Mothercare and The Body Shop least likely to be missed on Britain's high street

Nearly 70% of shoppers wouldn't miss Mothercare or The Body Shop if they were to close their doors for ever, new Ipsos research has found. Boots and Argos did the best in the survey with 61% claiming they would miss the pharmacy chain and 55% the catalogue retailer. With a possible recession looming, the research will provide food for thought for the big brands desperate to hold on to shoppers tightening their belts. Ipsos's retail and shopper160team studied 11 major high street brands with only the top two having the number of people who wouldn't miss outweighed by those who would. The Body Shop also does the worst among males: 72% wouldn't miss it if it was gone against only 33% for Boots. Other retailers featuring in the poll were Marks & Spencer (split between Food and Non-Food), WHSmith, Woolworths, Primark, BhS, and JJB. Susanne Goller, Director - Ipsos Retail & Shopper said:

"The findings provide a stark reminder that unless retailers stay in touch with changing shopper behaviour and attitudes it is difficult to stay competitive in this very fast moving retail environment. "

Technical Note Ipsos surveyed 1021 people, face to face, between 22 and 28 August 2008.