The only way is up for Freshney Place as footfall figures grow
GRIMSBY'S Freshney Place is continuing to buck the national trend when it comes to attracting shoppers, with the first half of the year's success continuing through late summer.
Third quarter figures for footfall in the town's mall were 3.4 per cent up on 2011, against a backdrop of a national picture where centres are 3.4 per cent down.
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Freshney Place centre director Amanda Austin
The success in July, August and September is predicted to continue, too, with many retailers giving both statistic-based and anecdotal evidence that Christmas shopping is starting earlier.
Festive lights within the centre itself were switched on for the first time on Monday, but many have had December 25 in mind far earlier.
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Centre director Amanda Austin, pictured right, is delighted with the way 2012 is panning out, boosted by new retailers arriving ready for the peak season and major overhauls of existing outlets making a big impression.
Granite Outdoor was the latest store to open this weekend, catering for those who embrace the great outdoors, with Barratt Shoes having also beaten a path back to the centre, taking a unit in Baxtergate.
Rock Candy, offering beauty services, has taken the former Tie Rack unit, with phone accessory outlet Mobile Booth signing up for Clayton Walk last week, and due to open soon.
Mrs Austin said: "We have worked tirelessly throughout the year to drive trade and keep customers returning to Freshney Place.
"To build on the first half of the year is very pleasing, and on top of that, it seems like Christmas has started much earlier for our shoppers. People may well be pacing it out a little bit more in the current climate, but I may be wrong, and we may continue to have such good investments.
"The retailers are more optimistic than I thought they were going to be, so we're feeling very good about it."
As reported, the Grimsby Telegraph, North East Lincolnshire Council and Freshney Place have united with the support of Lincs FM, Compass FM, The Culture House and Grimsby In Bloom on a Go To Town This Christmas campaign.
The centre will not have a Santa's Grotto this year either, with a free Father Christmas to take wish lists to, replacing what had become a costly family "treat".
"We are really trying to capture the essence of what it is all about, children being able to see Father Christmas, give him their wish list, and to capture that moment. We have taken the over-commercialisation element away, it is not a priority in the present climate when these things all add up, and this will be great. We are expecting a lot of customers to come and visit.
"Our lights are on now, but I'm really looking forward to the town centre event on November 22. We have had great feedback on the decorations. People are really loving what we have done."
Freshney Place will offer free car parking after 5pm for the spectacular, featuring reindeer, Father Christmas parade and a giant food market. It marks the start of late-night shopping until 9pm.
Comments
by grimrich
Thursday, November 15 2012, 5:58PM
“funny how the once in a time i go in there their no body shopping , just either passing thru or browsing , , as said in other comments , no can afford to drive to sheffield or lincoln , so stay here”
by Seamus-McTav
Thursday, November 15 2012, 3:54PM
“What a surprise...this coming out so soon after the Council wants to expand the place together with the bus station...................I smell a long tailed rodent.”
by arghhhhhhhh
Thursday, November 15 2012, 3:03PM
“Due to rising petrol prices and unemployment people probably cant afford to go anywhere decent so have to stick to Grimsby. It can't be through choice”
by mattkidrock
Thursday, November 15 2012, 11:59AM
“I'll stick to medowhall thanks!”
by mattkidrock
Thursday, November 15 2012, 11:57AM
“i'll stick to medowhall thanks”
by davendogs
Thursday, November 15 2012, 11:30AM
“Aunt is visiting so that's aunt, mum and sister 'footfalling' around the place. Not necessarily shopping just having a look round. Myself, had reason to visit virgin media. Not knowing its location I walked the place maybe 4 times. Not to buy, to cancel the landline. It wouldn't be unreasonable to call that 20 footfalls, no expenditure. Times that by others it adds up to quite some figure. As they say statistics can be manipulated to give the desired result of those setting the parameter.”
by davendogs
Thursday, November 15 2012, 10:27AM
“Considering the time of year, how much of this 'footfall' is down to shoplifters doing a double take? Those who are dragged along for the 'shopping experience' and those who came back later because it was too busy the first time round?”
by EnlightendOne
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 11:56PM
“It's pretty obvious really isn't it - rainy day - where else are the people of Grimsby going to go!”
by exeter44
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 9:28PM
“Watch the figures increase yet further now we can all park in surrounding streets for free!”
by Beagleyes
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 8:56AM
“What would be interesting is if freshney place could tell us if the spend per head has actually increased by shoppers ?
Granted retailers might not want to share that type of information but perhaps one of the reasons we see an increase in footfall at the centre is that people have more time ( not of their own making ) to visit the centre
Whilst these figures are encouraging I think the bigger picture needs to be looked at”