In terms of future research, a gap to be explored is how the emergence of Repair Cafés on our high streets could positively impact the retail sector, bringing together different generations, skills and ideals to promote a healthy, conscious community.
The Current State Opinions towards the high street are varying, depending on the people you speak to and the area you visit, the public may view the high street as vibrant, occupied by thriving businesses or the antithesis, a desolate street with ‘to let’ signs ruining its facade. One thing is clear, high streets as we know them are becoming a distant memory, times have changed. The high street is a complex entity, with variables and components that govern its health but most observe ‘the concern for the high street, is not a recent revelation’.2 Literature highlights ‘a myriad of external factors’3 that have determined its status. These issues include landlords, business rates, parking/accessibility, footfall, appeal as well as the internet have all taken their toll. Appreciation for the high street has moved in an out of favour, steered not only by current events and factors that remain uncontrollable in addition to policy and governmental decisions that affect its health and therefore, as Parker (et al) expressed, ‘a period of turbulent change’ is presently occurring.4 Scholars such as Roberts often attribute the financial crisis of 2008 for igniting initial change and descent of the high street, because it created an uncertain image surrounding retail, acting as a catalyst for its current condition.5 Wrigley and Brooks confirmed ‘the shock-wave of global financial crisis tore through the UK town centres and high streets’6 as well as Goevert and
J, Phillips, N, Walford, A, Hockey, & L, Sparks, ‘Older People, Town Centres and the Revival of the ‘High Street’’, Planning Theory & Practice, 22:1, 2021,11-26, DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2021.1875030 2
K, Cassidy, & S, Resnick, ‘Adopting a value co-creation perspective to understand High Street regeneration’, Journal of Strategic Marketing, 2020, DOI:10.1080/0965254X.2019.1642938 3
C, Parker, N, Ntounis, S, Millington, S, Quin, and F, R, Castillo-Villar, "Improving the vitality and viability of the UK High Street by 2020: Identifying priorities and a framework for action", Journal of Place Management and Development, Vol. 10 No. 4, 2017, pp. 310-348. https://doi.org/ 10.1108/JPMD-03-2017-0032 4
M, Roberts, ‘The Crisis in the UK’s High Streets: can the Evening and Nighttime Economy Help?’,Journal of Urban Research, 2015, https://doi.org/10.4000/articulo.3035 (Accessed 10th June 2021) 5
N, Wrigley, & E, Brookes, ‘Evolving High Streets: Resilience & Reinvention’, Economic & Social Research Council, 2014, https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/371883/1/ Opinion_Pieces_Southampton_Nov_2014.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021) 6
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