Footfall up 44% at The Promenades
Published: 12 October, 2011
Bridlington’s The Promenades shopping centre has bucked the national trend for dwindling footfall by recording huge year-on-year increases, with August alone seeing 84,000 extra shoppers.
The Promenades recorded a year-on-year increase for every week in July and August, with the week commencing 8 August alone seeing an extra 24,000 shoppers than the same week last year, up 30.1 per cent. And last week year-on-year figures were up 44 per cent.
James White, centre manager for The Promenades’ managing agent CB Richard Ellis, said: “It’s well documented that we are in challenging economic times and shopping centres nationally have experienced falling footfall figures, so it is tremendously encouraging to record such positive results at The Promenades.
“Obviously Bridlington is a very seasonal town so it is no surprise that footfall figures increase significantly during peak season, however we have regularly seen in excess of 20 per cent increase in footfall compared with the corresponding week last year which is a fantastic achievement.”
The increase was helped by a partnership struck with marketing agency Fred to help re-engage local shoppers.
James explained: “As well as welcoming big-name new stores such as Sportsdirect.com, Poundland and Store Twenty One we have achieved these impressive figures through a number of initiatives, including actively marketing The Promenades as being at ‘The Heart of Bridlington’ to remind local people about the fantastic shops they have right here on their doorstep. In addition we have hosted events such as Gareth Gates performing for shoppers which proved extremely popular, yet the footfall figures have remained consistently high rather than simply benefitting from a short term spike.”
The Heart of Bridlington campaign engaged with residents and visitors to Bridlington by encouraging them to pick up a 'Heart Trail' map directing them towards giant hearts hidden across the town helping to re-familiarise themselves with some of the areas favourite attractions, including North Beach, Harbour Wall and The Land Train.
