Strategies to revive the High Street: Mary Portas reports

The woes of the UK High Street had begun long before the Credit Crunch and recession. It seems that a combination of factors (think PEST analysis) have combined to create the difficulties that are squeezing this traditional sector of business activity. Nobody has the answers to saving the High Street, but Mary “Queen of Shops” Portas has given it a go.

Why not try this exercise for yourself?

Firstly, use a form a marketing analysis like PEST or the Porters’ 5 Forces model to identify where the problems lie. Secondly, make 3 recommendations to either firms or governments as to how they might resist the decline (there’s some background here to help). Then read on…

Portas makes no fewer than 28 recommendations which are all listed in The Guardian. They include steps like:

- Put in place a “Town Team”: a visionary, strategic and strong operational management team for high streets.
- Establish a new “National Market Day” where budding shopkeepers can try their hand at operating a low-cost retail business.
- Make it easier for people to become market traders by removing unnecessary regulations so that anyone can trade on the high street unless there is a valid reason why not.
- Local areas should implement free controlled parking schemes that work for their town centres and we should have a new parking league table – and to make life tougher for all new out-of-town developments.

Her key idea (reported with a video clip by the BBC) seems to be that town centres should be run like integrated businesses. Other views also get a voice, pointing out that not all town centres are in crisis – and that they need to offer more than just shopping.