Parties urged to take their message to high streets
Political parties have been urged to do some good for UK retails and their own campaigns, by setting out their stalls in vacant shop units on the high street in the final days of the election.
Retail consultant Karl McKeever, who has advised the likes of M&S, Matalan and Sainsbury’s on visual merchandising, believes that political parties should take their message straight to the people using the many vacant retail units on the high street as campaign bases.
This would allow electoral candidates from all parties to meet hundreds of potential voters as they shop, with the interest created increasing high street footfall and driving much needed consumer traffic back into stores.
“If political parties want us to buy their candidates, then they should think creatively about how and where to sell their messages, and open up shop where the people are – they could even sell their merchandise,” explains McKeever.
“Social media and live debates are being promoted as the big, new ideas for delivering the Election but it’s in the high street where the general public could really engage face-to-face with their wannabe MPs, and make a real choice between them.”
“Instore, retail tactics could be used to help win the day. ‘Convenience’ being delivered through easy, direct access to politicians, ‘wow factor’ from clever communication of manifesto promises, and ‘choice’ from the different ‘brands’ and ‘product offers’ promoted by each party. Store designs could also emphasis party colours.
“This heightened activity in vacant retail units would create a buzz around our now empty town centres and neglected high streets, increasing footfall for the surviving retailers close by. As political parties are keen to say how important retailing is to the UK economy, this would give them the chance to put their money where their mouths are.”