The surge in cross-border trade has subsided with the increase in UK VAT and the easing of exchange rate pressures, coupled with the reduction in spending power of consumers in the Republic. In towns like Newry cross-border shoppers accounted for 60 per cent of trade in 2008/9. Everyone knew that this was unsustainable and trade has fallen back to the historic average of around 25 per cent.

But the rest of the market is more of a mixed bag, with some positive signs emerging. One strong trend this year has been the emergence of the value retailers, with Poundland and B&M Bargains taking stores across the region. They are proving to be strong drivers of footfall, especially in some of the smaller centres. The economy may be going through tough times but shopping centre managers and ancillary service providers just have to get on with things. And that’s the theme of the region’s first shopping centre managers’ conference: despite the cuts and added pressures we’re “Taking Care of Business.”

Karen Marshall

Chairperson

Northern Ireland Region of Shopping Centres