Welcome to the April HighStreetPositives Newsletter!

Welcome to this months newsletter, and a huge thank you for reading this edition and to everyone who’s shared their stories, case studies, feedback, and messages. Your support has been incredible, and it’s lovely to see so many people passionate about making a difference to our high streets.

We’re also incredibly excited and grateful for the support we’ve received from our four Founding Supporters. Their backing has helped get HighStreetPositives off the ground and ensures we can continue to grow this movement and to balance the negative narrative with all the positive news happening around the UK and Ireland (without dismissing the challenges).

A special thank you to these founding supporters:

Kesslers London – With 130 years of experience creating compelling in-store experiences, Kesslers London help brands bring retail spaces to life and champions vibrant high streets.

Treasure Map Trails - Their fun, interactive treasure maps are bringing families out to explore and engage with their local high streets in a whole new way.

Enterprise Nation - A perfect fit for our mission, Enterprise Nation has been supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs for nearly 20 years.

The Mosaic Partnership - Place management experts, helping to bring businesses, councils, and communities together to strengthen high streets across the country.

In addition to the brilliant support from our founding supporters, we're also excited to be building new collaborations to help champion the high street even further:

Completely Retail Marketplace - We’re proud to be a media partner for their Spring Retail Property Event tomorrow, 29th April, at Old Billingsgate Market - a brilliant day of talks, Soapbox sessions, networking, and fresh thinking about the future of retail and town centres.

Bira (British Independent Retailers Association) - I'm thrilled to be writing a regular column for Bira to shine a spotlight on the vital role of independent retailers, celebrate their work, and highlight just how important they are to the success of our high streets.

And a quick extra update...

HighStreetPositives Membership Community – We’ve just launched our very own membership community for anyone passionate about making a difference! More info below if you’d like to get involved.

‘The High Street is Dying’ They said…However…

There are loads of positive news stories from high streets across the UK. Here's a selection of highlights , celebrating new store openings, regeneration projects, and other positive developments. Thank you so much for all your contributions.

• Matalan, with over 220 stores, has secured £25 million in funding to support growth- including 10 new store openings this year - and is actively seeking new retail destinations.

• Tossed, the healthy eating brand with 13 London stores, has signed its first franchise deal with Goldbean, aiming to expand to 50 UK sites in four years and become the country’s leading healthy food chain.

• Ipswich Borough Council has acquired the iconic former Grimwades building, empty since 2012, with refurbishment starting this May -an exciting step forward for town centre regeneration and new occupiers to follow.

• Luxury brands continue to invest in physical retail, with Wongs expanding into Manchester and Audemars Piguet opening lavish AP Houses in London and Manchester.

• Designer cafés are booming, with fashion brands like Dior and Prada turning coffee culture into a new slice of the luxury experience.

• Mowchi will open a beautifully designed new café on Canterbury High Street this summer, combining Asian fusion, coffee culture and calm interiors-plus franchise opportunities now open.

• Monaghan County Council, in the Republic of Ireland, has received approval for a multi-million-euro regeneration project to transform Dublin Street's backland areas in the county town, aiming to create a vibrant, sustainable urban quarter that will drive economic, community, and cultural growth.

• Burger Boi is growing fast across the UK, with strong F&B partnerships, record-breaking sales in Luton, and franchise opportunities available, adding energy and fresh flavours to high streets.

• Barnsley town centre is forecast to hit 7.7 million visitors in 2024/25, up 10%, thanks to the £220m Glass Works regeneration-showing how investment in shopping, dining, and culture drives real footfall.

• Thule Group has opened two new UK stores in Covent Garden and Kingston, marking a significant step in their retail expansion. These stores offer outdoor gear, from bike racks to strollers, with expert advice and free installation services.

• Blackpool is undergoing a £2bn regeneration with major projects like the £350m Talbot Gateway business district, the £65m Multiversity campus, the £21m Houndshill shopping centre expansion, and a £30m Winter Gardens conference centre-transforming the town centre and creating new opportunities for retail, business, and tourism.

• Steven Christopher Design, specialists in premium bathrooms, kitchens, and interiors, will open a stunning 4,500 sq ft showroom in Beeston, Nottingham, this year - following a year-long conversion of a historic former bank, bringing high-end interiors back to a beautiful high street building.

• National Stationery Week takes place from 12-18 May 2025 and celebrates all things stationery, highlighting the importance of stationery shops, especially independent retailers. It provides a valuable marketing opportunity for businesses while encouraging consumers to explore and support local high street stores

• Award-winning comedy venue The Glee has opened a new 400-capacity location on Albion Street, Leeds. Known for hosting top comedians and musicians, it will feature a mix of comedy, live music, and entertainment. The opening weekend was a sell-out success, with acts like Tom Davis and Dylan Moran

• Boyes, the family-owned department store chain, has expanded to 81 locations with recent openings in King's Lynn (April 25) and Market Drayton (March), both in former Wilko stores. Offering a range of everyday essentials, seasonal goods, and home products, Boyes plans to open a new store in Doncaster’s Frenchgate Centre in July 2025.

