Questioning 1,000 shoppers nationwide the survey found that almost a third of Brits hit their local high street once a week (28%), with another third (40%) using it a few times a month.
The majority of shoppers (87%) think that improvements should be made to their local high street, 40% of which say there is ‘a lot which needs to be improved’.
Half (48%) of people say improvements could be achieved with a better range of independent businesses and retailers to choose from, whilst 40% want to see regeneration of the whole area.
Over half (58%) admit that longer opening hours on weekdays would also be more likely to tempt them in.
When it comes to what consumers are using independent shops and businesses for, over half say they prefer to use them for their grocery shopping (57%), a quick bite to eat (56%), as well as hair and beauty treatments (52%).
Better marketing could give these businesses a boost though as half of people surveyed (50%) say they’re only aware of new shops, restaurants or deals if they spot them as they walk around their local area.
Roy Blanga, managing director, Groupon UK said: “It’s heartening to know that British shoppers still have a connection with their local high street and use independent shops and businesses for their everyday needs. However, to keep them coming back, continued investment is needed to modernise these areas and ensure they’re appealing to shoppers.
"At the same time, business owners should also be thinking about how to make their offer stand out both on and offline to deliver better value and customer service. This two-pronged approach is vital if our high streets are to flourish.”