A review of the Isle of Man’s retail strategy is currently being undertaken by the Department of Economic Development in order to understand the impact of changing shopping habits on the Island’s retail sector. To enhance this review, the Department of Economic Development has commissioned a survey with the aim of identifying local residents’ shopping habits. It is anticipated that a greater understanding of shopping patterns will assist in creating a retail strategy for the Isle of Man, with the ultimate aim of ensuring the resilience of the Isle of Man’s retail sector.
Approximately one thousand households in the Isle of Man will be contacted by telephone and invited to participate. Telephone numbers will be selected via random digit dialling.
The survey should take around five to seven minutes to complete and participants will be asked for their views on a range of topics relating to the retail environment in the Isle of Man and their own spending habits.
The survey will commence on the 17th September 2012 and will run through to the 30th September and will be undertaken by specialist market research company, NEMS Market Research, who will introduce themselves at the start of each call and advise that they are calling on the behalf of the Isle of Man Government.
All calls will be made via two numbers only. These are 01642 37 33 57 and 01642 37 38 90. Should anyone use the call back facility to these numbers they will hear a recorded message informing them that they were called by NEMS Market Research.
Calls will be made during the following times: Mondays to Thursdays: between 10am and 8.30pm; Fridays: between 10am and 8pm; Saturdays: between 10am and 2pm; Sundays: between 11am and 4pm.
Chair of the Retail Strategy Committee, Laurence Skelly MHK, commented:
‘The Department is very keen to secure the views of local residents on every aspect of the retail environment in the Isle of Man. I hope that as many of them as possible will participate in this short survey which will assist us greatly in helping to shape the future of retailing in the Isle of Man.’
