LDC launches Tool Kit for Portas’ ‘Town Teams’

LDC Town Tool KitFebruary 2012 saw the highest level of shop vacancy rates on record, with 14.6% of shops on the UK’s high streets sitting empty.

The Portas Review identified the need for change with an underlying theme of ‘adapt or die’.  To support anyone involved in implementing the changes recommended in the Portas Review, the Local Data Company (LDC) has launched the ‘Town Tool Kit’.

The Tool Kit comprises data and insight which the LDC says will help town centres better understand how they are evolving against national trends.  The data on offer include an occupancy profile, footfall analysis, socioeconomic and demographic information and further details are available from the LDC.

Pandora pops up at Heathrow

Pandora pop up storeJewellery brand Pandora has opened a new pop up store at London Heathrow’s Terminal One.

The ‘travelling pop up store’ will be open for just three months before being moved to another UK airport.

Albemarle & Bond: a pop up success story

Albemarle & Bond pop up storesReading-based jewellery retailer and pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond is looking for pop up shop sites following the runaway success of the 40 pop up shops it opened in 2011.

With the majority of its pop up shops still trading on short term leases the stores, which offer a gold-buying service, have notched up strong performances for the brand.

Chief executive of the group, Barry Stevenson, commented that “a number of shopping centres are keen for us to come there. We’re not just attracting footfall, we’re giving people money which is going back into the centres.”

Albemarle & Bond is also pushing ahead with its permanent store expansion programme, aiming to open 25 standard stores this year.

 

Made Here in Liverpool

Made Here Liverpool pop up shopLiverpool One is to host a pop up shop to promote the work of local artists and designers.  In a bid to encourage people to buy locally, handmade items including jewellery, gifts, art, cards, prints, homewares and fashion accessories will be on sale at the store.

Liverpool interiors practice Team a Go-Go is helping to create the Made Here pop up shop.  Creative Director Steve Threlfall commented:

“There is an increasing trend for pop-up shops at the moment – which we think presents a really exciting opportunity to create spaces of difference and interest on our high street.”