Report comment

I saw this release yesterday and was invited onto LBC to discuss what town centres really need to do this morning. The issue is we're stuck focused on "hygiene factors" - parking, accessibility, safety, cleanliness - this is the bare minimum and merely levels the playing field between towns and shopping centres / out of towns.
To win over consumers and attract them back innovation will be key - developing relevant, appropriate, engaging and dynamic centres that are social, entertaining and fulfill the consumer needs.
My concern in all of this is that the focus is on the retailers - the group who are at the heart of this are consumers and each town needs to be uniquely developed to support the community of consumers it serves. I am sure that the complaints about rates and rents would evaporate if hygiene factors were addressed. If businesses saw rates had been "spent" on providing a clean, safe, welcoming and accessible environment which in turn enable them to draw in customers with engaging products, services and social offerings they would increase their turnover and feel less pressured by rates. The fact is when turnover goes down and rates go up and the perception is the towns look like they've been left to rot then of course the businesses will be highly displeased!.
I've blogged about this story, and added some thoughts about opportunities to really make a difference this morning via http://retailchampion.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/grant-shapps-12-portas-pilot-towns-to-win-golden-ticket-and-share-1million-for-regeneration-indieretail/