First ever Sunday of extended trading hours sees half a million shoppers visit London's West End

July 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Retailers in the world’s busiest shopping district, London’s West End, had the option to double their trading hours and operate for 12 hours. Analysts estimate that the move could boost the British economy by up to £220m. Many of the 600 retailers in the world’s busiest shopping district took up the option to open for up to 12 hours, double the usual six hours allowed, for a period of eight Sundays over the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
KEY FINDINGS FROM OVER 600 BUSINESSES IN LONDON’S WEST END:
•         Footfall figures from Springboard, UK high-street retail analysts, reveal that footfall on Oxford Street and Regent Street was up 2% week-on-week
•         Selfridges reported fashion and accessories sold well yesterday
•         Leading West End retailers which took advantage of the extended trading hours include Debenhams [open 10am-9pm], Topshop [10am-9pm], Marks & Spencer [open 9am-9pm] and John Lewis [open 10am-8pm]


Jace Tyrrell, Director at the New West End Company, says: “The next few weeks will prove to be crucial to retailers in London’s West End during these turbulent economic times. The London 2012 Games which have been a catalyst for these extended hours have been welcomed by many West End retailers.  Retailers fed back that it was mainly families and female shoppers in London’s West End.”
Meave Wall, Selfridges Store Director, says: “Everyone at Selfridges was preparing for the landmark Sunday of 10 hours of trade and we were ready to welcome shoppers in our London store as well as in our regional stores. Fashion and accessories were expected to be the big winners from the extended trading hours as people had more time to browse and enjoy the discovery of all our exciting new season collections. However we also anticipated that customers will buy a lot of Olympics inspired and licensed products from our stores. We also fully expected that our technology departments would see a higher than usual weekend traffic as customers continue to upgrade their audio and visual home equipment just in time for the start of the Olympics."
TODAY’S LONDON’S WEST END EVENTS & NEWS:
•         John Lewis’ Oxford Street Olympic wrap was unveiled this morning at 8am. As the Official Department Store Provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, John Lewis’s flagship shop on Oxford Street was today wrapped in a giant London 2012 inspired Union flag.
•         St. Christopher’s Place today launches a Bell Boys service - pop  by the landmark purple clock on Oxford Street, by the entrance of Gee’s Court, to see them in action
•         London’s West End weather today: highs of 28C
•         TFL reported that the central line is suspended this morning [take from 7am press release]

EVENTS IN LONDON TODAY:
•         BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall from 7.30pm tonight
•         The Olympic Flame is travelling from Lewisham to Wandsworth today, ahead of arriving in London’s West End on Thursday. The Flame will go through Bromley, Croydon, Sutton,  Merton, Wandsworth ending up at Tooting Bec.
•         The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has confirmed that British Cycling has selected London to bid to host the prestigious international cycling event, which could potentially be one of the first major international tournaments to be held in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following the London 2012 Olympic Games.

UPDATE FROM YESTERDAY:
•         London’s West End weather: 23C, sunshine and clouds
•         TFL reported a good service on all tube lines across London’s West End


FACTS & FIGURES ON LONDON’S WEST END:
•         London’s West End is the largest retail space in the UK [1.5 million sqm], with a world-class mix of 600 shops, 40 renowned theatres, 30 museums and galleries, 17 Michelin star restaurants and 7 tranquil green spaces
•         London’s West End has 179 flagship stores, including Selfridges & Co, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Topshop and Hamleys
•         There are 200 million visits to London’s West End each year, spending over £7.6bn
•   The West End houses 40% of London’s hotels, with a cumulative 65,000 hotel beds – both more than any other area in the UK


FURTHER INFO:
•         For images and videos of London’s West End please visit the www.westendmediacentre.com
•         Media Enquiries:
o    Rain Communications: P: 0207 828 0118 e: westendlondon2012@raincommunications.co.uk
o    Jace Tyrrell, West End Partnership, M: 07791 123 513 E: jacetyrrell@newestend.com

TOMORROW’S BULLETIN: The West End Sleepover- how the hotel industry is preparing for the Games’ busiest arrivals day.


-ENDS-

Notes to Editors


More information on the West End Partnership:
The West End Partnership includes New West End Company and Heart of London Business Alliance, who are Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) dedicated to driving forward London’s West End as the world’s top shopping, entertainment and cultural destination. It is supported by over 1,000 major businesses and property owners in London’s West End.  

New West End Company and Heart of London Business Alliance ensures the ongoing commercial success of the area by promoting the district, delivering street management services and funding public realm projects to improve the commercial environment.  They are leading partners in the biggest regeneration programme of London’s West End in its history.  Find out more at www.newwestend.com and www.heartoflondonbid.co.uk

London’s West End is the world’s top shopping, entertainment and cultural destination, with a world-class mix of 600 shops, 40 renowned theatres, 30 museums and galleries, 17 Michelin star restaurants and 7 tranquil green spaces.

There are 200 million visits to London’s West End each year spending over £7.6bn. Of these visitors 37% are from overseas and a further 21% are from outside of London.