RETAILERS: LOOK TO THE FIRST FLOOR, NOT THE HEAVENS, FOR THAT REVENUE GODSEND.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

May 12, 2011.

RETAILERS: LOOK TO THE FIRST FLOOR, NOT THE HEAVENS, FOR THAT REVENUE GODSEND.

The hardest hit sector of retail - high streets in secondary and satellite towns and cities – are sitting on, or under, a potential revenue windfall.

McBains Cooper, the property and construction consultancy, says independent retailers and owners of small chains might be looking to the heavens for revenue generation inspiration, but they actually need look nothing like so far.

“Stand in any satellite town shopping high street, look up to the first floor and above, and there are the tell-tales of opportunity: dusty windows, half-closed net curtains - empty rooms,” said Allan Davies.

“Then walk to the closest residential estate agency, and they’ll tell you they’re screaming for reasonably-priced town centre flats and apartments to satisfy a fast-growing demand.

“The answer: convert that empty above-shop space to flats or apartments. There are strong markets for flats ranging from corporate crashpads to people who love living in the heart of things, and conversion costs are nothing like as much as newbuild.

“The average three-storey building in a shopping high street will accommodate the existing retail space on the ground floor, and four flats above, which would typically generate a total rental revenue of £24,000 per annum, all managed by a residential lettings or management company.

“And we’re actually speaking from experience: one of our clients specialises in satellite town high street retail – and our feasibility study says many of their shops have empty space on upper floors ripe for residential conversion, whether from financial, practical or planning perspectives.

“I counted around 30 shops with empty first and second floors in one high street, and, judging by the size, each could accommodate at least four flats: in one high street, even just 40 flats at £24,000 a year would generate just short of £1 million a year – and then there’s the bonus of increased disposable income literally on top of the shops too.

“The key, though, is establishing feasibility based on local market conditions, weighed up with the cost of conversion. Some towns have a high demand for regular residential accommodation, others might be home to big and established businesses or organisations nearby whose staff need weekday crashpads, such as Media City in Greater Manchester and the BBC media centre in Cardiff.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

VALUE STORES AND MOBILE PHONE SHOPS – THE NEW LOOK POST-BUST BRITISH HIGH STREET.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

March 30, 2011.

VALUE STORES AND MOBILE PHONE SHOPS – THE NEW LOOK POST-BUST BRITISH HIGH STREET.

In the boom years it was big brands, restaurants, hairdressers and estate agents - but as Britain battles out of bust, the signs are the country’s high streets will have soon changed beyond all recognition with “value shops” and mobile phone retailers staking claim to prime shopping strips across the country.

That’s not a prediction, it’s a fact - according to McBains Cooper, the international property and construction consultancy.

“Our building surveying function is carrying out a significantly enhanced – and growing – number of building surveys for ‘value shops’ and mobile phone retailers, which indicate that the high street is going to have a very different look about it by the time the retail economy has settled,” said Allan Davies of McBains Cooper, Birmingham.

“These dual trends started in the South East in 2007, but they’ve gathered a real momentum in the regions – particularly northern towns – providing a much needed re-invigoration of high streets, following the void left by the likes of Woolworths, Adams and Ethel Austin.

“The high street multiples of 2012 and beyond are going to be variations upon the ‘pound shops’, and more, bigger and better mobile phone retailers. We know of two mobile phone retailers who plan to open more than 50 new stores in 2011, most of which are occupying sites previously operated by high street icons.

“Our background research says that the value store chain growth is down to high street shoppers easing away from premium and designer brands, but the quality and range of value store products is so good that there’s a question of whether consumers will ever flex back up to those designer brands.

“The value brands grew from the downturn, and are genetically tuned to managing costs, and developing and deigning stores that pack the maximum retail punch per square foot combined with attractive but no-nonsense design.

“That, combined with tumbling property costs and charges, means they’re perfectly placed to re-shape and re-invigorate the high street.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

TIME AND DISTANCE – THE FURNISHINGS AND INTERIORS TRENDS FOR 2011.

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

February 23, 2011.

TIME AND DISTANCE – THE FURNISHINGS AND INTERIORS TRENDS FOR 2011.

Photos here.

Spring and summer 2011 interior design trends will travel through time and distance according to the buying teams at one of the north west’s most influential home furnishings stores.

Designers and department heads at Housing Units know exactly where the horizons will be when homeowners home-in on their house style for this year.

“Outdoor will be particularly notable this year – designers across the board seem to be homing in on mixing cultures and heritage; this trend will use traditional craft and hand-drawn imagery inspired by a vast range of countries and cultures,” said Nick Fox of north Manchester-based Housing Units.

“We’re seeing a mix of African, Russian, Scandinavian and Indian influences across fabrics, metal work and ceramics. This includes well crafted pieces of furniture, while adding embroidered or patterned textiles for understated warmth, and tables will be dressed in hot summer colours – oranges, reds and pinks.

“At Housing Units we’re referring to it as ‘Folkloric’.

“Spring will be big in the house and home this year, where flowers, fabrics and homewares will be in a broad range of yellows and soft greens including khaki, moss and olive shades.

“There’ll also be white lacquer pieces and white porcelain, a look to bring brightness to the home. It’ll all be complemented with rattan garden furniture and natural wood furniture, a theme we’re calling ‘So Fresh’.

“Interiors are going to travel back in time perhaps more distinctly than ever before, with a clear 50s influence. Faded red, jade green and harvest gold are the key colours for this trend. Retro prints and mid–20^th century furniture shapes and styles are a prominent theme.

“But we’re also looking at a ‘Granny Chic’ trend, which will take a fresh direction this spring with contemporary graphics, updates on florals, crochet, china and all things quintessentially British and homespun.

“The main theme is of flowers on tableware, cushions in teal, maroon and muted gold and a real mix of nostalgic flowery wallpapers.

“Chalky Pastels will remain big in 2011 as they were in 2010, with dusty pink, mint green and pale blue becoming a key palette for spring/summer 2011.  Subtle hints of colours will be added to tableware and hard accessories, and the colour palette is combined with matt finishes. “

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk