Category Archives: Tourism

Orc-(k)nee

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Leigh Sparks

There has been a lot of doom and gloom around in the last few weeks about the state of retail and high streets across the country.  There is clearly a new changed set of circumstances around consumer behaviours and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Cooperative Group, Creative Places, Environmental Quality, Food Tourism, Heritage, High Streets, Independents, Lidl, Orkney, Personal, Places, Pound Shops, Poundland, Public Realm, Retail History, Scotland's Islands, Seafood, Small Shops, Small Towns, Stirling, Tourism, Town Centres, Towns, Understanding Scottish Places, Urban History | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Trends in Retailing and Leisure in Scotland’s Towns and Cities

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

In late November a good audience gathered before breakfast in Glasgow for the Local Data Company/University of Stirling 5th Scottish Retail Summit, and heard presentations and discussions about trends in Scottish retailing and town centres. The infographic at the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Consumer Change, Convenience stores, Data, Food Retailing, High Streets, Institute for Retail Studies, Internet, Local Authorities, Local Data Company, Local Retailers, Places, Policy, Regeneration, Reinvention, Retail Planning, Retailers, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Retailing, Secondary Locations, Shopping Centres, Small Towns, Store Closures, Tourism, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, Trends, University of Stirling, Vacancies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time Out in Lisbon: Part Two

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

Following on from my personal wander around Lisbon and the Mercado da Ribeira (Part One), and on the day after my keynote presentation on retail, consumption and urban governance (the overheads are here), the conference had its own ambulation around … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Architecture, Brands, Buildings, Consumer Lifestyle, High Streets, Historic Shops, History, Lisbon, Localisation, Places, Public Realm, Regeneration, Reinvention, Resilience, Retail Change, Retail History, Retailing, Shopfronts, Streets, Streetscapes, Tourism, Town Centres, Urban History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Time Out in Lisbon: Part One

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

It has been some time since I was in Lisbon and thus it was a pleasure to receive an invite to present a keynote to a conference on retail, consumption and urban governance, especially in early autumn, which is slightly … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Architecture, Brands, Eataly, Emporium Shokuhin, Food and Beverage, Food Court, Food Tourism, Gastronomy, Historic Shops, History, Lisbon, Markets, Places, Regeneration, Retailers, Scotland Food and Drink, Singapore, Time Out, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Small Business Saturday and Craft Town Scotland

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Leigh Sparks

I am not wholly convinced about Small Business Saturday, which took place on the 6th December. Another US import, it is now in its second year in this country. It has had an impact and a lot of publicity and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Community Development, Craft Town, Crafts, Design, High Streets, Independents, Local Retailers, Places, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Small Business Saturday, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shock and Awe

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

I am too young to be an ageing hippie – honest. And I certainly no longer have the hair for it. But a few nights ago we went to the Neil Young and Crazy Horse show in Glasgow. Growing up … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals, Merchandising, Music, Retailing, Sport, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Festival Time – a weekend to die for?

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Leigh Sparks

Edinburgh in August is always a busy place, and this year, despite the recession and general malaise brought on by the weather (certainly in Scotland) and post-Olympic blues, is no exception. The driving force for this is the string of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Festivals, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

They’ll be Dancing in the Streets of Berwick

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Leigh Sparks

The SNP Government, in the form of Nicola Sturgeon, has announced today that the minimum price per unit of alcohol will be 50p in Scotland. With most party support and the inbuilt majority in any case, this will soon become … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Books, Diet and Health, Government, Internet shopping, Pricing, Regulation, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment