Traders launch marketing offensive

A meeting of Welshpool businesses on Monday night painted a bleak picture with start-of-year trade down, particularly over the normally bustling half-term period.

 

The Welshpool Business Forum welcomed its best attendance since forming to discuss the current issues affecting business and it was decided that serious collective action was required or many would continue to struggle in the current financial climate.

 

Town Clerk Robert Robinson confirmed: “Shopping trends were discussed and it was confirmed that trade generally has been poor with the half term week not being good. However, it was accepted that this is not just a Welshpool issue but all over Mid Wales and the West Midlands.”

 

The Forum identified that the high rates and the relief that charity shops receive was a major issue but, more importantly, decided that more marketing efforts were required to attract people into the town centre, particularly the young.

 

To promote the town centre, the www.welshpool.org web site will be redeveloped and a marketing booklet produced. It was also decided to take a leaf out of Newtown’s book by starting a Welshpool Melting Pot Facebook Group.

 

The Town Council revealed through mywelshpool yesterday (Monday) that state-of-the-art screens will be positioned outside Tesco and the Tourist Information Centre to promote the town centre and signage will be placed to direct shoppers from Tesco to the Town Centre.

Meanwhile, Mr Robinson predicted that most of the empty units on Broad Street will be full by the summer and even re-ignited hope that the much-heralded Phase Two of the Tesco development is not dead and buried.

 

“I am told by the developers that discussions are ongoing with major retailers and there is every hope that they will be built and occupied in time for Christmas,” said Mr Robinson who added that the Monday Street Market would be operational by Easter.

 

“There is also a lot of interest in the empty shops on Broad Street. I have been told that the old Owens and Chinese Restaurant properties could well become one shop. An estate agent, I am told, is moving into the ‘Wrac’ charity space.”

 

Over the weekend mywelshpool was contacted by happy shoppers who were told by staff at Peacocks in Oswestry that the chain would be opening in the town. However, Peacocks has not yet commented on the claims.