Fashion event set for return after boosting shops’ sales in Harrogate

Retailers in Harrogate have been celebrating after analysing the results of a fashion-focused day designed to boost the town centre.

The Celebration of Fashion, organised by Harrogate Business Improvement District, saw hundreds of garments brought to the catwalk by dozens of local models.

Wall-to-wall sunshine helped to bring out the crowds for the event outside Victoria Shopping Centre, while the Stray Ferret, as media partner, shared it with tens of thousands more viewers online.

The catwalk was filled with everything from charity shop finds to wedding dresses, featuring outfits from retailers including LK Bennett, Marks and Spencer, Morgan Clare, Primark and more.

The organisers and participants have now analysed the results for the day and they make for impressive reading.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“We are very proud to have planned and delivered such a successful event, working with the Stray Ferret and Victoria Shopping Centre.

“Over 40 retailers took part in the day, with over 20,000 visitors walking through the shopping centre during the event. The retailers all saw an increase in sales in the days and weeks after, with certain items that had been showcased selling out on the actual day – which is fantastic to hear.

“We are very much hoping the event will return in 2024 and that it will be bigger and better.”

Crowds watch the action on the catwalk

For Hoopers, the make-up demonstration created an “instant reaction” in encouraging customers to shop in the store, and the menswear department saw a “great reaction” after the wedding and bridal show.

General manager Nick Hubbert said:

“The day was fantastic and for me personally it was about working with the local community of retailers.

“Commercially it’s more of an advert and opportunity to show case our fashion offer, more of the planting the seed and awareness of the product available in Hoopers.”

Adding his voice in praise of the event, Victoria Shopping Centre manager James White said:

“Wow – I think it’s safe to say that the Harrogate celebration of fashion was a true success. I, along with everyone in the town, was truly blown away!

“The event brought a brilliant energy to the town centre, and it was fantastic to see that reflected in both sales and footfall for our retailers. We were thrilled to be able to host the event at Victoria Shopping Centre.”

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