Crossgates bucks the trend!
Posted on: Fri 4th May 2012 at 09:35
With the country slipping back into recession last week, East-Leeds’ Crossgates Shopping Centre is bucking the trend, with three retailers receiving performance awards and two others surviving company-wide cutbacks.
The shopping centre, celebrating its 45th birthday later this year, has proven itself to be a shining light in the current economic climate with many retailers out performing other stores in the region and across the county. Wilkinson recently won an award for achieving sales targets, whilst Carphone Warehouse and Max Spielmann received customer service awards. Add to this, Bonmarche and Peacock’s are both open and trading as usual after surviving nationwide store closures. The two fashion retailers are delighted to still be in the Crossgates Shopping Centre and are determined to keep it that way.
Whilst Gamestation was unfortunately recently closed, this has led to increased sales for the centre’s other game retailers, Grainger Games and Blockbusters. This is not the only increase that Blockbusters has seen following the Gamestation closure, with two Gamestation staff finding their next job at the store in the centre.
At the hub of the East Leeds community, the shopping centre has an annual programme of events and special promotions that have helped maintain high levels of footfall. The events have been designed to offer local people something extra when shopping at the centre and have included something to suit everyone, with fashion days, visits from the Royal Marines Association, charity events and ‘Kids Get Creative’ craft days.
Centre Manager Dave Coulthard commented “We are delighted to see our tenants being rewarded for their recent success and have seen high levels of footfall in the centre. Our car park usage is up and there is a real buzz around the centre despite the current nationwide financial situation”.
Dave Coulthard has also seen his performance recognised, moving from Acting Centre Manager to Centre Manager.
