Traders feeling Westfield bounce
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
05/12/2008
Shepherds Bush traders have received an early Christmas gift from a somewhat unlikely source – Westfield London.
Despite some initial concerns that the shopping centre might be detrimental to local traders, reports from a town centre forum meeting and from individual businesses show that many traders are experiencing a welcome boost in sales.
Britain’s biggest inner-city shopping centre has attracted more than two million shoppers to Shepherds Bush since it opened on October 30 and it appears local traders are reaping the benefits, despite a gloomy economy.
Upbeat Jason King, manager of West 12 Shopping Centre, told a town centre forum meeting that in the first four days since Westfield’s opening footfall at West 12 increased by 40 per cent. Since then, customer numbers have been 20 per cent higher than the previous year’s figures.
Hala Faiez, assistant manager at The Fragrance Shop at West 12 for three years and a
Shepherds Bush resident, said: “Sales are better now than they were before Westfield opened. I think its brought more footfall and the new rail stations have helped. Before Westfield, sales were really, really bad but since it opened it’s been much better, and we are now trading like for like with last Christmas.”
Daniel Ahenkorah, manager of Holland & Barrett for the past two years, who lives in White City, said: “Everyone was anticipating that people would go over to Westfield, but I haven’t seen any difference. I’ve been meeting my sales targets. I’ve noticed that Morrisons has been very busy between 2pm to 5pm, and when they are busy it means I’m busy as well.”
H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh said: “It is early days for Westfield but the early indications are that many businesses in the area are benefiting from the Westfield effect. There is a wow factor to Westfield and it is pulling shoppers in from all over the country.”
And it is not just retailers who are thriving. Bill Marshall, Manager of Shepherds Bush Empire, has said that bookings are up and ‘patrons with shopping bags’ are becoming an ever increasing occurrence.
Neil Bainbridge, manager of the nearby K-West Hotel, has also said that the hotel was fully booked prior to the opening of Westfield and does not have any spare rooms until February next year. Meanwhile, nearby Shepherds Bush Market is also seeing the first tentative signs of growth.
“With people coming to the area, they are stopping to look at the market,” said Michael Moore from New Shepherds Bush Enterprises which runs the smaller Shepherds Bush Market. “We have seen a slight increase in business since Westfield opened.”
