Arcade shopkeepers come together to put area ‘on the map’
A collection of independent shopkeepers have set up the Arcade Traders group in the hope of boosting business.
The businesses are all based in the Commercial Arcade and represent a diverse range of shops, from homeware and self-painted pottery to books and clothing.
‘Our aim is to enhance our surroundings and increase footfall,’ said Sofi Noakes from the Bean Jar Cafe.
‘We are really hoping if we can raise the visibility of the arcade we can help each other and give a better offering to all our customers.’
‘What we all have in common is that we are all proud and passionate about what we do, we want to inspire people to see the Arcade as a really great vibrant and inclusive space.’
The Arcade is made up of almost 30 retail units. Currently two are empty and a further two – Bailiwick Botanticals and the Co-op Pharmacy – are due to move out of the area soon.
However the former Costa Coffee and Taylor's Bar has just started being refitted after being empty for more than three years.
‘At the moment we don’t know who is moving in,’ said Denyse McGahy, owner of Iris and Dora.
‘But we really want to support new business coming in to the area, so they know they are joining a real community and that there are people willing to share advice and help.
‘We are here day in and day out and want to make this as vibrant a shopping experience as possible.’
Ellie Schreibke, from Maison Lifestyle, said that making the Arcade an ‘experience’ destination was one of their aims.
‘The trend now is for the experience rather than just popping to pick something up and that’s what we are all about,’ she said.
The Guernsey Retail Group has traditionally supported the island’s shopkeepers, but Maria Brehaut, manager at Just Scene, felt they could bring more focus to the Arcade themselves.
‘The GRG really represent the big traders,’ she said.
‘There are no small independent traders on the board so we don’t really feel represented.’
The arcade celebrates its 200th anniversary this year and Kelvin Whelan, owner of Writer’s Block, said the group was planning events to help celebrate the landmark.
‘We have a number of things in mind for that and other events to put the Arcade on the map,’ he said. ‘We will be letting everyone know about our plans very soon.’
