Prominent business figures are increasingly hopeful about the economic performance of the core of Leeds. This bullishness is partly based on the fact that non-essential retail and hospitality will benefit from the relaxation of the third national lockdown. Business card printing can get a boost from growing enterprises, especially when the firms in question are located in close proximity to one another.
Despite the current challenges to the high street and the well-publicised issues affecting big names like Topshop and Debenhams, the chief executive of the Leeds Business Improvement District is confident that his area will become vibrant in the future. Andrew Cooper told the Yorkshire Evening Post:
“Leeds city centre will spring back to life and bounce back. We cannot rely on retail alone to aid the recovery effort. Our high streets and cities need to reinvent and reposition, and this requires a holistic view from all sectors of the community.”
Mark Goldstone, an executive at the North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, appears to share the positive perspective of Cooper. He has pointed out that those responsible for urban centres need to focus on delivering experiences online shopping cannot match, noting that successful city centres can mix hospitality and retail well.