Touchwood celebrates it’s 20th birthday!
Touchwood Solihull turns 20 on Sunday 5th September and to celebrate this milestone the team we will be hosting a week long birthday celebration for shoppers to enjoy.
After the tumultuous effects of lockdown on the High Street, it’s fair to say that the retail sector has endured it’s share of struggles. However, Touchwood Shopping Centre has been a beacon of light during lockdown, not only setting the benchmark for Covid-safe shopping but for continuing to provide an evolving and engaging proposition for its visitors.
As part of the celebrations there will be music, activities and of course cake! And Touchwood has a giant one, a fitting tribute for a birthday celebration of this magnitude.
General Manager Tony Elvin said, “I’m immensely proud of Touchwood, it’s more than a shopping centre, it is a real community hub. Over the past two decades we have continued to grow in importance within our community and remained resilient in the face of recessions, pandemics and the migration towards online retail, testament to the fantastic support of our loyal followers. Touchwood not only provides a premium shopping experience but more importantly provides a safe and relaxing environment for guests to meet, relax and socialise.”
“For the first time last week, centre footfall was close to 2019 – pre-pandemic levels. It’s a huge milestone and all the more poignant as we see how much the high street has suffered throughout lockdown.”
The popular shopping centre is now home to the only John Lewis in the West Midlands and is packed with over 80 shops, bars and restaurants and with very few vacant units.
Despite the growth of on-line shopping and spending habits changing, it’s evident that customers value a physical shopping experience now more than ever.
“We have learnt through lockdown just how valuable face-to-face contact means to us all and that is why venues such as Touchwood will remain an important part of our lives for many years to come. We couldn’t let this milestone pass without a week long celebration!”
Guests are encouraged to join the celebrations with some fantastic photo opportunities featuring a giant cake birthday cake and a 20th birthday flower wall.
For those that love a sweet treat, the ice cream bike will be serving soft scoop ice cream in waffle cones on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th September.
‘Let’s Get Crafty’ will also be on site across both weekends holding craft workshops for children to make and take.
And to round off the celebrations The Mayor of Solihull will be hosting an afternoon reception to toast Touchwood’s success, complete with marching band.
Tony added, “It’s an exciting time for Touchwood under our new ownership but guests should be reassured that Retail and Shopping will remain at the heart of Touchwood’s offering. Rather than viewing online retail as the enemy we will continue to harness the opportunities it brings through click and collect and showroom style operations. To complement our retail proposition we are committed creating the ultimate leisure and entertainment hub, driving even more visits for our stores.”
John Lewis is clearly the big ticket at Touchwood but they also play host to fashion and retail heavyweights Kurt Geiger, Apple, Superdry, Hollister, Swarovski, Joules, Zara, Next, H&M, River Island, Foot Locker, JD Sports and many more. With brand such as TAG Heuer and Miele joining the team, the future is looking bright.
Touchwood also prides itself on introducing new independent food and drink brands to Solihull such as award-winning eateries Jamaya, Asha’s and Yakinori to complement well established brands, such as Slug & Lettuce, Wagamama’s and Nandos. This Autumn it will welcome three new independent concepts in Dirty Wild Wings, Café Artari and Spanish restaurant Alioli.
Cineworld are also expecting record footfall for the release of the next Bond movie No Time To Die on September 30th. Daniel Craig makes his fifth and final appearance as the world’s most famous secret agent and it promises to be a blockbuster.
The retail sector has most definitely been shaken and stirred, but Touchwood is confident that this is ‘no time to die.’
