Clothing firms boost High Street shopping

Nov 25 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH’S jobs market and city centre shopping have been boosted by two major retailers moving into larger premises.

Coinciding with the impending completion of work on the Fair City’s revamped High Street pedestrian area, Next and New Look have moved into the former Woolworths and Thorntons site and officially opened their doors to the public yesterday.

Next told the PA its shift from nearby premises had seen its floorspace more than treble in size – and fashion conscious women are the biggest winner with the lion’s share of retail space.

But men also get a look in with the return of a menswear section, not present at its old premises.

A total of 25 permanent jobs are connected to the new store, and seasonal vacancies for the Christmas period are also in the offing at the near 11,000 square feet site – 8000 feet bigger than its former site.

The shop also boasts children's and a home department.

No one from New Look was available to comment on its store.

The former Woolworths and Thorntons site underwent a £1.1 million revamp this year to attract the two clothing retailers.

The move is good news for the High Street which has suffered in the credit crunch losing major retailers such as the Early Learning Centre with Laura Ashley also announcing it was leaving its site early next year.

But, it comes at a time when the Scottish Retail Consortium has issued warnings about the future viability of the country’s high streets, with shoppers turning their backs in favour of internet purchasing.

Ian Shearer, director of the SRC, said dropping figures on shopper numbers was part of falling consumer confidence against rising bills, job cuts and pay freezes.

He warned it would take major change to turn tempt shoppers out again.

Footfall – the number of people visiting shopping streets – was down nine per cent in August – more than three times the UK average, although the figures were better for Perth and Kinross according findings.

Earlier this year the council reported there were 62 vacant retail units in the town centre out of a total of 599 last year.

This 10.4 per cent vacancy rate is lower than the Scottish and UK average.