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Trade News Archive 2009 January February March
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5th March 2009
Towns and villages must make retail 'distinctive'
Small and medium-sized towns have a bright retail future ahead of them so long as they are managed in a way that ensures they do not miss out on crucial investment.
That is according to the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC), which made calls this month for local authorities to exploit the unique properties of local retail in order to attract shoppers.
Looking at towns including Dorchester, North Camp, Skelmersdale, West Bromwich, Northstowe and Sherford, it claimed that the "retail offer" of many smaller conurbations has been declining for the last 20 years.
The BCSC urged such towns to take advantage of their heritage features and surroundings in order to offer a distinctive environment for a wide selection of retailers.
Jeremy Collins, president of the council, suggested that partnerships will be key to the sustained growth and success of retail in these places.
"The ability of small and medium-sized towns to compete effectively with larger centres depends on a concerted cooperative effort between the private and public sectors," he added.
In January, the BCSC called on retailers to work together with their landlords in order to keep down costs during the recession.
(c) 2009
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