HullBID Retail Group meeting – 18/9/13 – Princes Quay Management Suite

Minutes

Attendees: Lee Appleton (Prospect Centre), Louise Wood (Pavers), Kevin Priestley (HCC), Julie Buffey (Roisin Dubh), (Bagel Nash), (Dorothy Perkins), Debbie (Beaverbrooks), Paul Sach (Monsoon) John Smith (Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Union), Richard Harrison (Santander), Graham Towse (Hull College)

Apologies: Tony Wilkes - Chair (Princes Quay), Steven Marsay (Debenhams), Jim Harris (St Stephens)

1. Previous minutes reviewed and agreed

2. State of Trade

Prospect Centre - Feedback

  • Performance generally flat to +1 vs last
  • Footfall levels good achievement
  • New tenants – 100% occupancy for Christmas including food court

Pavers

  • Quiet – sales down, outlets are performing better

Bagel Nash

  • 4% up year on year
  • Sales did however fall quite dramatically last week
  • Believes cold environment will be an issue in St Stephens during winter.

Dorothy Perkins (Princes Quay)

  • Sales down 1%,
  • Hopeful that vacant units around their store will acquire tenants soon
  • 5 years no profit within store

McDonalds

  • Sales up – festivals/events have increased footfall.
  • Business not affected when Yum Festival took place.

Julie Buffy

  • Hepworth’s Arcade is becoming a ‘cut through’ with visitors not spending dwell time.
  • Trinity Festival will hopefully increase footfall and trigger return customers.

Continued...

Monsoon

  • 33% down on sales last week, dropped operational costs by 24% last year
  • Restructured package in shop
  • 3 years no profit

Beaverbrooks

  • Sales down for store
  • Conversion rate is high but footfall is not there

Santander

  • From those surveyed,90% of customers rate the King Edward Street branch as ‘excellent’.
  • Branch structure to change with 3 Hull centric branches being managedby 1 Branch Director.
  • Pledge to retain all 3 branches.

Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Union

  • Issue with loose pavers. Note: this has been brought to the attention of Cllr Steve Brady, Leader of the Council, who said he would discuss with the Council’s Streetscene team.
  • Good footfall due to position in Brook Street, increased awareness of their services.
  • Membership has doubled in last 3 years.

3. Hull University/Hull College – building the links

  • HullBID will be hosting a stand at Freshers/Open Days to promote HullBid area/businesses and speaking to prospective students and their parents about the safety in the city centre.
  • The student union has a vested interest in keeping students on campus to utilise their Asylum Club and other bars. It has been intimated that students are being dissuaded from coming into the city centre to visit the bars, clubs etc because it is unsafe so it is important to spread the Purple Flag message.
  • Julie Buffey informed that Hull College had performing arts dance on Trinity House Lane and they were heckled by drinkers outside Lyrics Bar – KS updated group re current position about policing around drink-fuelled antisocial behaviour.

4. HullBID Business Network Event – 24.10.13 – Hull Truck. KS provided overview.

  • The event will be informal and any BID member is welcome to come along (no costs attached). A great opportunity to network with other members.
  • Food will be served.
  • Evening will focus on a short presentation by KS, a presentation about the City of Culture bid (TBC) and will launch the new HullBID excellence awards.
  • Email if you wish to attend.

5. Yum!/Freedom Festival feedback

  • Yum entirely funded by HullBID; the event increased footfall within City Centre (by 46% on King Edward St)
  • Yum!trader sales up by 10% on last year
  • 2014 Yum Festival – looking to increase with more stalls and activity spanning more of the City Centre

Continued....

6. Freedom Festival

  • KP informed group re success of Freedom – received positive feedback
  • Fantastic feedback about torch parade (first time this was incorporated)
  • Police made only 2 arrests throughout weekend
  • Festivals will play a huge role in the City Of Culture bid; it is vital they are spectacular and crowd pleasing.

7. Purple Flag/Trinity Festival

  • Purple Flag re-accreditation due 31st October. Will be informed outcome mid November; looking hopeful.
  • Same principle as Blue Flag for beaches i.e. Purple Flag shows the city has been independently inspected and is deemed as being safe, clean and with plenty to do on an evening.
  • Purple Flag Week approaching. Lots of PR activity/stunts to raise awareness that the city has a flag i.e. painting KC phone box purple, also branding rickshaw.
  • Trinity – KS provided overview about the main stage activity in Trinity Square. The Festival will kick start PF week on Saturday 20th September.

8. Christmas advertising campaign

  • Biggest spend for HullBID is Christmas campaign.
  • Aim is to attract increased visitors within Hull city centre to utilise shops, restaurants etc.
  • Intend to use wide ranging broadcast and media at peak times i.e. during Coronation Street, Emmerdale. Additionally advertising in door drop brochures, on bus backs, on the radio, in between cinema viewings.
  • Campaign will focus on using enticing images of city centre shops, visitor destination points including marina etc.
  • Around 2-3 million people will be targeted.

9. Ideas for events

All to forward ideas to

10. AOB

  • Julie requires some help in providing extra lighting for 19th December – An Evening with Elvis
  • Indoor market –
  • HCC working on proposal, initial meeting in October,
  • 2 MBA students from Hull University to produce business plan
  • Hull College already engaged in proposal
  • Richard (Santander) tabled ‘Museums at Night’ where public buildings of interest are illuminated.
  • Work placement opportunities required for students at Hull College. Any potential employer to contact Graham Towse at the College.
  • Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Union requires small prizes for member’s lottery. Will promote donors via information pack and social media. Contact John directly with any contributions.

Date of next Meeting: Thursday 24th October, 10.30am, Princes Quay Management Suite