Coleen McLoughlin is often regarded as the UK's most dedicated shopper. But while it might appear that she spends every minute scouring her favourite boutiques for designer labels and new handbags, she insists shopping isn't her only pastime.
"Yes, I go shopping, and I buy what I want," she says. "But sometimes I'm photographed and there's a story that says I've been on another spending spree, when all I was doing was popping round to my mum's or buying a friend a birthday card."
And for once it seems that Coleen is falling behind the fashion, as a recent survey suggests women are ditching retail therapy and losing interest in hitting the shops as a leisure activity.
Almost two-thirds of women questioned said they felt "stressed out" by the high street, according to a report by Conchango.
"For many men shopping has always been a fraught experience but now even women are losing patience when it comes to limited opening hours, long queues and shoddy customer service," says Conchango joint managing director Mike Altendorf.
HIGH STREET HELL?
Pounding the pavements in order to snap up the latest fashions has long been regarded as one of womens' favourite ways to spend time - and money. But 40 per cent of women resented having to shop at weekends, the Conchango study found. One in seven females also revealed they didn't have the time or energy to shop after work or in their lunch hour.
fake rolex"It's fair to say women are not being inspired and excited by shopping in the way they were a few years ago," says Richard Hyman, managing director of retail consultants Verdict.
"Much of that is down to the influx of fashion trends. When it comes to the leisure aspect of shopping -buying for wants rather than needs -the pull of the high street is often down to its imaginative and innovative fashions. Last year, for example we had the boho style story but this year isn't as clear and focused."
The wintry weather isn't helping matters for the high street either. With snow storms and freezing temperatures gripping many parts of the UK, it's poured cold water on new trends.
Hyman says: "In theory we're supposed to be moving into spring fashions for March but because the weather has been so cold we're still wrapped up in winter coats and scarves."
SHODDY SHOPPING TRIPS
But the outlook isn't all bad for the high street shops and boutiques -women still make approximately 20 per cent more shopping trips a year than men, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
"A good shopping trip from a consumer's point of view is buying something that they initially went to look for, in an environment that they feel inspired by," Hyman says.
"Any frustrations women are feeling are probably to do with changes in lifestyle. In today's world where most women work, they can't dedicate the time or energy to shopping that they would like."
Nearly half the women surveyed admitted trying to cram shopping sprees into their lunch breaks and after work, and 40 per cent felt that opening hours did not cater for their needs. Huge queues and poor customer service also topped the list of women's shopping grumbles.
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Despite the drawbacks, it seems the shopping bug is still in the genes for many women. Over three quarters o
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