New identities for district centres
Many district centres in inner urban areas are in decline because their poor shopping environment cannot compete effectively with superstores, retail parks and modernised town centres. Their inexpensive premises, however, allow opportunities for innovative businesses as well as non-profit-making community and arts facilities. This paper examines whether Clifton Street, one of Cardiff's oldest district centres, can be successfully ‘branded’ as a specialist shopping, service and entertainment destination, while retaining its ‘basket shopping’ function for local residents and workers. Evidence is derived from surveys of traders and landowners, a planning consultants’ study, and interviews with local community interests and potential funders of environmental improvements to the centre. The conclusions are that public sector intervention and finance are essential for the centre's revival, but that there is little case at present for developing a marketing strategy and ‘brand’ for the centre.
Determinants of Shopping Behavior of Urban Consumers
ABSTRACT This study explores the influence of geodemographic settings of commercial centers, customer attractions in shopping malls, and route to shopping of urban shoppers. The present research analyzes retailing patterns in urban areas in reference to customer orientation strategies, product search behavior, and enhancing value for customers. Interrelationship among urban retailing, marketplace ambiance, conventional shopping wisdom of customers, long-term customer services, and technology-led selling processes are also addressed in the study based on an empirical survey. Broadly, this study makes contributions to the existing research in urban retailing about shopping attractions, routes to shopping, and establishing customer-centric strategies.
Regenerating Town Centres
What are town centres? the retail revolution choking to death offices from boom to bust? the deterioration of the public realm who shapes town centres? public policy - for better, for worse? regenerating town centres.