Using data-driven insights from Over-C, the software shows the most popular items that enter lost property at Manchester’s Trafford Centre – and you might be surprised at these results!
Whether you’re having a leisurely mooch around the shops or on a frantic dash to grab some essentials in a rush – we’re only human and forgetting or leaving things behind is sometimes inevitable.
However, thanks to Over-C’s detailed, digitalised data collation and categorisation used by Trafford Centre, we can delve into the weird, wonderful and sometimes downright strange specifics of what people have left behind. Here’s the Top 10:
1. Clothing
2. Bank or credit card
3. Shopping bags
4. Personal bag
5. Jewellery
6. Toys
7. Mobile devices
8. Keys
9. Cash
10. Wallet/purse
Ironically making the top 10 is people’s shopping itself, the cards needed to pay for it, with clothing coming in at number one. Coming into the lower categories (11-20) were glasses, umbrellas and even passports.
Michael Elliott, Over-C founder and CEO said: “We’re delighted to see the positive impact Over-C is already having on Trafford Centre who had footfall of over 20.8 million people last year. This fun list is just a small example of what our software can illustrate for busy shopping centres.
“From streamlining processes, increasing efficiency, to a reduction in insurance premiums, right through to the phenomenal saving on a huge waste of paper – just one year in and the benefits are clear to see.
“Over-C provides a remarkably evidential new, and smarter, way of working within the retail space which we have seen through the increased interest, demand and use of it from numerous other shopping centres. Even those often reluctant to change or apprehensive around technology are embracing data as the future.”
Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “Going from reams of paper and ring binders, using Over-C was a huge change for our team. They really embraced it from the start and I’m really grateful that they got on board very quickly with the new processes.
“This goes beyond security, and expands into areas such as guest services, including lost property. It’s really important that we create a magical experience for all of our guests.
“In using Over-C to accurately and intelligently log and understand various insights from around the centre, we’ve been able to enhance and improve the experience of all of our customers.”
Other bizarre items of note that have been handed in to lost property over the last year have included a David Bowie poster, Brazilian ‘bum bum’ cream, a Harry Potter costume, a tube of superglue, a crutch, a tape cassette, a pair of black crocs, a black Tesla wheel cover and (an empty!) pram.
You can find out more about Over-C here.
[Lost property data taken from Manchester’s Trafford Centre from August 2023 – August 2024, logged using Over-C software.]
