The Potteries Centre voices support for local independents
Following a turbulent year for the world of retail, The Potteries Centre has revealed plans for a focus on local businesses and independents, in a move it believes will be the key to securing the future of the Stoke-On-Trent high street.
The news comes after the closure of a number of large retailers, as a result of the current pandemic and follows the centre’s recent rebrand and transition to property management company, MAPP, at the end of last year.
The centre’s wider strategy also includes the recruitment of two new letting agents Manchester-based Barker Proudlove and Birmingham-based BWD Retail, who will be working alongside The Potteries Centre team to ensure a diverse mix of local independents alongside its existing brands over the coming months.
The centre is already in early talks with a number of local organisations who have expressed their interest in being part of the city centre scheme.
Speaking about the exciting new phase of the town’s much-loved shopping centre, Amy Whittaker, General Manager at The Potteries Centre, said:
“UK retail has gone through some enormous changes over the past year. While that has meant the unfortunate closure of some popular brands, it does present us with an opportunity to shake up the centre offering, and increased support for local independents will play a big part in that.
“We have a great mix of retail at the centre; offering a blend of big-name brands that our customers know and love and in recent months, we’ve begun talks with other fantastic local brands. We have always been committed to ensuring we provide our customers with a diverse mix of shops, cafés restaurants and services, and this move will ensure we continue to do just that, while also providing support for many smaller businesses in the local community.
“Our approach is collaborative, and we’d encourage any local businesses looking for new premises to get in touch.”
Commenting on the upcoming plans, Nigel Mapp, CEO at MAPP said:
“We are moving into a very different world of retail, with new challenges, and that will need a new approach to ensure continued success. For us, that means anchoring The Potteries Centre within the community and continuing to provide everything our customers want and need. At MAPP, we bring innovation, fresh thinking, and the ability to keep our mind open to alternative uses of space. Most importantly we will keep listening to communities, retailers and customers, ensuring that the lessons we have learnt over the past few months, of adaptability, communication and purpose, are not forgotten.”
Nicky Beveridge, Senior Asset Manager for the centre’s asset management company, APAM, added:
“It’s no secret that the retail landscape is changing, and we are primed and ready to evolve with the opportunity that these changes bring. The Potteries Centre plays a huge role in the Stoke-on-Trent high-street and we see that going from strength to strength.
“We will be supporting the centre through this evolving phase with innovative new approaches and creating a centre that our visitors will feel proud of and want to visit again and again. We have new letting agents on board who, along with us, MAPP and the centre team, are invested in ensuring that The Potteries Centre continues to thrive.”
Explaining how they will be supporting the centre through this new phase, Richard Bidwell from BWD Retail and James Lamming from Barker Proudlove said:
“We are thrilled to have been appointed as the joint letting agents for The Potteries Centre. The centre has been an important part of the city centre for over thirty years and is still going strong with a great retail and leisure mix. We look forward to working together with the existing team and bringing a fresh set of eyes to invigorate the already-strong offering at The Potteries Centre.”
To find out more about The Potteries Centre, visit www.potteriescentre.co.uk.
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About The Potteries Centre
At The Potteries Centre we are passionate about creating compelling experiences that make our visitors smile, help our brands succeed and communities thrive.
We welcome over 9 million visitors every year to our 80 brands, including Debenhams, Primark, Next, Cineworld, H&M, Chiquitos, River Island, Pandora, JD and The Entertainer. See all stores.
We are committed to our local communities supporting over 2,300 of jobs (representing about 1.8 per cent of the local retail workforce), and to operating with environmental responsibility.
For letting enquiries please contact:
APAM Ltd
Nicola Beveridge
Email us: [email protected]
Web: www.apamuk.com
For media enquiries please contact:
Tank PR
Addie Kenogbon
[email protected]
0115 958 9840