Author Archives: Iain Nicholson

A very welcome new shop, a popular eatery, maybe something creative or community… What’s making the news on your town or city centre social media channels…? It could be a #retail or #hospitality business opening, brand or indie – and … Continue reading →

Time to unveil our emerging set of guides and briefing notes on and around the challenge of tackling vacancy… They draw on projects and initiatives we’ve been involved with or seen, and our work with place leaders and managers in … Continue reading →

Brilliant two days with one of the local teams we’re working alongside on tackling vacancy… …with a number of positive and encouraging signs of things happening that are helping bring down their empty shops numbers already and will make bigger … Continue reading →

“You could aim to halve your headline vacancy rate in 18 months.” I said that 4 times this week in conversations with place leaders from different locations – two cities, two towns. Not ones we’re commissioned in, tho they have … Continue reading →

“Join us on a stroll through streets full of linen stories, exploring heritage and contemporary design as we walk and talk.” Sounds great to me, and it sparked new conversations about the role history & heritage, the buildings, people and … Continue reading →

“Reasons to be cheerful, part (forty) three.” …to slightly adjust that 80’s lyric. So reflecting on 3 successive weeks out & about in 5 locations – three town centres, two cities – visiting existing and new tackling #highstreet vacancy commissions… … Continue reading →

“Half the visibly vacant units in town and city centres have no commercial property agent involved in trying to get them let.” 50 per cent. One in every two. …and that’s an average figure, so in your place it might … Continue reading →