Hyper Local Initiatives

Dan Thompson is an artist and writer who is a high street champion and for the past 20 years has been getting people to notice the high street. The shop owners are very close to their shops and high streets so Dan likes to take a step back to look at the street with fresh eyes.? Dan is an authority and source of experience with the high street generation and pop-ups. He recognises that solutions are hyper-local. His first job was to convert old barbers into a community centre.

Walking down the streets with Dan, he bumps into many shopkeepers and mentions how he helped paint the signs or shops of many of them.? Dan is a prolific high street supporter who is hands-on. He is good at bringing everyone and everything together.? His hands-on approach with shopkeepers gives him the practical knowledge and experience to then consult and advise independent high street businesses.

He approaches projects by asking “what is the most practical route to get to where we want in the quickest most budget-conscious way?”

The High street with Dan

?Credit" Rebecca Ellis Onyett, founder of Reo Jewels

Retail in the new normal: New Retail. Stores are more like a showroom and the physical side of the overall business that includes e-commerce.? Reo Jewels, on Northdown Road is a good example.?We spoke to the owner, Rebecca, and found she is only open 3 days a week to the walk-in customers and uses the back of the shop as her studio. Most of her business is online but needs to meet customers and have a physical presence.? Her shop front and interior were very well done and this retailer is an inspiration and aspiration for other businesses on the street and raises the bar for other retailers.

Dan in front of Reo Jewels, Margate??

Another example is a service that moves onto the high street but rents out the front of the shop and windows e.g. an architect’s office that has an art gallery.

Dan has developed a balanced approach to what the high street should have as part of its mix so that it is sustainable and relevant to the community it serves and supports.

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Community Centres, Youth & Village Halls played such a role and could be an inspiration for high streets once again. They were run by a ‘Hall Manager’ who rented out the hall for various functions, including markets, meals, social activities for the young and elderly.? There was a kitchen and dining, a bar, entertainment. They were a hub for the community. Now such centres could be reinvented. One thing they could do would be to act as incubators with mentoring.?

?Credit: The Kavemen, from Peterlee, taken around 1963 in Peterlee Community Centre.? www.stanlaundon.com

The high street also needs to be organised and managed but not in an old fashioned bureaucratic way that slows things down and gets mired in egos. It should use a network of organisations, businesses, and visionary local administrators, to learn from their experience. In the network, there is a stable core of businesses as the 'anchors' to the street.? Will talk about that in another article.

Margate Visit: We toured 3 areas of the town.

?THE CENTRE

'The Centre' in the town centre, which is a typical shopping plaza that was slowly dying and has been revitalised by a local architect, under her own initiative.?The council received funding for way-finding signage but only made 2 signs at the least frequented entrance to the centre.?They are perceived as being not very effective and are not trusted (corruption is often referred to when speaking to local residents) so throughout the town, local initiatives have been the only source of action and change. The previous drab and half-abandoned complex was painted bright colours and independent café’s, shops and bakeries were encouraged to move in, making the centre a destination again, along with the high street staples like Poundland and Dorothy Perkins.

Credit: UPMARGATE Pop Up Shop in the 'Town Centre'

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OLD TOWN MARKET

The Old Town Market, started by Roxie, is in the pedestrian area of Margates historical 'Old Town'.?The vendors are local and small businesses in the area set up stands.?The selection included vintage clothes and collectables, artists, new jewellery, children’s clothes and accessories, and vegan food. The bright pink tents call attention to the market but beyond that, there was no visible signage on any of the side streets leading to the market.

Some tips: As the venue is a bit tucked away, it really needs at least bunting, A-frame boards, more posters to call attention to it from all entrances to the market.

From the approaching streets to the market there is no sign of what is going on or that there is even an Old Town.

?NORTHDOWN ROAD

Northdown Road had a ‘Northdown Road & Friends Summer Open Party’.?Only a few businesses actively participated. There are some shops that are not usually open on Saturdays but opened the doors on this day.?One jewellery store had glitter tattoos being given and another shop had watermelon. There was some bunting but on the walkway barriers.?

The entry to this high street also did not have signage or any welcome to the street event. Not all businesses promoted the event with posters or flyers. It's a beginning and retail has recently only opened so more events like this, with more local involvement and promotion, should have a positive impact

?LOCAL INITIATIVES

All the activities shown here are local business owners and high streets champions, like Dan, doing what they can with the few resources and support they can muster.? What they need is more support from other businesses, the community and the local council.

Initiatives in the town summary:

·??????First Fridays

·??????Seasonal Street Events

·??????Saturday Market

·??????Shopfront and interior improvements

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