Town centre shops and Parkgate Retail team up for Christmas

ROTHERHAM shoppers are set to get the best of both worlds as small town centre retailers join forces with the big chains later this week.

ROTHERHAM shoppers are set to get the best of boths worlds as small town centre retailers join forces with the big chains later this week.

Six small businesses will be temporarily setting up shop at Parkgate Shopping for a special ‘festive Friday’ event from 10.30am to 3pm on Friday.

Denis Copeland, manager of Parkgate Shopping, said: "The event came about as a result of some brainstorming between ourselves, our town centre colleagues, staff from Rotherham Youth Enterprise, RIDO, and the Rotherham Advertiser.

"We all felt that as we complement each other perfectly - the individuality of the small town centre shops and the value and range of our retailers - we should join forces on one day during the busy Christmas period. We are delighted that the Advertiser not only gave us its support, but also decided to participate."

The six shops from the town centre taking part are Bittersweet Boutique, which specialises in accessories and home furnishings; Props Skatestore, Shocolat - a patisserie; fashion and gifts stockist Yella Brick Road; the Yorkshireman’s Deli and the Whistlestop Sweet Shop.

Shoppers can catch the Free Bus, which regularly runs between the town centre and Parkgate Retail.

Coun. Gerald Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development for Rotherham Borough Council, added it was a perfect example of partnership working for the benefit of local shoppers. He added: "Our Markets staff will be setting up the marquees and Rotherham Youth Enterprise, RIDO and Advertiser staff will be on site throughout the day to promote business support services.

“I am quite sure that visitors to Parkgate Shopping will reap the benefit of such a great collaboration and they can take advantage of the regular free bus which runs throughout the town and through to the retail park and back on a regular basis."

Darren McDool from Rotherham Youth Enterprise added: "Although this first event is a pilot, if it proves to be a success as we strongly believe, similar events will be staged next year. Festive Friday represents true collaboration, and retail guru Mary Portas would be proud of our efforts."

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