Former Primark store manager takes up new role as boss of Eastgate Shopping Centre
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The Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness – the region’s largest retail centre drawing in eight million customers a year – has a new manager at the helm.
Chris Kershaw has taken up the appointment as Jackie Cuddy prepares to retire later this month after 18 years in the role.
But the 39-year-old will not be moving too far from his previous workplace – he has been manager of the Inverness Primark store at the other end of the city’s High Street for the past seven years.
Mr Kershaw acknowledged times are challenging for the retail sector but he remained positive about the future for the city.
RELATED: £2m pumped in to Eastgate food zone
Jackie Cuddy - the person behind the business
And he has high hopes for the Eastgate Centre where a new long-planned food collective, Loch & Larder, is opening soon.
Originally from Rochdale, he arrived in Scotland when he went to the University of Aberdeen to study psychology and sociology and also worked at the city’s Primark store.
He graduated in 2006 with a degree in sociology and had planned to be a social worker but Primark asked him if he wanted to be a trainee manager in Inverness.
He recalled his first impression of the Highland capital was that it was smaller than he expected.
“I came from Rochdale just outside Manchester,” he said. “Manchester is huge. “Aberdeen is classed as a city as is Inverness.
“When I came for the interview, I thought it would be bigger than I had seen described.
“Loch Ness was further out than I had assumed.
“But I really love Inverness.”
Having worked his way up to assistant manger, he was drawn back to Inverness as store manager after he returned to the Aberdeen Primark store where he was manager 2011 to 2015.
He is married to an Invernessian, Iona, and has a four-year-old daughter.
“I don’t think there is any better place to be raising your kids in Britain or Scotland,” he said.
“I am pretty much settled here.”
He acknowledged the retail sector is facing challenging times.
Footfall at the Eastgate Centre is down 15 to 19 cent on pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.
But Mr Kershaw felt the sector was adapting post-pandemic and was now beginning to show green shoots.
Citing Eastgate’s new food court, Loch & Larder, he felt that if retail could offer an experience on top of shops, it would bounce back.
He recalled when he first arrived in Inverness, everyone used to meet in the centre with its various food outlets.
“To have Loch & Larder, I think will bring that experience back to the centre,” he said.
He also feels projects such as Inverness Castle, which is being transformed into a top tourist attraction, and the recent revamp of the Victorian Market will also bring “huge” opportunities for the city..
“As long as you get people coming into the town, that is half the battle,” he said.
“In terms of everything positive in the city, we are in a good place.”
He maintained there were many success stories in retail.
“I think when it is done right and managed properly I think it can still be successful,” he said.
But he also remained cautious especially with a new price energy cap due to be set in April and people analysing their finances following the festive period.
“I think the biggest thing is the cost of living crisis,” he said.
“I think that has dictated how we have behaved in the last six months. I think it will get tough when the price cap is set in April.
“I don’t think anyone in retail knows how consumers are going to react coming out of Christmas.”
He felt retail offered a good career.
“Everything I have is because of retail,” he said.
“It is hard work. It is demanding. You have to be resilient. You have to be adaptable, for sure.
“If you put in the effort and hard work, results will come and you will succeed.”
Having gained a degree in sociology, he also agreed that having an interest in people was necessary.
“People come first in whatever you achieve,” he said.
In his spare time, Mr Kershaw enjoys golf and motorcycling. He has a VL800 and has done most of the North Coast 500 route.
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