PUBLISHED: 08:56 16 April 2019 Simon Parkin Plans have been approved to expand the listed building at 27 Mere Street in Diss. Picture: Simon Parkin Archant Plans have been approved to more than double the size of a shop on the main shopping street in Diss. Impressions of approved plans to expand 27 Mere Street in Diss with two first floor flats. Picture: Keith Day Architects/South Norfolk CouncilThe application to significantly expand the Grade II listed building on Mere Street, as well as adding two first floor flats above, has been given the go-ahead by South Norfolk Council. The former YMCA charity shop and Currys electrical store had been disused before recently being opened as pop-up music instrument shop PJ Music.The plans would expand the 92 sq m size of retail area downstairs to 229 sq m with a large extension into what is currently a car park at the rear. It comes despite the pressures facing high street retailers.In a report prepared by council … [Read more...] about High street shop in Diss to more than double in size
High street retailers
Do you still shop on the high street?
Poll PUBLISHED: 16:35 09 March 2019 | UPDATED: 16:35 09 March 2019 Suzanne Day Shoppers in Ipswich town centre on Saturday afternoon - do you still shop on your local high street? Picture:SUZANNE DAY Suzanne Day It’s been a bleak year for the High Street, with stores closing and warnings issued by retailers. But today we ask – how are your shopping habits changing, and what influences them? High Street retailers suffered their worst February in a decade. The figures were announced this week – just days after Debenhams, which has stores in Suffolk and Essex, caused concern by issuing a profit warning.Despite a unseasonably warm February fashion retailers also struggled with in-store sales dropping by 3.5%.Debenhams isn’t the only high street retailer that is struggling. Paperchase, which has stores in Colchester, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds has recently announced it will be closing a small number of shops across the country. … [Read more...] about Do you still shop on the high street?
Plans to double size of shop despite high street woes
PUBLISHED: 15:34 28 February 2019 Simon Parkin Plans have been submitted to expand the listed building at 27 Mere Street in Diss currently occupied by PJ Music. Picture: Simon Parkin Archant Plans have been submitted to more than double the size of a shop in Diss despite the pressures facing high street retailers. Plans would see the retail space at 27 Mere Street in Diss more than double with two first floor flats. Picture: Keith Day Architects/South Norfolk CouncilThe Grade II listed shop on Mere Street would be significantly extended at the rear with an extension into what is currently a car park and two first floor flats would be created under proposals submitted to South Norfolk Council. The former YMCA charity shop and Currys electrical store had been disused before it opened as pop-up music shop PJ Musicn November.The plans would expand the 92 sq m size of retail area downstairs to 229 sq m. Proposals submitted with thre application state: … [Read more...] about Plans to double size of shop despite high street woes
How can high streets retailers make best use of technology?
PUBLISHED: 11:22 17 January 2019 | UPDATED: 11:31 17 January 2019 Daniel Whytock Today, shoppers want the best of the on and offline world. Picture: PAUL GEATER Archant Daniel Whytock from www.downyourhighstreet.com discusses what tech is likely to impact the retail sector in the coming years. Retail tech is moving fast and high street retailers must act or get left behnind . Picture: GREGG BROWNIs online shopping truly causing the end of high street shopping? Amazon is investing in brick and mortar stores, which suggest that the high street still has a place in our shopping future. As consumers we want the best of both on and offline worlds and more: convenience, choice, and a diverse range of shops and businesses.As grim as things appear to be on the UK high street today, there is a way back - omni-channel retail that seamlessly integrates digital technology is the key to high street survival.But retail tech is moving so quickly that if high street … [Read more...] about How can high streets retailers make best use of technology?
Aldi, Dunelm and Hobbycraft shake high street trends with Christmas sales boom
Aldi has posted its best Christmas trading report to date. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2018 Brands are beginning to release their Christmas sales figures as January ticks on – and many are better than expected. Dunelm, Aldi and Hobbycraft, which all have outlets in Norwich, have each posted positive trading updates this week, seeing a growth in sales and shaking off the fears held by many other high street retailers. Discount supermarket Aldi reported it has had its best Christmas to date, ringing up sales of almost £1bn in the UK during December.The company said that sales were driven by customers switching from other food retailers amid higher demand for its premium ranges.Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK, said: “Although we saw strong growth across all key categories, the standout performance was in our Specially Selected brand where shoppers treated themselves to premium products for a fraction of the price they would have paid elsewhere for … [Read more...] about Aldi, Dunelm and Hobbycraft shake high street trends with Christmas sales boom