Retail sales since December have shown positive growth, with an average increase of 1.3%. Promoting Total spend – £669,206 A thriving city centre is a place people want to visit and spend time in. We have invested 66% of the total project budget in promoting the BID area, creating activity and engagement to support the BID community. Retail sales across the UK have seen a decline in the past twelve months. While Edinburgh followed this national trend in the early part of our reporting year, retail sales since December have shown positive growth in six out of seven months, with an average increase of 1.3%.
Essential Edinburgh Events
The two events produced by Essential Edinburgh created a total economic value of almost £5.2 million; for every £1 spent on events during this reporting year we generated over £435 of spend in the city centre.
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
This Saturday staple continues to be a significant footfall draw for both locals and tourists. The Market celebrated its 19th birthday in August 2019 and it remains the only true, certified farmers’ market in the city. Our stallholders are all local producers who grow, rear, bake, pickle or brew their own products, ensuring traceability and an unrivalled customer experience. The market pulls in around 350,000 shoppers each year. In addition to being a footfall generator for the city centre, it’s also a completely self-sustaining part of Essential Edinburgh. It adds to your levy investment from its profits and allows us to do even more for our businesses. ESSENTIAL EDINBURGH Annual Review 2018 - 19 | 8
