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Thinking innovatively on the High Street

Retail sales have fallen in the past month, but the attendance at the Metrocentre’s Fashion Live Summer Style event last night seemed to indicate otherwise, as hundreds of visitors turned out to watch the fashion show.

The show featured a wide range of retailers based in the Centre, from high street favourites to high-end designer brands, giving the crowds a glimpse of what was on offer. Alongside the shows, the Metrocentre Style Team were on hand to help shoppers select their summer look.

So is this what other shopping centres need to do to draw in the customers? Karen Carr, marketing manager at the Metrocentre seems to think so.

She said: “We find that by showcasing products like this in the centre, the retailers always benefit because it drives sales into their stores.

“Alot of them recognise that and they’re actually putting extra incentives on to drive sales from the shows.”

While statistics from the CBI showed that 33% or retailers had reported a rise in sales, statistics also showed that 39% has witnessed a fall, giving a balance of -6%. This conflicted drastically with consumer optimism levels, which are said to be at an 8 month high.

While shops at the centre may not be brimming with optimism, Karen believes that there is an underlying confidence amongst the retailers.

“There is more confidence than there has been, and our retailers seem to be relatively happy - no one’s doing cartwheels, but there seems to be an air of satisfaction and we’re slowly creeping forwards.” She added.

Analysts predict that May could be a better month for the High Street, but until any improvements are witnessed, it is perhaps time for retailers to think innovatively of ways to draw in the crowds.

Karen concluded: “It is not just a shopping centre, it is a theatre, and that is why we are always trying to put on free entertainment and something that little bit different. And the key is - it’s free.”

Fashion Live will run from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th April

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .