A retail location specialist has said Perth needs to offer more diversity to shoppers if it wants to survive.
Mike Finlayson, who was a director for Debenhams before co-founding a chain of ethical food stores, said: “Nothing I have heard so far that gives me confidence that there is a real vision for Perth city centre retailing.
“The demise of McEwens, sad as it was, was predictable and follows a trend which has seen local independent department stores all but disappear, its closure was a blow, but the challenge for the city’s retailers is much greater. Internet shopping, parking and access are all issues, but of more relevance is what retailers call ‘the offer’, and Perth’s offer will need to be a lot better in future if it is to avoid decline.”
Mr Finlayson, who worked with renowned retail expert Dr Russell Shiller, added: “In order to be successful a retail centre needs to provide amenity to people living and working in the city centre, it needs to attract customers from the wider catchment and be a destination for visitors. The best retail destinations are compact, accessible, attractive and exploit their assets; there are many good examples.
“Shops in Perth are spread over a wide area, intersected by busy roads, making pedestrian access difficult. Parking charges are reasonable compared to other cities and plentiful, although the signage and tactics of some of the operators are not exactly welcoming.”
Mr Finlayson bemoaned the lack of an “obvious retail centre”.
He said: “The vacant City Hall contributes nothing to the city’s amenity and effectively partitions the retail estate; it should make way for something that would create a central focus.
“Many commercial premises are in a poor state. Perth’s abundant history, much of which took place within the current city centre, is neither evident nor well-exploited. The mix of shops is increasingly limited.
“Perth has a great deal going for it and can be ‘one of Europe’s great small cities’ but we should not be complacent.
“The city needs a radical and shared vision for its retail offering, backed up with a comprehensive plan based on objective assessment and where needed, investment; this can only be achieved by all interested parties working together, the city of culture bid for 2021 may provide some impetus.”
