A survey of the good and bad of Perth in the eyes of shoppers has found people like its range of eateries.
Nearly two per cent of Perth’s population replied to a survey asking what it’s like shopping in the Fair City.
Better Perth – a volunteer initiative set up by entrepreneur Charlie Taylor – conducted an online survey to ask Perth shoppers for their views.
Key highlights of the survey included a ‘thumbs up” from shoppers for the cafes, restaurants and bars in the city centre, with 60% of respondents claiming that they like shopping in Perth because of the good selection and quality of venues.
Of those questioned, 74% identified eating and drinking out as their most common purchasing activity in Perth city centre.
As well as polling opinions, the survey provided a platform for shoppers to share their ideas.
From the information gathered the city’s traders and other stakeholders got valuable pointers on how to drive up competitiveness and value in Perth city centre.
Hundreds responded with coverage across a wide range of ages, from 18-24 year olds to the over-65s.
“Those businesses behind Better Perth have spent the past 18 months working tirelessly to galvanise real change in the city,” said Charlie Taylor, who returned from London 30 years ago to open her award-winning salon.
“We know the people of Perth appreciate their city, but we wanted to find out what they like and what improvements would ensure they continue to like living, working and shopping here.
“That so many responded shows there is a real desire to see the city recover its former glory.”
Perth’s good selection of independent retailers and pleasant shopping environment were also praised by survey respondents.
Frank Burger-Seed of St John Street’s The Venue commented: “It’s vital to keep the bar scene alive in Perth city centre by offering your customers products and services that are fashionable and on trend.
“We don’t want to see custom drifting away to spend in other cities. Our new Gin Bar at The Venue offers an option that is fashionably very popular in Glasgow and Edinburgh and the gin products available from Scottish businesses are leaders in their field.”
Michael White of popular coffee shop and restaurant Willows said: “An important aspect of ensuring customers return to your venue and Perth city centre is to regularly invest, where possible, in updating your venue to further strengthen your market proposition.
“At Willows, we’ve recently invested in our outdoor area as it’s a very popular spot given our prime location in the café quarter.
“It’s about investing wisely and timely.”
Award-winning restaurant Café Tabou business partner, Master Chef of Great Britain Marek Michalak said: “It’s great news that the Perth public consider the food scene to be a driving force behind their wish to visit Perth city centre.
“I firmly believe that restaurants these days need to be innovative with their menus and continually create a fresh dining experience for their customers.
“We regularly change our menus at Tabou to suit seasonal trends and we’re constantly looking to create new, interesting and flavoursome dishes using as much local produce as possible.”
The survey indicated consumers’ desire for shops to be open later and for more shops to open on Sundays. Younger shoppers in the 18-34 year old age groups are online aficionados and don’t like finding locked doors on the high street.
Better Perth’s First Thursday initiative, launched last December, has already made positive steps to address this need, with a number of city centre traders and service businesses opening till 7pm on the first Thursday of every month. And some give buyers special offers and promotions on the day.
Regular First Thursday trader, Louise Forbes of Princes Street’s Tayberry Gallery said: “It’s fantastic to hear that Perth shoppers are wanting to have retailers with later opening hours. We’ve been completely behind Better Perth’s First Thursday initiative from the outset in December 2015 and have been open late every month.
“These days it’s about offering a shopping service in line with your customers’ lifestyle. But it’s important to maintain regularity in order it becomes the shopping norm, and that shoppers should expect and want that service to be there for them. “You’ve got to work at it.”
When asked about the changes they would like to see in Perth the majority of survey respondents stated that they would like to see fewer empty shop units in the city.
Other items on shoppers’ wish lists included more big retailers – particularly prevalent among the under-45s, more independent retailers – particularly prevalent among the over-45s, and better parking.
A significant percentage of survey respondents also expressed interest in a more regular fresh produce market in the city.
Commenting on the survey findings, Councillor Ian Miller, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “We welcome the results of this survey by Better Perth, which shows some really encouraging results. Traders are really pulling in the visitors and shoppers with Perth’s quality food and drink offering and the increasing numbers of shops being open late and on a Sunday.
“It’s great to see local businesses showcasing the city. The council is continuing to do its bit to revitalise the city centre: we are the only local authority so far to have applied our ability to alter rates, by doubling the Small Business Bonus Scheme, and in the last year we were the only city in Scotland to enjoy more retailers opening than closing.”