Looking back at 100 blog posts - part 1 - The High Street

As I look back at the blog, and the 100 posts that have come before, I will take the next five blog entries to look at the themes that have emerged during my time writing this.

One of the main motivations for writing this blog was the decline in the UK High Street, and what could be done about it. Although the blog hasn't focused on that completely, I have returned to that subject time and time again. I think that some of my blogs have been about comparisons, some have been moans and some have been looking at ways of stimulating the High Street again - not to it's former glory, but to a modern-day vibrant place to shop, eat, park and spend leisure time.

I looked in an early blog about how to make the most of the customers you have through your door when on the High Street. The key to your customers that are against the clock is speed of service. On the High Street, as a pose to those shoppers at out of town retailers, there is the pressure of time. This typically comes from parking charges and the fact that a lot of your customers will be on their lunch break. The blog below looks at preparing for this and being ready.

http://mytimeinretail.blogspot.com/2014/02/speed-of-service-is-key-for-most-high.html

I have tried to tread a fine line on this blog between protecting the High Street, but not at all costs. I think that retail has to adapt to it's surroundings and move with the times. Modern retailing has embraced the online offering, often matching it with the ability to Click and Collect. In this blog, I looked at the modern High Street embracing the advantages technology could offer.

http://mytimeinretail.blogspot.com/2015/01/you-can-have-online-offering-and-not.html

And I wondered in the blog below if there is a major retailer that would take up the plight of the High Street and become a true champion. I think that a big retailer should look after the smaller independent retailers around it. A vibrant High Street or town centre is a benefit for all who live near, shop there and have an outlet there.

http://mytimeinretail.blogspot.com/2014/05/is-it-time-for-major-retailer-to.html

After a visit to Italy, I briefly looked at the differences between the two shopping cultures and the two shopping areas created and used by us and the Italians-

http://mytimeinretail.blogspot.com/2014/02/comparisons-of-uk-high-street-to-that.html

NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE BOUGHT ON THE HIGH STREET

Comparisons of UK High Street to that of Italy

On a recent visit to Italy, I decided to look at the similarities and differences between the High Streets in Italy and those in the UK.  The High Streets I encountered in Italy were generally more vibrant, with a higher occupancy rate than those I have encountered recently in the UK.

There is more of a focus on the trades in Italy and no High Street is complete without a butcher, greengrocer, fishmonger, cobbler or baker.

Some or all of these have been rolled into one supermarket in many UK High Streets.

This isn't to say that supermarkets are necessarily a bad thing in a High Street shopping area, but that a competitor that provides some expert knowledge and a high level of customer service would be beneficial.

We have seen more of a café culture like our European cousins over recent years, but the difference is marked.  UK High Streets have mimicked the US with large chains tending to dominate, whereas in Europe the trend is for local, independent cafés.

Planning offices need to prioritise the types of business they want to occupy their town centres. When economic times are tough, it is easy to accept whatever business that comes along.

Perhaps a forward-thinking council would get together with local landlords and advertisers to request certain tenants or sectors that they would like to enhance their town centre. That would be a proactive move.

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