkers and each other.
In addition, the research highlights 31% of customers are more anxious when they shop, and which situations are most likely to lead to abuse of shopworkers.
The most frequently cited triggers in the survey were: not enough staff to serve, queues at the till, and products not being available.
This week (17-23 April) retailers are reminding customers to ShopKind in stores and acknowledge the important role of shopworkers to communities. New films from the ShopKind campaign highlight the impact that abuse by customers can have on shopworkers here.
Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “It’s clear that the cost-of-living crisis is putting additional pressure on people when they’re out shopping, but this is too often translating into abuse of shopworkers. Colleagues in shops are there to help and deserve to be treated with respect, and there is never a good excuse to be abusive towards them.
“We’re pleased that there is such widespread support in the retail sector and from the Home Office for the Shopkind campaign, which we hope will urge frustrated shoppers to think twice before an incident escalates into abuse.”
Mark Raymond, Post Office Head of Security, added: “Abuse, aggression and violence is not tolerated in our network, and we completely endorse the ShopKind message and acknowledge the need of fostering more respectable behaviour in the retail profession.
“It is critical that we raise awareness of the magnitude and seriousness of these crimes and encourage victims to come forward and report them.”
Retailers looking to get involved with the campaign during #Shopkind Week can download supporting materials from the National Business Crime Centre website.
