Lowry Outlet Mall reports festive boost

Sales at Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford Quays were 7% higher over Christmas than the same period in 2009, owner Emerson Group said.

Emerson added that sales for the year as a whole were up 3.5% on 2009. The strongest performing category in the two weeks before Christmas was mixed fashion: Gap Outlet, Marks & Spencer, Prima, Flannels, Kurt Muller, Cotton Traders, Dickies and Trespass, which were collectively up 43% over the two weeks. Accessories also performed well, up 31%, and ladies' wear stores including Camille, Whistles, Roman Originals and Windsmoor showed an increase of 9%.

Robert Hallworth, centre manager, said: "Whilst 2010 proved a difficult year for most centres, the Lowry Outlet Mall continued to grow in its sales and footfall due to a raft of new and exciting retailers and targeted marketing. We can now look forward to another excellent year in 2011 with the exciting arrival of the BBC and ITV Granada to the adjacent MediaCityUK site together with the additional businesses they will bring with them."

Emerson said sales in the first week of this year were up 29% on the same week at the start of 2010. Hallworth said he expects the mall to benefit from the opening of the BBC offices at Media City UK just a few yards away in the Quays later this year.