Chinese New Year boosts Manchester footfall
CHINESE New Year contributed to a 59% lift in Manchester city centre footfall following a push by trade associations and the city council.
The city’s business improvement district (BID) worked with Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester, the Manchester Chinatown Group and Manchester City Council, to extend celebrations from Chinatown into the main retail centre for the first time.
Additional attractions such as 3,000 traditional red lanterns, a Chinese food market and bar and live entertainment in St Ann’s Square helped year-on-year footfall rise by 59.3% on February 2.
The BID said homeware retailer Cath Kidston on King Street reported a 125% year-on-year increase in sales, while leisurewear brand Henri Lloyd in St Ann’s Square experienced an 83% uplift. Boots on Market Street saw a 41% hike in sales, while Selfridges in Exchange Square said sales were up by 12% across the weekend.
Jane Sharrocks, general manager of Selfridges and chair of the BID, said: “Chinese New Year is one of the city’s biggest events so it was completely logical to extend activity into the city’s key shopping areas providing a boost for retailers in what can be a quieter time for them post Christmas and January sales.
“Some of our retailers reported phenomenal increases in sales, up to 125% across some stores, which demonstrates the massive opportunities available when the city’s retail core connects with city-wide events.”
