Stafford is one of the few towns and cities in the UK which is
performing well in the current economic climate, new figures
reveal.
On the day retail expert Mary Portas released her High Street
Review, which makes 28 recommendations to save the British High
Street, bosses at the Guildhall Shopping Centre revealed footfall
in Stafford is up 15% this year compared to 2010.
And in contrast to the Portas review, which suggests one in
seven shops in the UK are currently empty, there are 6% vacancy
rates in Stafford shops, compared to 13% nationwide.
Guildhall Marketing Manager Anne Graham said: "Clearly Stafford
is holding its own and the various events and marketing campaigns
that we do attract new and existing customers to the town.
"The call for a National Market Day is something we feel
Stafford would be ideally placed to have as we have a beautiful
Market Square which would benefit the town more than the current
indoor market."
The timing of the Christmas holiday, better weather, and even
public sector industrial action, were quoted as possible reasons
for the increase in footfall in Stafford.
Richard Ralph is Senior Surveyor at DTZ, the managing agents for
the Guildhall Shopping Centre.
He said: "Although last month's public sector industrial action
was economically damaging to some sectors, on Wednesday 30 November
many retailers experienced record breaking sales.
"Landlords and retailers alike benefitted from the 'strike
spike', with footfall up 30% nationally on the day. The good news
is that footfall figures are set to increase throughout
December.
"December 2011 is likely to produce much higher footfall figures
than last year and, with Christmas Day and New Years Day both
falling on a Sunday, stores will be able to maximise their trading
hours over the busiest period of the year.
"Add to this that we have not experienced the inclement weather
that blighted shopper mobility in 2010, means that year-on-year
figures will make for good reading.
"However, it should not detract from the main event in December
which analysts and landlords are bracing themselves for - December
quarter day, when rents for the first three months of 2012 are
due."