Rise in new stores bucks retail gloom

Discount shops benefit amid tough conditions
OLDHAM is bucking the national trend after seeing an increase in town centre store openings, according to new figures.

Between January, 2010, and May, 2011, a total of 22 stores shut in Oldham town centre, but 28 businesses opened their doors to customers, an overall increase of six.

Figures from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Local Data Company show that in town centres across the region, Lancaster fared the worst with a loss of 13 stores in total, closely followed by Rochdale with 10. Nationally, UK retailers closed 20 stores a day on average in 2011.

Clothes, shoe shops, jewellers and bookshops are struggling the most but there has been a growth in charity shops and pet shops, supermarkets and convenience stores.

Retailers such as Pound Bakery, Greggs, Costa, and Cash Converters, which all have shops in Oldham town centre, have reported business growth.

Best performing town centre was Manchester with 61 extra stores, and then Chester with 30.

And the North-West was joint second with the East Midlands as the best performing region.

Tough economic conditions have seen Oldham town centre lose the HMV store, with JJB Sports closing its Oldham shop and a cloud of uncertaintyover the future of TJ Hughes.

But town centre manager Sarah Hewitt said Oldham is holding its own amid difficult trading conditions coupled with disruption caused by the arrival of Metrolink.

She said: “There are low vacancy rates in the town centre and we have seen the rise of independent traders.

“Muso’s, in Yorkshire Street, is a great example.

“It is run by local people and it is adding something new to the town centre.

“As well as the independents, discount stores are doing well.

“We’ve got a 9,000-strong student population with disposable cash, and we’ve seen increased footfall to the indoor market.

“And there are lots of events such as the car rally at the weekend and the recent Halfords tour that are bringing people in.”

She added: “We’re in the midst of a tough period and to be holding our own is great.

“But we are by no means resting on our laurels and we will be launching our town-centre investment strategy in the autumn and actively pursuing traders to come to the town centre.”