Tag: Mary Portas

So, Here’s My Idea for BHS

So what is my idea for BHS?

Well, the clue’s in the name: British Home Stores. Yes, it sounds a bit old-fashioned; however that’s because BHS has done little to shift our perception of a brand stuck in the 1970s, or the 1980s at best.

My starting point is that “British Home Stores” could be a blank canvas for a new conceptBritish Retail in department store retailing – a store that literally offers the best British products for your home. Here I agree with Mary Portas when she offers a vision of a market place, showcasing “young British makers or designers” alongside cool fashion at keen prices.

by Stephen Spencer

Getting Dreamland Out Of Neverland

The news that Dreamland, the reimagined amusement park in reawakening Margate, is seeking a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in a bid to avoid going into administration, is disappointing to say the least.

Ever since Wayne Hemingway unveiled plans to reopen what was once a magnet for seaside thrill-seekers, but more recently a derelict site at risk of being turned into a housing development, there has been a buzz of anticipation around this genuinely bold and inspirational project. Promising that “It is going to be a success because it is a great idea in the right time and right place,” Hemingway could see the opportunity to tap into the “vintage” zeitgeist and create a multilayered experience, appealing to old and young alike.

So, what has gone wrong? And where does Dreamland go from here?

by Stephen Spencer