CannyInsights.com

A large part of my Indie Durham City work in #Durham is being a #RetailCupid 💘, where I use my experience and connections to proactively match up available premises with (mostly independent) businesses that are looking to trade in the city. There are several such success stories to date - including the tasting menu restaurant Coarse, its follow-up brunch venue Isla, wine bar Crush, and indie bookshop Collected - where my introductions to landlords or agents have helped fantastic businesses on their journeys! The latest success is a bit different, but no less satisfying! I was recently introduced to Michelle Hill from Brilliant Auctions Ltd, which operates from the North East BIC in Sunderland. To date, its auctions have been held online via the easyliveAuction platform, and Michelle was keen to find a bookable space in Durham city centre that could be used to host live auctions in the future, as well as valuation afternoons where people could bring their items in, Antiques Roadshow style. Paul Howard from Durham BID thought that local entrepreneur Matty Booth - who runs Northern Stores & Deli and Café at the Quarter, both in Prince Bishops Place - might be able to help, which seemed like a great call. So, I met Michelle for coffee in Sunderland to understand more about Brilliant Auctions and her requirements in Durham, and we discussed a range of options, including Matty's spaces. I duly introduced Michelle and Matty to each other, and hey presto - the first Brilliant Auctions valuation day is now taking place from 11am to 3pm on Tuesday 12 November, upstairs at Café at the Quarter! Anyone with small items - or photographs of large items - is welcome to bring them along on the day for a free valuation. Valuations will be made by Seppe Anthony, who has worked in the antiques trade for over 30 years and has a wealth of experience in buying and selling all things old, vintage and interesting. Aside from general items such as ornaments and furniture, Brilliant Auctions has experience selling cameras and photographic equipment, coins, vinyl, Lego, comics and other curios that are not yet considered 'antique', and the team will be on hand to assist with the valuation of a variety of different items. As Michelle has commented, "We’re so excited about our first valuation day - we started out as an online auction house so this will give us a great opportunity to welcome customers in person and explain the process to any auction newbies." I'm sure Michelle, Seppe and Matty will enjoy a successful day, and I hope it will be the start of a productive relationship! As we see time and time again, the power of local knowledge and connections is invaluable not just in terms of filling vacant premises, but also in helping to bring interesting businesses and events to our #highstreets. My Cupid arrows are always on hand for the next opportunities to do some retail matchmaking, whether in Durham or elsewhere! 🏹 #highstreet #evolvingnotdying

There's some comment from me in this interesting and nostalgic Chronicle article about #Newcastle's Eldon Garden by David Morton. Why has it never really been successful as a shopping centre, and what might its future look like under new ownership? 👇 https://lnkd.in/exaigWMf #retail #highstreet #highstreets #shoppingcentres

Thank you to joint venture partner Jonathan Cooper for giving me a preview tour of the new Sostrene Grene store at Eldon Square in #Newcastle - the Danish retailer's first North East shop - which opens to the public at 10am tomorrow (Friday 30 August). If you've seen previous posts by me, you'll know that Søstrene Grene - with instore storytelling built around the fictional sisters Anna and Clara - is opening some of the most beautiful shops on British high streets just now, truly making a virtue of bricks and mortar spaces. Newcastle is a fairly typical Søstrene Grene store in terms of size and layout, which usually requires about 3,000 sq ft of sales area and 2,000 sq ft of storage. This one is the ex-Lakeland, and the square space lends itself to the snake-like circuit beloved of Scandi brands! Søstrene Grene is often referred to as a homeware shop, though that doesn't really do justice to the breadth of its range. Think posh Flying Tiger, or Scandi Muji. Indeed, the products are not only delightful, but impressive value too. Handwritten price labels are a pleasing detail. In the Newcastle shop, the clockwise circuit moves from kitchenware to tea, packaging, candles, hobbies and art, stationery, interiors, accessories, children, and food and sweets, with the local team given opportunity to create fun and eye-catching merchandising touches. Though some ranges and products are Søstrene Grene staples, many other items that come in are one offs that won't necessarily be in stock again. This sense of constant newness - reflected in the fortnightly window changes too - helps drive sales and encourage repeat visits. Eight years after opening its first UK store in Nottingham, Søstrene Grene is now really seizing the opportunities afforded by its growing brand recognition among UK shoppers, good availability of suitable sites, and - unsurprisingly - shopping centres wanting it to open there. I wish the Newcastle store well - it is a lovely shop in a busy location, and will surely be a success - and am hopeful that other #NorthEast stores may follow in time. I have already made the case to Jonathan for Durham, Sunderland, Darlington and Metrocentre! As ever, my work is about facilitating and celebrating diverse new arrivals on UK high streets - whether local or global, retail or hospitality - and, just now, there is barely a better example than Søstrene Grene to illustrate that the British high street is indeed *not* dead. #retail #highstreet #highstreets #evolvingnotdying Matt Illingworth / Mette Vestergaard Jacobsen / Richard Power / Mikkel Vaupell Grene / Bjørn Bach Eriksen