Cardiff Rises to 6th in Retail Centre Rankings

Cardiff has moved up from 10th to 6th position in the UK’s Retail Centre Rankings in the latest report published by the Experian. Exceeding expectations, the capital has moved ahead of Edinburgh, Leeds and Bristol – cities with much larger populations than Cardiff. The report also projects that Cardiff will be the 5th most popular retail centre in the UK by 2014, overtaking Liverpool.

Hywel Thomas a spokesperson for Cardiff & Co said, “This is excellent news for Cardiff and reflects the strength and diversity of Cardiff’s retail offer since the St David’s Dewi Sant opened just over a month ago. The difference in Cardiff’s city centre is plain for all to see, as is the increase in the number of shoppers coming into the city from outside the city-region and across the Severn Bridge.”

David Hughes-Lewis from the Cardiff Retail Partnership said, “I’m not at all surprised that Cardiff has risen to sixth position in Experian’s Retail Rankings. The city has a polished look about it and the Hayes is back to where it was twenty-five years ago, and better, than when I first started trading in the city. Footfall is up and there’s a great atmosphere in the city centre.”

With the opening of Fenchurch - the youth urban brand’s shop in Cardiff today, the city is to star in their advertising campaign featuring iconic shots of the city. Marketing director Amy Wigg said Cardiff had been chosen because “it’s a creative, bubbly hub, but without the pretension of London”.

The six images will be used in print titles and on billboards across the UK, in store and on the company’s website, which is used by customers all over the world, over the next six months.

Henry Enos , a consumer psychologist at the University of Glamorgan in Treforest, said the decision by the London-based brand was “fascinating” and elevates Cardiff to a position at the forefront of youth culture, similar to what happened to Manchester back in the 1990s thanks to the clothing styles worn by Mancunian bands Oasis and Stone Roses.

“They realise these images of Cardiff are going to add and not detract from their brand. Wales is rising within the cultural whirlpool and is punching above its weight,” he said. “The decision to dump London icons for ones in Cardiff shows the brand is forward thinking and when the campaign goes national, it will further boost Cardiff.”

Cardiff city centre manager Paul Williams said: “This is exciting news for the city. It clearly underlines the importance of Cardiff to Fenchurch and through this ad campaign it will project this ultimate destination to its stores across the country and Europe.

“The Fenchurch brand represents young urban fashion and is a most welcome addition to the portfolio of brands now opening in St David’s.

“The profile of the company supports the continuing development of the city centre in bringing new brand names that are not only new to the city, but to Wales, and therefore enabling Cardiff to be the first-choice destination for the widest possible customer audience.”
He added: “The combination of fashion and a location such as Cardiff is a powerful statement and one that is most welcome.”

1/12/2009

Back to news list

Investor Members

Corporate Champions