The summer late-night shopping initiative is being organised by the Centre Ville Retailers Group, in conjunction with Jersey Tourism.
he idea, which started last summer, is to co-ordinate late-night shopping on one evening a week only and create a lively atmosphere that visitors and local people can enjoy.
etailers’ group chairman, Richard Clews, said that last year had been something of a learning curve.
‘Last year we started too early, whereas this year we hope that by opening just for a few weeks it will enable retailers to get more volume.
We’re trying to do more on the tourism side as well, with posters in hotels and a database drop.
We’re generally trying to put more life into St Helier,’ he said.
any of the major town retailers will be staying open, including Bhs, Marks & Spencer, Next, Ottakers, Woolworth, W H Smith and French Connection.
icola Taylor, the new store manager at de Gruchy’s department store, said that it was her understanding this was the first time the store had taken part in the initiative.
Last Thursday was certainly worthwhile,’ she said, ‘and I will be happy to continue until the end of August.
We are fully supportive of what Centre Ville is trying to achieve by making the town more accessible to everyone.
We hope it will prove a success, not only for the retailers, but for St Helier as a whole.
On a wider scale Centre Ville will be promoting a new ‘living at the heart of Island life’ campaign to generate enthusiasm for St Helier.
r Clews added: ‘The buzz that will be created in town should also have a knock-on effect on bars and restaurants as well.
It is all part of our initiative to breathe life into St Helier, so that people both visiting and living in the Island’s capital can enjoy these evenings.
