Manchester, Lancashire -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/06/2012 -- According to a recent report in The Independent, the Local Data Company (LDC) stated that “Town centre vacancy rates rose to an average of 14.6% in February, from 14.5% in January, the highest figures since the index started four years ago. This equates to one in nearly seven shops being shut in the UK.” The Office for National Statistics also found that retail sales volumes fell by a ‘larger-than-expected’ amount last month, while the estimated 0.9% growth predicted for January was revised down to a mere 0.3%. These recent statistics will not inspire confidence for those involved in the faltering industry.

LJR Marketing discovered the latest ‘big-name’ store in trouble is the Game Group who recently applied for an administrator to be put in place while it attempted to find a solution for on-going debt problems. The Game Group, which operates over 600 High Street branches in the UK and currently employs over 6000 people, explained that key suppliers had stopped doing business with them given their debt problems and share prices plummeted from 62p to just 2.39p. The Telegraph reported “The decision to call in administrators came after the company asked for trading in its shares to be suspended after telling shareholders there was no equity value left in the group.” Lawrence Randall, Managing Director at LJR Marketing commented: “With online stores and supermarkets providing that extra bit of competition nowadays, I really believe that retailers like Game need to become more aggressive in their fight for market share if they want to survive.”

LJR Marketing have continued to thrive throughout the recession, citing their direct approach to Sales & Marketing as the key to their on-going success. Managing Director Lawrence Randall explained: “The retail sector is passive and retailers rely on traditional methods of advertising and then wait for their customers to come to them. What we do is the opposite, we take our clients’ products and services and we actively put them out there in the public eye where everyone can see.” Indeed retailers will need to adapt their approach soon if a new report by Deloitte is accurate. According to The Guardian, Deloitte believe “The longer-term outlook for Britain's high streets remains uncertain and [warned] that four out of 10 shops will have to shut in the next five years as consumers turn their backs on traditional stores in favour of online shopping.”

In a week which saw Nationwide declare consumer confidence has dropped again and as unemployment levels continue to rise, LJR Marketing fear the worst is yet to come for the retail industry. Lawrence Randall, Managing Director at LJR Marketing concluded: “Success in business often comes down to the ability to adapt quickly when threatened by external factors such as new competition or, as we’re seeing at the moment, a harsher economic climate. Unfortunately for the retail sector, many businesses just don’t seem to be able or willing to adapt their approach which will leave them vulnerable to new competitors and make the road to recovery even harder.”