New stores arriving at MetquarterChristmas Trade Surpasses National Average
New Stores Arriving at Metquarter
Metquarter is delighted to announce a successful trading period for Christmas 2006, the first Christmas for the centre. For stores trading November and December, sales were up 87%, with footfall up 60% on the previous month. Footfall the pre Christmas week exceeded 90,000 and the post Christmas week being 63,000 (closed Monday & Tuesday). This is a major success for Metquarter and shows that the centre has been taken to heart by Liverpool shoppers.
Following research in the city on the types of brands people would like to see at Metquarter, Phase 8 and Billabong will be opening this spring. Phase 8 complements a contemporary and classic fashion offer which includes Hobbs, Gieves & Hawkes and Whistles, while Billabong will complement Metquarter’s urban and street sport and fashion stores, which include Animal, Aspecto and Levi’s.
Other news from Metquarter is that following a review of performance of Metquarter retailers, it has been decided to replace the Esprit store at Metquarter. The store will now be divided into two new units which will shortly be offered to the many other retailers expressing an interest in joining the line-up of stores at Metquarter, which includes brands such as Diesel, Armani Exchange, Flannels, M.A.C and Hugo Boss.
The decision to market two smaller units has been made in response to requests from potential tenants who are looking to take space in Liverpool’s premier shopping destination.
John Milligan says:
‘The tenant mix at Metquarter has evolved over the past nine months and I am keen to see more new retailers join the centre. As a business, we undertake enormous amounts of research on an ongoing basis and we’ve identified through this that the desires of the Liverpool shopper would be better served in this instance by replacing Esprit with two new units, which may include a further catering outlet, following the massive success of the two currently operating. We have flexible lease terms at Metquarter and this enables us to give the Liverpool customer exactly what they want.’
Brand Franchise, who opened the Esprit store, will continue to have a presence in Metquarter as they operate the successful Guess store, which opened in the centre in December 2006. This store is trading well and has been a success with Liverpool shoppers.