News, March 2008

Portsmouth - Ocean Retail Park - Shopper Numbers up over Easter Weekend

The Junction's Ocean Retail Park in Portsmouth saw shopper numbers increase by 20% during the Easter weekend after launching an Easter egg hunt to celebrate it's recent £5m refurbishment. Stephen Selway, Asset Manager of The Junction, says "This event proved a success. Seeking to offer a varied choice for customers, we place high value on their needs, therefore we are continuing to increase park activities that encourages involvement between retailers and their customers through varied community initiatives and events that we hope are mutually beneficial". More than 7,000 shoppers were reported to have visited the park compared to the same 4-day period last year. Shoppers that visited the Ocean Retail Park were informed that if they found an Easter egg in one of the participating retailers they could redeem it for a prize. The total value of the fantastic prizes came to approximately £2,000 including a top of the range flat screen TV and DVD players. Winners of the Easter egg hunt were delighted with their prizes. Max Horner 5, son of Jemma Sinclair, was one of the first to locate one of the well hidden Easter eggs. Although more interested in eating the large chocolate egg that he found in a bin for sale in Homebase, his mum was thrilled to learn that they had won a £100 prize. She said "We were aware of the Easter egg hunt, but you never think you can win anything. Although I was focusing on getting my shopping done and Max was keen to look in everything and he just happened to open the bin where we were standing, and found the egg. He was so pleased at just winning the chocolate egg, but when we found out that we had won a £100 to spend in the store it made our day!" Paul Ovenden, Store Manager at Homebase, says, "This was an event that we were pleased to participate in. Although we see many shoppers come through our store every day, particularly at the weekends, this event seemed to attract even more. It was very satisfying to not only observe this increased activity, but to also see our customers faces when they won one of the many prizes that we provided." The Newman family were also winners at the park. Jezz Newman and his two daughters, who were browsing through the curtains and blinds at curtain store, Paul Simon, were thrilled to have located a chocolate egg. Paul Ludwin, Managing Director at Paul Simon, said, "It was a great pleasure to see our customers win one of the many prizes that they could spend in our store. The Easter Weekend was the perfect opportunity to hold this event and we are pleased to have had the chance to unite with other retailers and The Junction to make it a success." Participating retailers included Currys, Paul Simon, Homebase, Halfords, Comet, McDonalds and PC World.