THE Boulevard in Banbridge says it finished 2022 by bucking national retail trends, posting record sales and footfall figures.
The designer outlet saw an uplift in festive shoppers from Black Friday onwards as people came out in their droves. Black Friday recorded an increase of 19 per cent in sales on the same period last year, with the day itself proving as popular as ever with shoppers (sales rose 22 per cent).
And the Boulevard continued to swim against the current and maintained a steady flow of shoppers right up until it closed for the Christmas holidays.
December finished as the scheme’s strongest month on record as sales increased 25 per cent on 2021. Figures also showed a 7 per cent increase in footfall for December, the opposite of what many high streets and national retail figures are recording.
The Banbridge outlet saw an increase in dwell time, meaning customers were staying for longer and spending that bit more every time they visited.
In 2022, the Lotus Property owned scheme saw the arrival of many new retailers including kate spade new york and New Look which helped attract more customers than ever before as well as brands like Yankee Candle and local store Houstons, ensuring the scheme remains a retail and leisure park with something for everyone.
The Boulevard's retail director Chris Nelmes said: “The retail mix here is the strongest it’s ever been and the outlet model, quality brands at discounted prices, has really come into its own, especially as purse strings tighten for many.
“2022 saw the scheme go from strength to strength by consistently increasing our sales and footfall, and we were delighted to welcome new household names, local retailers and upsize current tenants at the scheme as well as being the choice for some brand’s first outlet store.”
