Shops and retail
For centuries, town centres have been a place for selling things. As online and out-of-town shopping have made inroads into town centres’ retailing role, many towns have developed new ways of encouraging and supporting businesses to sell things, recognising that town centres still have a role. This section contains some examples.
If you’re interested in improvements to shopfronts and business premises, check out the Buildings and Property section.
Scotland Loves Local
Scotland Loves Local is the campaign putting localism at the heart of a stronger, greener, fairer Scotland. It is a galvanising force for good, bringing the businesses, community organisations, politicians and the public to collaboratively create better places in which to live, work and visit. The foundations of true economic and environmental sustainability lie in our local communities.
Developed by Scotland's Towns Partnership with support from Scottish Government and a range of partners, the website is home to the Scotland Loves Local campaign – by encouraging people to Choose Local, the campaign represents the beating heart of positive change – responding to the cost of living crisis, the climate emergency, long-term coronavirus recovery and building a better future.is a great resource.
See how Scotland Loves Local supported Living Lerwick BID with funding provided by Scotland Loves Local via the Scottish Government, post Covid-19.
The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is a major element of Scotland Loves Local. It launched in 2021 and is so much more than a Gift Card. It is a commitment to your community and a tangible way to inject money into your local area. Find out more and sign up here.
High Street enterprise hubs: Paisley InCube
Paisley InCube was Paisley’s business incubator and retail academy, with a focus on the local creative sector. It also acted as Renfrewshire’s hub for start-up, self-employment and enterprise. Its presence in the town centre was two-fold.
InCube Shop on Gilmour Street supported local designers and unemployed people, selling products which had been created by designers, makers and artists who had completed InCube’s Start-up Street business incubator programme. There was no cost to the designers. The range of goods available changed regularly. This included jewellery, home accessories, scarves, hats, childrenswear, original art and more! The shop also operated as a retail academy, offering guest trading slots for local creative designers or makers who were considering moving into retail, and learning and work placements to local unemployed people who are interested in developing a career in retail.
InCube Creative programme is based in separate premises on the High Street. It offered an intensive programme of advice, workshops and one-to-one sessions to aspiring creative entrepreneurs allowing them to learn how to brand, market and sell their products and services effectively.
The High Street premises were also home to InCube’s Start-up Street business incubator programme, a low-cost business incubator which provides accommodation and business support for up to 2 years for 20+ early stage and start-up businesses. At Start-Up Street, businesses could meet and connect with each other on a daily basis. If they needed a service, advice or inspiration, they could knock on their neighbour’s door, speak to a manager or mentor, or attend a networking event.
Business Gateway also offered services from the High Street premises, and Prince’s Trust Scotland use it as a meeting hub.
InCube was developed collaboratively by the local authority and Business Gateway.
For more information on Paisley town centre, check out the Inspiration section.
A new take on the department store: 15:17 Ayr
What do you do with an old department store when it closes? This question faces many town centres. In Ayr’s former BHS store on the High Street, retail company 15:17 put in place a novel take on the traditional concession store: managed space for tenants that offers experiences and services that draw people in for a few hours and not just a quick one-off purchase. Imagine a store where alongside shopping and browsing you can take an exercise class, see your optician, meet friends for lunch, attend a fashion show, have your hair done by professionals, take the kids to soft play and even post a letter or parcel while collecting your weekly veg box from the local farmers market – that’s what is happening in Ayr. A store that is designed to bring leisure, pleasure and service back to the high street.
In Ayr, the former BHS department store comprised 42,000 square feet over 2 floors serviced by escalators and lifts. 15:17 offered:
- In-situ manager who manages the entire unit.
- On site security guards to cover opening hours.
- Cleaning facilities to keep communal areas clean and tidy.
- Ensure all communal facilities are functioning to the standards required in the contract.
- Guarantee of 2.5% of the tenant fee dedicated to marketing.
In return, tenants made a one-off payment to 15:17 that covers rent, rates, heating, lighting, broadband, Wi-Fi and staff rooms. The tenants themselves were responsible for fixtures and fittings, and insurance for their stock, their staff and their own space within the building.
The Ayr store began training in 2019 however 15:17 has since, ceased trading.