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| Is this the secret to High Street success? | Is this the secret to High Street success? |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The ongoing struggle of our High Streets is a familiar tale. | The ongoing struggle of our High Streets is a familiar tale. |
| Slowing consumer spending, online competition and increasing costs means the number of empty shops has grown. | Slowing consumer spending, online competition and increasing costs means the number of empty shops has grown. |
| Some well-known brands such as Maplin and Toys R Us have disappeared altogether - leaving yet more holes. | Some well-known brands such as Maplin and Toys R Us have disappeared altogether - leaving yet more holes. |
| Yet one town - Altrincham in Greater Manchester - has managed to stage a remarkable turnaround. Could it prove to be an example for other struggling towns across the UK? | Yet one town - Altrincham in Greater Manchester - has managed to stage a remarkable turnaround. Could it prove to be an example for other struggling towns across the UK? |
| In 2010, the Cheshire town had one of the worst shop vacancy rates in the country. | In 2010, the Cheshire town had one of the worst shop vacancy rates in the country. |
| Eight years on, the percentage of empty shops has been slashed from 30% to 9.7%. | Eight years on, the percentage of empty shops has been slashed from 30% to 9.7%. |
| What is its secret? | What is its secret? |
| Most credit the ambitious regeneration of the town's old market, into a new leisure and eating-out venue for turning around the town's fortunes. | Most credit the ambitious regeneration of the town's old market, into a new leisure and eating-out venue for turning around the town's fortunes. |
| Nick Johnson, director of market operations at Altrincham Market, took over the running of the town's market five years ago and turned it into a haven for middle class foodies. | Nick Johnson, director of market operations at Altrincham Market, took over the running of the town's market five years ago and turned it into a haven for middle class foodies. |
| The project has had a transformational impact on the town centre. | The project has had a transformational impact on the town centre. |
| "I've spent a lifetime in property, changing other peoples places from Plymouth to Leeds and I realised the place that was most in need of change was the place in which I lived. | "I've spent a lifetime in property, changing other peoples places from Plymouth to Leeds and I realised the place that was most in need of change was the place in which I lived. |
| "Rather than use property we worked with people to make that change." | "Rather than use property we worked with people to make that change." |
| Even on a wet, windy autumn evening the market is pleasingly busy. | Even on a wet, windy autumn evening the market is pleasingly busy. |
| Customers are prepared to brave the weather to browse the stargazer lilies and truckles of cheese. | Customers are prepared to brave the weather to browse the stargazer lilies and truckles of cheese. |
| Shopping here is an experience which is why traders like Jeremy Jackson were quick to come on board. | Shopping here is an experience which is why traders like Jeremy Jackson were quick to come on board. |
| Mr Jackson, who sells cheese and butter from his Wintertarn Dairy, says the market is "tapping into people wanting something different, something better." | |
| "You don't need a revolution you need to evolve things and see where it goes. | "You don't need a revolution you need to evolve things and see where it goes. |
| "I think we are in danger at the moment of becoming a monochrome society and you want characters and you want something different." | "I think we are in danger at the moment of becoming a monochrome society and you want characters and you want something different." |
| Abigail Hitchen Hilsley sells handmade furniture and homewares at the market, but is currently manning the coffee stall: Market House Coffee. | Abigail Hitchen Hilsley sells handmade furniture and homewares at the market, but is currently manning the coffee stall: Market House Coffee. |
| She says every trader is carefully chosen with no "big knickers" and out-of-date crisps. | She says every trader is carefully chosen with no "big knickers" and out-of-date crisps. |
| "That's good for everyone." | "That's good for everyone." |
| She says that the market is "always buzzing". | She says that the market is "always buzzing". |
| "You get lots of yummy mummies with their babies all out and about during the week and at night time it picks up and becomes really lively. | "You get lots of yummy mummies with their babies all out and about during the week and at night time it picks up and becomes really lively. |
| "Trade is really good for everyone, because it's such a good variety. No one does the same things." | "Trade is really good for everyone, because it's such a good variety. No one does the same things." |
| The Altrincham blueprint is one that is being eyed by other towns and cities, though not all have been swayed. | The Altrincham blueprint is one that is being eyed by other towns and cities, though not all have been swayed. |
| Professor Cathy Parker, from Manchester Metropolitan University's business school, cautions that this kind of model "will work in some places but not everywhere". | Professor Cathy Parker, from Manchester Metropolitan University's business school, cautions that this kind of model "will work in some places but not everywhere". |
| "It's catering for a certain type of consumer and people with enough free time and disposable income." | "It's catering for a certain type of consumer and people with enough free time and disposable income." |
| There have been many projects aimed at turning around ailing High Streets. | There have been many projects aimed at turning around ailing High Streets. |
| Most agree success depends on delivering an experience that's worth leaving the comfort of our front rooms. | Most agree success depends on delivering an experience that's worth leaving the comfort of our front rooms. |
| Altrincham's rapid turnaround shows one way of achieving this. | Altrincham's rapid turnaround shows one way of achieving this. |