Retailers hail the rise of the male shopper

One in four retailers now sell predominantly to a male market

Almost seven in 10 online retailers have increased the scale of their male product offering in the past five years, in response to growing shopper demand
British men now spend more on clothes, shoes and grooming products each month compared to women
Proving themselves to be ‘reluctant returners’ just 26 per cent of the returns processed by retailers are made by male shoppers, compared to their female counterparts who account for 74 per cent
A higher proportion (26 per cent) of UK retailers now cater to a predominantly male market than to a largely female market (17 per cent)

Retailers are tapping into increased male spending power and demand by expanding men’s sections both online and on the high street, recognising the greater variety and prominence of male fashion over recent years.

New research released today by Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions and has been at the heart of British shopping for more than 50 years, has revealed that despite common assumptions, men are the biggest spenders when it comes to fashion and beauty.

Debunking the myth that women are the biggest spenders, retailers say they have seen an increase in male shoppers both in-store (59 per cent) and online (69 per cent) in the past five years, and have expanded their male product offering as a result. While the majority (57 per cent) of retailers sell their products to both men and women, over a quarter (26 per cent) now cater to a largely or entirely male market, compared to just 17 per cent that target a largely or entirely female market.

The Reluctant Returners

Proving themselves to be ‘reluctant returners’, much of what men buy is likely to make it to and remain in, their wardrobes – just a quarter (26 per cent) of the returns processed by retailers are made by male shoppers compared to their female counterparts who account for 74 per cent. Given that men are also spending more than women, this indicates that male shoppers are not only more likely to keep what they buy, but are also a potentially more profitable audience for retailers.

With additional Barclaycard research** showing that 57 per cent of retailers are negatively impacted by consumers’ propensity to return unwanted items – such as being left with high levels of unsellable stock – investing in the male market may prove a more valuable investment for retailers concerned with protecting their bottom line.

When it came to the overall shopping experience, the top frustrations cited by men were: retailers not having their size in stock (42 per cent), crowded stores (36 per cent) and having to queue at the till (35 per cent) – with four in 10 men (40 per cent) saying five minutes is the longest they will wait to pay before leaving a store.

Growing appetite for variety

Greater variety in men’s products and a recognition of changing shopping habits is driving the growing scale and volume of male-specific retail, both in-store and online. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of retailers who have increased the size of their men’s section in the past five years have done so because they believe men are now shopping more than women.

Of those retailers that do cater to a largely female audience, almost four in five (79 per cent) would consider moving into men’s retail or increasing their men’s range. The majority (63 per cent) recognise male retail as a growing market, while more than four in 10 (44 per cent) see men’s retail as less competitive than women’s retail.

Taking advantage of the omni-channel experience

With nearly half of British men (48 per cent) saying they prefer to shop online to snap up the latest trends, it’s no surprise that the most commonly deployed tactic from retailers is online and social media advertising (37 per cent). Over a third (34 per cent) already offer, or would consider offering their male customers the ability to purchase items directly from social media accounts, while three in 10 (31 per cent) would make use of a customer service chatbot to help improve the online shopping experience for men.

Facebook leads the charge in being the most useful social media platform to target a male audience according to 65 per cent of retailers, with both Instagram and Twitter falling behind, chosen by just over a third (36 per cent). One in seven (14 per cent) are now also working with bloggers and influencers to increase their online brand presence.

George Allardice, Head of Strategy at Barclaycard Payment Solutions commented:

“The rise of social and digital media has made shopping more accessible and convenient for men, which in-turn has increased their purchasing power. Yet, it’s clear from our research that while men do want to shop they are put off by the overall experience - which could be causing retailers to miss out on vital sales. The good news however, is that the issues men have claimed put them off shopping - such as long queues to pay - can be easily fixed.

“As the shopping experience continues to evolve, it’s important that retailers not only keep up with new trends, but capitalise on emerging technologies to provide good customer service across all channels, for every consumer. For instance – allowing shoppers to check the availability of sizes online and then quickly and easily pick-up and pay in-store could help harness loyalty by providing a faster and easier check-out process and keep customers returning time and again.”

Notes to editors

*Consumer research was conducted by Atomik Research who carried out 2,038 online interviews (13th November – 17th November 2017) with a sample of UK adults.

Merchant research was also conducted by Atomik Research who carried out interviews (16th November – 20th November 2017) with a sample of 250 owners of retail businesses (in sectors including fashion and beauty).

** Barclaycard Serial Returners research 2016: www.home.barclaycard/media-centre/press-releases/emergence-of-serial-returners-hinders-growth-of-UK-businesses.html

For more information please contact Chloe Wilkinson at Barclaycard on chloe.wilkinson@barclaycard.com or 020 3555 4036.

About Barclaycard

Barclaycard, part of Barclays Bank PLC, is a leading global payment business that helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and take payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit and point-of-sale finance. In 2016 we processed over £293bn in transactions globally.

Barclaycard is a pioneer of new forms of payment and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting-edge forms of payment for the future. We also partner with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit.

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