Shopping centre has seen over half a million visitors in the last three weeks

Visitor numbers at Fareham Shopping Centre this Christmas are up compared to this time last year, despite shoppers still feeling the pinch and many other centres across the UK reporting reduced footfall.

Rising inflation and low interest rates haven’t been stopping eager shoppers on the lookout for the next bargain in one of the 80 retail outlets the shopping centre has to offer. During the first week of December, the shopping mall had 17% more visitors than at the same time the previous year, with nearly 192,000 shoppers hitting the Centre that week alone. The shopping centre has seen more than 555,000 Christmas shoppers come through its doors in the last three weeks.

2011 has been a strong year for the Centre, with the opening of new flagship store Debenhams in June. High street fashion footwear store tReds is the latest retailer to join more than 80 other big name stores, including Marks & Spencer, Boots, Bhs and Next.

The recent opening of the new Tesco store across the road is already bringing an increase in shoppers through the Centre’s entrance near to Millets and From the Heart. 

Fareham Shopping Centre’s Pam Marsden, Centre Director, said: “Many of our stores are weathering the tough economic times by offering plenty of sale bargains and special offers, which helps to draw shoppers through the doors, as has the new Tesco.’ 

‘With its quality retailers and undercover parking, Fareham Shopping Centre has everything on the doorstep for local residents and customers.  We’re delighted to add another great offering to our list of big name stores, with the arrival of tReds with its wide range of fashion footwear.” 

tReds Managing Director Steve Kavanagh said: “As a business, we’re always looking for opportunities to expand and our newest store in Fareham Shopping Centre has been an exciting step this year.’

‘We noticed a gap in the market for a branded footwear retailer, and since the launch of the store a month ago, the level of trade has gone beyond our expectations, surpassing targets by more than 50% in some cases. We’ve been delighted with the response from the local community and we’re optimistic for a successful year in 2012.”