From all the interesting repurposing ideas we’ve looked at for regenerating our high street, it’s clear that for any strategy to succeed it must be both sustainable in the long term and offer immediate practical support in the interim. Incubator Stores – Offering small “bedroom” start-up businesses the chance...
We’ve been on a quest, trying to discover the most interesting repurposing strategies to help restore our highstreets. Not to turn back the clock but to redefine, reinvent and rejuvenate them for the benefit of local businesses and communities alike. Here are some more we like: New Community Areas – This may not be a new idea...
The closure of all 160+ Debenhams Department stores was a major blow for town centres. Thanks for sharing your exciting repurposing ideas. Keep them coming. Here are the ones that have caught our eye: Automated Warehousing – Perhaps not as glamorous as other ideas, but re-purposing large areas of retail...
If as consumers, we no longer want to physically go shopping for basic goods and services, what do we want to “go to downtown” for? There’s been a massive debate and mountains of research about this but one thing everyone can agree on; in order to survive, the high...
The problem with just about every article about the state of our highs streets is that they are all so depressing. Even the more positive long-term economic forecasts are just that – long term. It seems that we’re missing the point. The fact is that we human beings are...
Can someone tell me what is happening to old #departmentstores like #Debenhams, that once dominated our #towncentres? Are they all going to be pulled down and repurposed? #Landlords must be understandably upset with their commercial agents who have been unable to relet them and appear to be at a loss as to what to do...
Are we looking at the demise of the #HighStreet or the beginning of its reinvention? And if it is going to be a revolution rather than evolution, is it going to be too painful for most small businesses to bear? Will the public engage or simply move online permanently for...
Throughout 2020 and 2021 #Covid and its #economic impact has driven more and more of us online and away from #shopping in person. Yes, we can now hunt for the lowest price and even get it delivered to our doorsteps in record time, but the truth is it’s mostly a boring experience....
Walking down my local #HighStreet is quite a depressing experience these days. Yet if you read some of the economic forecasts you begin to understand that many experts believe our towns are in fact very well placed for what they describe as a new era of growth and prosperity. This...
It’s hard to take in that GAP, Jigsaw, Mothercare, Carphone Warehouse, Oasis, Evans, Thorntons, TopMan and Toys ‘R’ Us have all gone from our high streets forever! Yet arguably the biggest single blow of them all, has to be the closure of all 124 Debenhams department stores, leaving so...
