Perth’s High Street is set for a major resurgence in 2014, with an influx of new retailers waiting to open for business.
At least four long-term empty retail units are on the brink of coming back in to use and new restaurants and coffee shops have already opened.
The moves reflect the renewed positivity about the city and show that Perth is increasingly being seen as an attractive location for investment.
And the woman tasked with breathing new life into the city centre is promising a series of innovations to drive it forward even further over the next 12 months.
City centre manager Leigh Brown will be working to create a “new brand” for Perth, adapting the retail sector to changing shopping habits.
“We have seen a number of new businesses opening up in recent months including new restaurants, major chains and small independent retailers,” Ms Brown said.
“We have seen some of the stickiest units starting to fill up and there are a great many more inquiries about properties in Perth, which can only be a sign of growing confidence in the city.
“Things are looking really positive for 2014 and with Homecoming, the Ryder Cup and a full programme of local events I think it will only get better.”
Over the course of the next 12 months, Ms Brown and her team hope to help expand week-day trade and encourage shops to extend their opening hours on Friday evenings in a bid to drive shoppers into the city’s wealth of eateries, cafes and pubs.
New advertising campaigns and an improved online presence for the city’s retail sector will attempt to increase awareness of what is on offer.
Perth and Kinross Council will also be working with local partners and the Association of Town & City Management to gain a Purple Flag for Perth.
The scheme was set up to establish national standards and raise the image of Britain’s town centres at night.
Key elements of the bid will include city centre safety, taxi marshalls, the late night economy and street lighting, together with the Best Bar None Awards, which look to highlight best practice and safety in the licensed trade.
But key to this will be making small but important changes to the way retailers operate and, subject to their backing, changes to their opening hours.
“Within the retail sector you always used to be able to see predictable patterns,” Ms Brown said.
“Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were quieter, then Thursday began the build towards the busiest shopping days on Friday and Saturday, with the Sunday traditionally a window-shopping day.
“Things have changed, however, and a Wednesday can now be as busy as a Friday, making it difficult for retailers to plan ahead.
“We need to look at ways we can adapt to this, whether that is opening later or for smaller shops to open at lunchtimes.
“We already have a degree of late Thursday opening but we are looking to expand that and also explore late night shopping on a Friday, year round.
“If we can encourage late shopping, which may fit in better with some people’s lifestyles, we may also entice them to go on to a cafe or restaurant, boosting the night-time economy.”
The most obvious progress will come in the form of new and expanding businesses.
Coffee chain Starbucks could soon fill the former Laura Ashley shop, creating 15 jobs, while independent success story the Bean Shop aims to convert the Peddies premises into a coffee roasting facility to satisfy worldwide demand for its products.
The former Greggs and Jessops branches are also set to welcome new businesses and although other empty units remain, the trend is a positive one.
And at just 8.8%, the vacancy rate is well below the national average and is gradually becoming among the lowest in the country.
Further good news comes from figures which show that, while footfall is down, shoppers are increasingly spending larger sums in the city’s shops.
The council is also, unsurprisingly, bullish about the prospects for a boost to the city centre from the proposed demolition of Perth City Hall.
Elected members hope the creation of a civic square to hosts events such as markets and sporting and cultural events will draw visitors and shoppers to the heart of Perth.