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ST DAVID’S FOOTFALL TOPS FIVE MILLION IN DECEMBER

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Visitor numbers at St David’s reached record levels for the month of December.

Footfall reached 5.2 million for the entire month in the shopping centre which is a 71 percent increase from 2008 figures. Meanwhile, spend within St David’s for December was 60 percent higher compared to the previous year.

The positive figures are also replicated across Cardiff with city centre management reporting that December saw a 56% rise in footfall.

Steven Madeley, centre director for St David’s, said: “Before the launch of St David’s, we had high expectations of what we hoped it would achieve not only for the shopping centre, but for Cardiff as a destination as a whole and the results so far have been outstanding.

“By providing more quality retail space in Cardiff we knew that more people would come through our doors and we are delighted at how many more shoppers are visiting us. To have welcomed 5.2 million shoppers through our doors in December is fantastic and the increase in spend of 60 percent shows that this is also converting into sales.

“We believe that these figures along with the feedback about how successful trading has been in the shopping centre’s first three months is evidence of the whole new shopping experience that St David’s has brought to the city.”

St David’s has introduced late night shopping throughout the week to Cardiff with stores open until 8pm. Hours were extended even further until 10pm on weeknights in the run up to Christmas.

Mr Madeley continued: “Late night shopping worked really well for St David’s in December with stores reporting good sales and feeling that it was as busy at 7 or 8 o’clock at night as it was in the middle of the day.

“Opening when St David’s did was a great time to introduce late night shopping as there is lots of Christmas shopping to do and when many people are working all day they chose to come shopping once they had finished work.

“The new car park has also been popular in the city and in December was 80 percent full. There have been lots of concerts and shows on in the CIA and St David’s Hall throughout December and people have embraced the fact that they can park, shop, eat and then go to a show or the cinema. They are recognising that Cardiff as a city is a destination with an enviable offering.”

St David’s has so far welcomed more than 80 new stores since it launched on October 22 with more to come in the New Year. New stores set to open between now and Spring include top fashion brands Hollister, Reiss, restaurants Bellini’s Express and Carluccio’s and childrenswear store Mothercare. Other new stores set to open are Bose, Lambretta and Wheels of Sport.

Mr Madeley said: “The busy Christmas period doesn’t end for retailers until mid January. Last year, retail was feeling the brunt of the recession and as a result many retailers went to sale early. This time round, retailers chose to go to sale closer to Christmas this year and this is testament to the strength of retail this year.

“Looking forward into 2010, there is no reason for us to believe that we can’t maintain these increases in footfall and we hope to perform even better. We are looking to see up to half a million customers a week as we continue trading, opening new stores and enhancing the retail offering in Cardiff.”

David Hughes-Lewis, chair of the Cardiff Retail Partnership, said: “Cardiff as a whole has been busier since St David's opened and you can see that with more people in the streets and in the shops.

“You hear a number of customers in Cardiff with English accents with people from across the Severn Bridge in the South West which is wonderful.
 
“The Hayes is as busy as it used to be years ago when both the David Morgan and Howells department stores dominated. The difference now is unbelievable and you've got to thank St David’s and John Lewis for that.
 
“Initially I think it was the novelty of seeing Cardiff's new shopping centre which attracted people but the experience they have had is so good that they have come back and will continue to do so. There has been no sign of the recession in Cardiff, people have been spending, spending and spending.”