Did you know?
Pedestrian activity is higher between 5pm and 10pm as shoppers spend up big, with more activity taking place during this time than before midday.
With insights from extensive research and pilot campaigns, this project highlights how extending or amending operational hours to keep up with the new rhythm of the city can lead to increased foot traffic, higher sales and greater visibility.
Embracing twilight trade
To realise these opportunities, the Australian Retailers Association is advocating for mainstream adoption of twilight trade over time.
Monday to Wednesday
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings until 7pm offers significant opportunity, with many small businesses missing the week's busiest period for foot traffic (between 5pm and 6pm on weekdays), with good footfall into 6pm to 7pm.
Friday and Saturday
Friday and Saturday evenings until 9pm also offers opportunities for small and large retailers alike, with a mismatch between pedestrian traffic and business activity as visitation to the city continues to increase over the weekend.
Links and resources
The Mainstreaming Twilight Trade project was honoured as a 2024 recipient of the National Economic Development Award for Excellence in Economic Development Initiatives for Regions Over 15,000 residents.
