‘Character and experiences’ can breathe new life into town centre, TV star and high street champion will say in upcoming talk
Ways to breathe new life into a town centre will be discussed at an upcoming talk given by a high street champion.
Graham Soult - a regular on The One Show and numerous other programmes - is a man with a plan and wants to help Spalding traders and shoppers come together in a thriving spot which offers ‘character and experiences’.
As a member of the Government-established High Streets Task Force, he has visited the area on a number of occasions and argues the town has a lot to offer with its charm and independent shops, believing the best way to improve the high street is to start celebrating its good points.
Positive social media marketing, improved rail services and doing our bit to support independent businesses are among the proposals he has suggested on previous
Graham has described the town as one that ‘has a special personal resonance’ as his late grandmother lived in South Holland for most of her life - and will again champion the patch at his upcoming talk, hosted by Spalding Civic Society.
“I can remember being taken around Hill’s Department Store and Ayscoughfee Gardens,” he added.
“Today the town centre can’t compete directly with the Springfield’s outlet down the road, but it can offer – and needs to keep offering – character and experiences that you can’t get anywhere else.”
Graham will be back in town to share his ideas as the guest speaker at the Civic Society’s AGM next week.
His talk entitled Reinventing Spalding Together will provide his insight on how interested parties working together can reinvigorate the town by achieving the best outcome for its long term future.
Graham - a digital marketing expert who founded the retail consultancy business CannyInsights.com, which works with independent and multiple retailers on the high street and online, as well as with related organisations such as landlords, local authorities, business associations and Business Improvement Districts - has degrees in architecture and town and regional planning, and has amassed 16,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter).
Based in Gateshead, he travels widely around the UK, visiting around 600 centres in the last decade, learning good practice and sharing his insights.
He visited Spalding recently to prepare for his talk by seeing how the town has changed since his previous visit in February 2023.
The AGM provides an opportunity for people to learn about the work of the Civic Society - who are aligned to Graham’s views of improving areas, as showcased by the recent unveiling of sheep and cattle statues in the town - ask questions, to suggest ideas and even join our committee and be part of the group’s efforts to promote pride in Spalding.
The society is represented on Spalding Town Board, Spalding BID and Spalding Town Forum and with Society’s MARK-IT Trail under way again, it has the potential to open avenues for the Society to do much more in the town.
The AGM is open to members and non-members alike, beginning at 7.30pm on Tuesday (April 8) at Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, PE11 1BT.
