List of shop openings in April anyone…? #HighStreetPositives

This Thursday, 10am–12pm, I’m joining HighStreetPositives’ Join the Dots webinar with voices from across retail, independent business, hospitality, property, heritage and town centres. We’ll explore investment, opportunities and challenges shaping our high streets. Join us: buff.ly/G7i8uON

If you want a little ladle of loveliness about all things #HighStreet this newsletter is well worth signing up for highstreetpositives.beehiiv.com/p/highstreet...

This Thursday, 10am–12pm, I’m joining HighStreetPositives’ Join the Dots webinar with voices from across retail, independent business, hospitality, property, heritage and town centres. We’ll explore investment, opportunities and challenges shaping our high streets. Join us: buff.ly/G7i8uON

I'm glad you posted these remarks to save me having to do so, Leigh! The HIghStreetPositives campaign also has survey data showing that when you bombard people with negative "high street" headlines - even when unjustified - it helps create the very problem you are supposedly trying to mitigate.

Early contender for the highstreetpositives.com thread of the year award!

Maybe go #HighStreetPositives as @grahamsoult.bsky.social suggests: “Retail is a major employer with determined, resilient, innovative people at every level. It’s doing great stuff in challenging times and could make an even bigger contribution to your growth target given supportive policy & regs…?”

#HighStreetPositives research shows:
➡️ Positive news strongly links to likely visits
➡️ Investment follows public sentiment

So credit to @kentonline.co.uk for showcasing some #Ashford businesses.
Articles like these help close the perception gap, bring footfall and investment.
#HighStreets #UKPress

It’s January. But we’ve just sent a 100th positive #highstreet story this month to the #HighStreetPositives campaign incl brand #retail or #hospitality openings; online-only traders launching bricks & mortar; new indies; agent requirement lists; upbeat trading reports. It’s challenging still, but… 🤷🏼‍♂️

Good balanced reporting from @kentcurrent.news on a subject that too often attracts easy answers, nostalgia and criticism. A thoughtful look at how Kent's town centres are evolving:
www.kentcurrent.news/kents-town-c...

#HighStreets #TownCentre #Regeneration #Placemaking #HighStreetPositives

It was great to see the (re)launch of Made In Ashford, the local craft and creative shop which supports many local artists. Another positive story for Ashford and high streets in general

#Ashford #MadeInAshford #HighStreet #Creatives #Artists #HighStreetPositives #ShopLocal #Retail #NewShop

Proud of the team for relaunching the #Ashford #TownCentre #Grants.
Some great outcomes so far and more good news to follow soon.

Find out more: www.ashford.gov.uk/news/latest-...

#business #HighStreet #EmptyShop #Retail #Leisure #shopping #HighStreetPositives #funding #BusinessNews #LoveAshford

Isn’t there a concern - as the #HighStreetPositives survey showed - that negativity has a real impact on footfall, dwell-time and so investment / letting decisions…?
Worse could you argue that the ‘death of…’ narrative landed us with policy changes that weren’t what was needed, in fact the opposite…

There are so many positives out there too and - like those you’ve highlighted - really good people working hard to make their places better.

There’s also the #HighStreetPositives survey that shows why positivity works by encouraging a real footfall / dwell-time impact.

Hope that all makes sense 🤞