Bold approach pays off as Liverpool One footfall rises
The owner of Liverpool One shopping centre has reported a footfall increase of 7.9% since August, which Grosvenor claims is due to the opening of Gravity MAX and M&S at the former Debenhams site.
Describing the two new stores as “flagships” Grosvenor’s own data has seen an upwards swing in across the estate of 7.9% since Gravity MAX and M&S opened, with sales on Liverpool One’s restaurant terrace, opposite Gravity MAX, risen by 9.6%.
Gravity MAX represented a big gamble by Grosvenor when it opened in August, bringing a leisure offer into the heart of Liverpool’s retail core – the site includes a multi-level e-karting track, augmented reality (AR) bowling, 18-hole Tech Street Golf, Hologate VR, immersive Gamebox, esports arena, batting cages and Liverpool’s largest pool hall across the upper two floors in what is its biggest investment to date and its largest site.
The £10 million 100,000 sq ft site is also Gravity’s largest project.
Michael Harrison, co-Founder and chief growth officer at Gravity, added: “Our Liverpool One Gravity MAX flagship is transforming our business. Its performance has been consistently significantly ahead of our targets from day one. We were encouraged by Grosvenor to be bold, and as such, our confidence is being more than rewarded. Liverpool One is the new template for our business, and will lead our growth nationally and internationally.”
The shopping centre boasts a total of 25 brands opening in 2023, taking up almost 275,000 sq ft of space and including jeweller Goldsmiths’ largest showroom to date, new regional flagship stores for Swarovski and BOSS, Hollister, Gilly Hicks, Sweaty Betty, Space NK, Red Run, TAG Heuer, Bean Coffee Roasters, Joe & the Juice, and Liverpool’s first dedicated esports venue, leveltap. A further 27 brands renewed or regeared this year, equalling almost 105,000 sq ft of space.
But the analysis of footfall traffic highlights the role M&S has played in attracting greater numbers of visitors from the primary catchment than Liverpool One’s benchmark (40% versus 31%).
M&S at Liverpool One
M&S relocated from its former store in the city centre to the lower two floors of the former Debenhams store, covering 70,000 sq ft including a fresh market-style Foodhall, new Clothing, Home & Beauty departments, and a new-look M&S Coffee Shop.
Chris Jukes, Grosvenor’s Director of Liverpool One, said: “Our active asset management ensures visitors will always find Liverpool One a great place to visit, shop and socialise. We endeavour to be ahead of the curve, anticipating consumers’ needs and wants, and the increased footfall and sales data bear this out. Gravity MAX and M&S opening at Liverpool One has had a huge impact, benefitting all of our occupiers and those who have come to visit since August.”
In addition, Liverpool One has hosted seven pop-ups this year, including On Running and Lounge, (both being their first outside of London), ARNE, Sook and Eurovision, the latter coinciding with Liverpool’s hosting of the international song contest on behalf of Ukraine in May this year.
