CannyInsights.com

"In Durham, and other similar places around the country, small retailers are winning business by giving shoppers what they want, often involving distinctive and quality products or services, combined with a top-notch customer experience – and, crucially, effective use of online tools to build awareness, engagement and loyalty." Read our article about the positive future for #highstreets on the ROAM Local with us website at https://lnkd.in/dtiqad5.

"As the UK’s high streets evolve, many towns have more vacant premises than they might like – but we know from our work and networks that global brands, national chains and local entrepreneurs are all still out there, searching for the perfect locations for their businesses. "That’s what our Retail Cupid service is for – using our skills, experience and connections to match up empty shops with the businesses that wish to trade there, and helping to curate the kind of place that you want." I've quite often posted about my #RetailCupid work in places like #Durham before, but until now I've been lacking a page on my website that explains how it all works. So, I'm pleased to have created a new page this morning that plugs the gap! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ep_6DpVX In short, I've framed Retail Cupid as a five-stage, circular process that can be summarised as follows: 1. CONNECT - We build connections. 2. ENCOURAGE - We encourage businesses on their journey. 3. MATCHMAKE - We matchmake – and make magic happen! 4. CELEBRATE - We celebrate the success. 5. REPEAT - We keep repeating the process. Do have a read and let me know what you think! #retail #highstreet #highstreets #evolvingnotdying

Some thoughts from me on indoor #markets! 👇 #highstreet #highstreets #retail #evolvingnotdying https://lnkd.in/eknvYJjZ

It was good to head back to the recently opened 3 of Cups café in #Durham's North Road this afternoon! It's remarkable how many visits TikTok is driving, and the way owners Lindsey and Bernie have transformed an old William Hill into a warm and inclusive space is impressive 👌 #highstreet #highstreets #evolvingnotdying

Naslednji mesec bom spet v Sloveniji! Obiskal bom Ljubljano, raziskoval bom še druge kraje, spoznal slovenske prijatelje in seveda poskušal govoriti veliko slovensko. Vrača se tudi #MercatoroftheDay 😀 #slovenia #slovenija #mercatordneva

Those of you with good memories might recollect that I visited #Newcastle's Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books for the first time last June (pictures below), to meet with "Creative Lead in Residence" Richard O'Neill MBE. At the time, I described our meeting, a little cryptically, as a chance "to talk about opportunities for collaboration". Nine months later, you may have spotted on #WorldBookDay yesterday the reveal of what that meeting has led to - the first ever Seven Stories "Two Tales" pop-up, coming soon to Prince Bishops Place in #Durham! You can read all about the pop-up in the press release at https://lnkd.in/ejRjiZmd. It sounds great - according to the news story, "Visitors to the Seven Stories pop-up can look forward to a dynamic environment where books can be explored, discussed and purchased. In addition to an immersive exhibition space, there will be interactive storytelling sessions, and educational workshops designed to engage young minds and support literacy development." The pop-up will add to Durham's growing reputation as a hotspot for booklovers - the city centre now has eight bookshops, four of those new since Covid, including two that I helped get started - and surely complement and contribute to the annual Durham Children's Book Festival, organised by wonderful indie bookshop BookWyrm, which is due to return in August. During my meeting with Richard all those months ago, we talked about how Seven Stories might grow its reach and impact outside of Newcastle, and I suggested the possibility of a Prince Bishops Place pop-up. After the meeting, I did my #RetailCupid introduction by email - connecting Richard and his Seven Stories colleagues with the team at the shopping centre - and then let others work their magic! That's the nature of what I do - I can help light the spark, but it only works because of brilliant partners and stakeholders across the city, including at Durham County Council and Prince Bishops Place, who are just as passionate as I am about making positive and creative things happen. I can't wait to see the pop-up when it opens, and I'm sure it will bring local children and families lots of inspiration and pleasure in the coming months! 📚 #bookshop #museum #popup #highstreet #highstreets #evolvingnotdying

We enjoyed mixing with Slovene celebrities at the British-Slovene Society dinner tonight! It was such a pleasure to enjoy Andrej Šifrer's wonderful live show and to then chat afterwards, and also to spend time in the company of celebrated author Anja Štefan. And Tejo Jehart might not be a famous Slovenian (yet), but we still had an excellent conversation 😊🇸🇮

I'm back in #Durham city centre this afternoon, where it's good to see new signage up on the Card Factory store in the Market Place. The business had traded here for years, but it closed just before Christmas due to some necessary landlord works. Now it will soon be back, with a refurbished interior and the latest corporate fascia! Much of my Durham work is about attracting and supporting independents, but we know that shoppers like a decent range of familiar brands too. So, it's always welcome to see popular retailers like Card Factory retaining and investing in their city centre stores. I wish the shop every success when it soon reopens! #lovedurham #retail #highstreet #highstreets Jack Wright

As you're likely aware by now, in my capacity managing the second and current phase of the Indie #Durham City project on behalf of City of Durham Parish Council, one of my main roles is to act as a #RetailCupid to matchmake potential occupants with available properties in the city centre (of which, happily, there are fewer than at any point since I started my work five years ago!) Those who are looking for retail premises in Durham – whether relocating from an existing unit, or considering the city for the first time – can access free advice from me on what is available and who to contact. With all that in mind, I've published an update on currently available Durham properties at https://lnkd.in/eNcAuVCh. I find that one of the biggest hurdles faced by potential tenants is where to locate relevant information in one place, and this page is hopefully a useful step in overcoming those barriers. My list includes vacant and available units in the city centre, with key details (size, rent, rateable value) taken from agents' publicly available particulars, alongside my original photographs and some comment on the merits and potential of each premises under the “Our thoughts” heading. Importantly, there are other units in Durham that appear vacant, but are not actually available for rent just yet because of ongoing or planned landlord works (often turning underused upper floors into housing). For completeness, the page also lists these units, alongside a note of explanation in each case. Have a read and let me know your thoughts! Needless to say, if you are an independent or multiple business looking to trade in Durham, feel free to drop me a message, or equally get in touch if the Retail Cupid services are something that may be of value in your own town, city or shopping centre 💘 #retail #highstreet #highstreets #evolvingnotdying #commercialproperty

March 2025 Retail Cupid update: current retail property to let in Durham city centre