I follow this investment guy business leader on LinkedIn with a background in fashion Roger Wade who was talking the other day about how he believes shopping in physical retail stores will never die completely and the high street will come back for these reasons, things that shopping online just cannot replace like the physical experience to touch, feel and see quality of goods, to try on before deciding and the social interaction and excitement consumers get from the “Shopping Experience” delivered by expert retailers.

I am predominately an online shopper. I have been guilty in the past of buying more than one size of garment I like and then returning what doesn’t work, bad I know so I’ve been trying to stop this, instead repeat buying from brands I know the size I need and changing my shopping habits to be a bit more inline with a more conscious consumer approach. Also money is tighter than usual after Christmas and I’ve made a few bad mistakes shopping online of late where the product when it arrived just didn’t match the pictures, the quality didn’t meet my expectations and everything has had to go back, leaving me deflated and disappointed having to embark on the whole experience again.

With this in mind I decided to try doing it the old fashioned way. I invited my Mum to go on a shopping trip after work on a Friday to see what the experience was actually like.

We went to Westfield in Stratford, E20.

First off for 5.00pm on. Friday night we couldn’t believe how deserted it was. Even the food places, the cafes and restaurants, usually packed with people were pretty much deserted.

It was nice in a way to not have to deal with crowds and no problems parking but the place had no atmosphere, no buzz, no excitement which doesn’t exactly get you in the mood to shop.

I was interested in a pair of Adidas Samba trainers of course I’d seen online but there are three or four different styles and variations, Samba regular, samba MN and samba XLG and without seeing them and trying them on, I just didn’t know which ones I wanted.

We were also looking for black leggings, not super expensive. Just decent quality for every day no seams or pockets and not over branded so you could wear them with a jacket if you wanted to for work. I know it sounds crazy but online I’ve struggled to find this. Sure there’s fabletics for £12 that fall apart after a couple of washes, or at the other end, Alo and Lululemon £130, more than I wanted to pay but nothing in the middle.

We went into Flannels where we were honestly the only people, one salesperson in the ladies department who did welcome us but didn’t offer any help and a sale on that didn’t feel like a sale.

We did buy two pairs of leggings The Couture Club at £40 we liked and were exactly what we were looking for. They were the last two pairs in black so that was a result.

I went to look for the Adidas Sambas, unfortunately all I could find was Gazelles, which I do like but I have a pair anlready and didn’t want to repeat. I have also been warned by a friend to remember what goes in the sale is what no one else wants, may be for a reason, wink, wink.

Although I have to say I did get a great deal from hands on shopping the Flannels sale. I purchased two pairs of leggings I was able to try on, decide I really like them, experience a new brand and no issues having to return. These weren’t on sale though. I was also able to check the brand online later, see if there was anything else I liked, knowing the fit and size I needed. I got another pair of the same leggings in a different colour.

I don’t know if Flannels stock Adidas Sambas, I didn’t buy new trainers, like I said there were no sales assistants around to help, the biggest thing missing from the in store experience.

When we walked through the make up department we would have had a shop there too except no staff on the counters. It was really dead.

I’ve heard on the grapevine from my hairdresser a few Flannels shops are closing, I don’t know if this one is but can understand why if it is one for the chop. Retail cannot survive without customers and when customers do come into store it’s unlikely they will spend without staff on hand to serve and help.

To sum up I like the trip out to Westfield. Was it successful? Yes on the leggings front, no on the sneakers front. I also need a few new make up things I didn’t manage to get because of no service, staff on the counters. I did like being out and about shopping, checking things out in person, something I rarely do. And time spent with my Mum was great. We had fun together. It would have been better if there were more people around, more atmosphere but I think it’s a reflection on shopping behaviour, the economy and the fact it’s January and everyone is skint this month.

Not sure I’d rush back to the big shopping mall but we have said we’ll do a Saturday in central London soon, maybe Oxford, Regent St to check out the big shops and smaller boutiques soon. I do want to go to the ALO shop on Regent St and check out the new Kith sneaker shop while I am there.

I am definitely giving online a miss for a while unless I know exactly what I am getting, it’s just too risky. Definitely prefer trying on and seeing quality before I buy. I am totally sick of returns.