The UK energy supplier found that 52% of those interviewed admitted to charging electronic devices at pubs, restaurants and cafes, as well as other retail destinations, for an average of 28 minutes a time in a new trend that’s estimated to add up to a potential cost of £12.5m per year for high street firms.
Over a third of people surveyed said they were more likely to visit a business that allowed them to charge their device, with a further 14% stating they would consider spending more money at the business in return.
“Our growing reliance on personal gadgets is starting to have a secondhand impact on the business world,” said E.ON sales and marketing director Anthony Ainsworth. “There are clearly some benefits in terms of attracting and retaining customers, but while businesses may feel compelled to let visitors plug in to their heart’s content, they should also be aware that it comes at a cost.”
The most popular appliances charged among respondents were mobile phones (86%), laptops (32%) and tablets (20%), followed by iPods (17%), cameras (14%), personal grooming products (11%) and games consoles (5%).
F&B businesses are in bold.
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