£60m facelift provides retail wonderland
THE £60million transformation of Sheffield’s giant Meadowhall Complex has given its 300 retailers and 50 restaurants a huge boost – and an experience for customers that cannot be matched online, bosses say.
Centre manager Darren Pearce said: “We are committed to giving our guests the best possible experience. We have 34 new brands joining our fold this year and record footfall numbers in recent months.
“It is our role to evolve and continually provide shoppers an experience they simply can’t achieve through their laptop or mobile device.”
Newcastle’s Metrocentre is hoping that its policy of catering for all sections of society will boost trade and enhance lives.
Operations director Gordon McKinnon said: “A key part of what we’re doing this year will be to help families who might find a visit to a shopping centre trickier than most.
“There are autism hours every month, when we dim the lights, turn down the music and reduce other noise, to create more welcoming spaces.
“For Christmas we’ve introduced ‘relaxed Santa’ experiences every Sunday to support families who might not have been able to enjoy a visit to a grotto before.”
Families can also download a specially-designed “Santa Pass” to give staff advance information about children’s individual needs and anxieties before they visit.
The White Rose Centre in Leeds is focusing on events to drive festive trade.
General manager Steven Foster said: “Many of our visitors are young families.
“We’ve arranged a familyfocused calendar which includes our festive Yorkshire market, offering Yorkshire pudding wraps, mulled drinks, and locally-sourced gifts, and a festive grotto open until Christmas Eve.”