Shopping Centres must support retailers says St Enoch's marketer
Shopping centres must look to support retailers and build consumer confidence following the announcement that VAT is to rise to 20%, says the marketing manager of one of Scotland’s top retail destinations.
Anne Ledgerwood, marketing director at St Enoch’s Shopping Centre told The Drum that as the rise in VAT was a blow as consumer confidence was beginning to grow once again following economic turbulence, and that retailers must be supported to encourage that confidence to grow for the rest of the year before consumer spend dips as a result of the increase.
“A lot of retailers, since VAT has gone up to 17.5 per cent, have chosen to absorb that cost themselves, which I don’t think is going to be possible this time…the big thing for us is the consumer side of things and getting consumer confidence back at the moment and getting people to re-establish their shopping habits,” explained Ledgerwood.