• Redditch town centre came alive this April with a record-breaking Easter event, thanks to Kingfisher Shopping Centre, Redditch BID, and Ice and Light Events. Over 1,600 children enjoyed a mix of indoor adventure and town-wide fun. With 89% of shoppers rating the event 5/5, it was a huge success for the community.

• House of Brocante, a charming antique shop in Hinckley, recently opened its doors, offering beautifully curated European antiques and bespoke painting commissions in a welcoming countryside setting.

Why HighStreetPositives Exists - Is the Media Killing the High Street?

Last year, in partnership with Find Out Now, we ran one of the biggest ever UK surveys on the high street - with over 54,000 responses! And the results are loud and clear…. Perception matters. A lot.

• 65% of people who see the media as negative think the high street is not worth visiting

• 85% of people who see the media as positive think the high street is worth visiting

That’s a huge gap - and it shows just how powerful the media narrative is in shaping behaviour.

Yes, we know there are real challenges on the high street. Some places are struggling more than others, while others are adapting and thriving.

BUT if all we ever talk about is decline, closures, and empty shops, we risk creating a vicious cycle:

Negative headlines → fewer visitors → less investment → more decline.

Instead, by shifting the focus to the potential, resilience, and successes of our high streets, we can break that cycle:

More positive stories → more footfall → more investment → more innovation → stronger high streets.

By shifting the conversation towards potential, resilience, and success- while still acknowledging the challenges- we can transform our high streets into vibrant, welcoming community hubs. This is why HighStreetPositives exists, and why we believe the way we talk about our high streets will help shape their future.

About Find Out Now
Find Out Now is a polling and market research panel with 2.8 million members. Highly profiled respondents can be targeted instantly, with over 100,000 daily responses allowing the delivery of same-day nationally representative sampling. Find Out Now are members of the British Polling Council and Market Research Society, and abide by their rules.

Reimagining Charity Shops: A New Role for High Streets in the Sustainability Era

Charity shops have long been a staple on high streets, but their role is evolving as sustainability takes centre stage. The rise of second-hand shopping is not only boosting charity shops but also driving businesses like Lucy & Yak, On Rotation, and Vinted to thrive. With younger generations like Gen Z and Alpha embracing second-hand fashion, these shops are increasingly seen as key players in promoting sustainable shopping. No longer just bargain destinations, second-hand stores - both charitable and for-profit- are becoming central contributors to the high street's future.

Charity shops are increasingly embracing niche markets to better serve their communities and promote sustainability. For example, Love Oliver and Overgate Hospice focus solely on children’s clothing, while St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield features a fantastic GenZ store in the city centre. The Local Community Shop in Lochgilphead and ReStore in Oban offer repair workshops and upcycling events, encouraging sustainability and creativity. These examples, provided by the Charity Retail Consultancy, demonstrate how charity shops are evolving into destination spots with unique offerings tailored to specific audiences and needs.

Charity shops also excel in community engagement. By collaborating with local groups such as schools, hospitals, and interest-based organisations, charity shops create spaces where people feel connected to a cause. Volunteers become passionate advocates, and customers are invested in making a difference. This sense of belonging and purpose is what makes charity shops feel more like inclusive, vibrant, and welcoming community hubs.

The high street could take note of this approach. By adopting a collaborative, community-driven model, retailers -from chain stores to independent businesses- could engage locals, turning them into brand ambassadors who feel like they are making a tangible difference. High streets can become more than just places to shop; they can evolve into inclusive spaces where communities come together to create positive change.

Join the NEW HighStreetPositives Membership Community

We’ve just launched HighStreetPositives membership, and we’d love for you to join this growing community! For just £10/month (£100/year for early members), you’ll be part of a network of passionate people working together to make our high streets more dynamic, fun, welcoming, and useful for everyone. You’ll gain early access to research, case studies, and success stories, as well as be the first to hear about upcoming events. Plus, you'll connect and network with others who are equally passionate about improving the high street from all perspectives.

Our mission is to highlight the great things happening on the high street, drive press exposure, and create spaces that reduce loneliness, support safety for older generations, and foster a sense of belonging for everyone.

By sharing your experiences and insights, you’ll help change the narrative around high streets, making them places we all want to be in. Together, we can build high streets that work for everyone!

Join today: https://highstreetpositives.com/membership-options/

If cost is a barrier, please get in touch with me at: [email protected]!

🌸 Completely Retail Marketplace – Spring Event 2025

We’re proud to be an official partner of the UK’s largest retail property event, taking place tomorrow, 29th April, at Old Billingsgate Market, London!

🚀 Meet 1,900+ retailers, landlords, agents, developers, and more — all in one place
🎤 Talks, Soapbox sessions, networking, and business meetings throughout the day
🌐 Full event info here: www.crmarketplace.com

Special offer: We’ve secured an exclusive 10% discount for our contacts! Use code HSP10 when registering here or contact Gabrielle Darné at [email protected].
(Retailers can also apply for a complimentary ticket!)

Thank you for reading this edition of the HighStreetPositives Monthly newsletter!

• Please follow HighStreetPositives on LinkedIn and on Instagram

• Check out our new webpage - highstreetpositives.com

• Share and recommend us to others who might be interested.

• And finally, if you have any news, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at [email protected].

Thank you so much!! 💕