DUNDEE’S OVERGATE ‘HAVING TO TURN AWAY RETAILERS’ SAYS SHOPPING CENTRE BOSS

16/10/2015
The manager of Dundee’s biggest shopping centre has revealed it is having to turn new retailers away due to the amount of interest.
Malcolm Angus, manager of the Overgate, has told the Tele it does not have enough spare units to cater for interested businesses.

It comes as figures revealed a decline in city centre shops opening across Scotland.
Eight Dundee retailers had to pull down the shutters for good in the first half of 2015 alone.
However, Mr Angus said the busy shopping centre was bucking the trend.
He said: “Without sounding selfish, we are in a very good position and, at the moment, we simply can’t facilitate everyone who wants to come into the Overgate.
“We have a range of businesses coming in and several others interested.
“A small shop, Little Thistle, has just opened on the ground floor opposite Superdrug, while the Five Guys restaurant is set to open on November 2.
“We have two parties interested in the old WHSmith unit, and work is currently under way on splitting it back into two separate units.
“The units between JD Sports and River Island are also being converted, with two retailers planning on coming in during the first quarter of 2016.”
Mr Angus added that, despite a slightly different picture outside the Overgate’s doors, he was confident that the future of retail looks bright.
He said: “We are fully aware of what is happening on the High Street and Murraygate.
“Increased online competition can make life difficult for some shops, with shoppers having more choice online.
“People start retail operations full of the best intentions, but 12 months down the line, when the rent kicks in and the rates kick in, they begin to see they are not making as much money as they thought.
“Some decide to close shops and maintain an online only business, which reduces outlay, and some just close.”
Mr Angus said the Waterfront development would have a positive effect on shopping in Dundee.
He added: “In 18 months’ time, I’m confident Dundee will be in a very good position and once we have done what we need to do in the Overgate, I want to help encourage growth elsewhere in the city centre.”
Viv Stephen, co-owner of Quirky Coo (pictured right), an independent gift shop in Union Street, said it was possible to compete with shopping centres.
She added: “Our street is nearly all independent shops, and over the last year, three units closed down.
“But the last few months have seen two of them being filled again, which is very positive. We don’t get the footfall that the Overgate gets, we’ll never compete with the big
boys, so it’s up to us to get people to come to us. Whether it means having a good window display, or by coming together as a street and offering deals.”
Viv said there would always be people who enjoy coming into shops as opposed to going online, adding: “It would save us a lot of money if we went online only, but people still like coming in and touching things before they buy, even if it means they buy online once they get home.”

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