Independent Study: Guildhall is Third Best Shopping Centre in West Midlands

Online, June 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - INDEPENDENT STUDY: GUILDHALL IS THIRD BEST SHOPPING CENTRE IN WEST MIDLANDS

Stafford's largest shopping attraction has risen five places in an independent index of shopping centres, after increasing revenue by almost 20% through the recession.

The Guildhall Shopping Centre is now third in the list of major shopping centres, put together by international retail data specialists CACI, after adding another £40m to the £240m customer spend recorded in 2008-09.

The study ranked the Guildhall alongside other 'Major Centres' in Burton-on-Trent and Leamington Spa, while Birmingham and the Merry Hill Shopping Centre, Dudley were in a separate 'Primary Centres' section.

But even taking into account those primary centres, the Guildhall's strong recent performance means it is ranked 9th overall.

Bosses believe this provides further evidence that Stafford shoppers want to help local retailers, as shown by the success of the Enjoy Stafford initiative - over 20000 have joined up to the Shop Local scheme since its launch in May 2009.

The centre's Marketing and Promotions Manager Anne Graham said: "Stafford has maintained its position as a major retail centre and gone from strength to strength, despite the recession.

"We are now only behind centres in Burton-on-Trent and Leamington Spa on the Retail Footprint list.

"We believe this is down to the efforts we have made to attract more visitors to the centre, and an increasing willingness from local shoppers to spend with retailers from the town."

The number one shopping centre overall is London's West End, which had a consumer spend of £3.1bn in 2009-10, ahead of Glasgow in second and Birmingham third.

Further information is available at www.caci.co.uk and www.guildhallstafford.com.

Media enquiries should be directed to Richard Swancott Associates on 01782 472035/07880 733138, or [email protected].

Ends