Reducing the number of empty shops and business units through creating a more vibrant town centre is the aim of a brand new marketing initiative underway in Ruthin.
Ruthin–based company Crucial Marketing was commissioned by Denbighshire County Council’s Regeneration team to carry out a study of vacant town centre properties. Now plans have been drawn up to look at reducing the number of vacant properties and have a locally driven marketing campaign to spruce up empty shop windows.
Displays based on the Local and Loyal theme will adhorn two vacant town centre shops – Dodds on St Peter’s Square and Ink Inc on Clwyd Street. The displays will focus on Ruthin town centre “characters”.
This initiative will complement the work already underway as part of the ‘Shop Local’ marketing campaign in the town and the work being carried out by the Bro Ruthin Business Group.
The business group’s website: visitruthin.com will add value to the programme by adding a new portal to their website which will have links to the vacant units. Next year their marketing theme will support the Loyal and Local initiative and feature “retail” characters”.
Another important element of the work is for Crucial Marketing to be the local contact for potential viewings and lettings, taking the opportunity to promote Ruthin as a good place to do business. They have agreement from a Liverpool based letting agency to be a key holder for any enquiries or viewings, meaning that potential tenants do not need to make an appointment to view a property.
Councillor David Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Regeneration, said: “This is the latest in a line of initiatives to boost the fortunes of the town centre. With competition from larger retail parks, town centres need to up their game in terms or marketing the wealth of shops and businesses available locally.
“Organisations in Ruthin have been proactive in coming up with new and innovative ways of marketing the town. We will be looking at the success of this latest initiative to see whether it can be adopted in other towns across the county.”
