The north’s only designer outlet, the Boulevard outside Banbridge, achieved its best-ever trading week in the run up to Christmas and has ended the year on a record turnover figure.
Trading up 8% year-on-year for the Christmas week, the Lotus Property-owned scheme outperformed local high street, retail parks and shopping centre competitors, with shoppers attracted by the heavily discounted big brands such as Levi’s, Nike, Timberland, Kate Spade ny and Molton Brown.
Boulevard retail director Chris Nelmes said: “Adverse weather and cost-of-living were factors contributing to a nationwide downturn this festive season, but the Boulevard has consistently held strong and we achieved a decent increase in sales from the same period last year.
“We welcomed Under Armour to the scheme halfway through the golden quarter and the onsite team has traded extremely well since arriving, with a standout first month and continued sales right through to Christmas.
“Even Christmas Eve, which presented a significant disadvantage with reduced trading hours between 1pm-5pm, performed comparatively well against a full day of Saturday trading last year.”
He said 2023 ended on a record breaking turnover, more than double its turnover over in the seven years since acquisition by Lotus.
“The Boulevard attracts both local and cross border visitors and has, since the end of lockdown restrictions, increasingly attracted international visitors, especially those visiting the world renowned Game of Thrones Studio Tour, as they have to park and ride from the Boulevard.”
