Thu Jan 12, 2017 4:13 pm
I'm sorry but I just do think Cardiff has a narrower range of stores, and especially fashion stores, than other cities we might consider to be on a par in terms of potential scale of market: Leeds, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol (adjusting for the out-of-town competition, and nearby-town competition). What Cardiff has are big and successful Debenhams, M&S, Primark, H&M, River Island, Top Shop, TK Maxx, etc. I think they hoover up a bigger share of the trade than comparable cities meaning less to go around to other retailers - whether high or mid market. I think this reflects the typical Welsh shopper being somewhat conservative about where they shop. The way around this is if you appeal to teens/young adults with a "must have" mass-market brand - so Hollister, Superdry, Jack Wills, probably Victoria's Secret, all being at least temporarily very popular.
I think this has been a long-standing phenomenon though. I think the growth of places like Cyfarthfa has probably worsened that trend by keeping even more spend in such mass market stores and out of Cardiff centre altogether.