After nearly four marvellous years at arc Shopping Centre in Bury St Edmunds – and a career that has taken me across the region, from Clacton Factory Outlet to the Buttermarket Centre in Ipswich – I’ve learned one thing: retail is about far more than transactions. It’s about experience. And during the festive season, that experience is at its most powerful when a town works together.
Christmas in Bury St Edmunds has always been special, but what makes it truly memorable is collaboration.
This year’s celebrations began with a town-wide Christmas lights switch-on. A moment that brings residents, visitors, businesses and families together and marks the official start of the seasonal period. From that point on, it has been a collective effort between arc Shopping Centre, Bury St Edmunds BID, the local council, key stakeholders and cultural partners to build a programme that benefits everyone.
At arc, we are fortunate to sit at the heart of the town, and with that comes a responsibility to play an active role in shaping the wider Christmas experience. One of the highlights is our annual partnership with Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal, which brings a charming Christmas Cabin to the centre. Inside, a specially created pantomime for two-to-seven year olds has delighted young audiences and given families a reason to pause, gather and create memories together.
A new addition this year is our Christmas market– affectionately named the “Marcet” as a play on the centre’s name – showcasing artisan crafts, independent traders and creative businesses. It’s a celebration and a reminder of the value that independent operators bring to the town centre.
Working closely with the local BID and Town Council, we’ve also introduced a seasonal synthetic free ice rink during Twixmas. It has added a sense of energy and excitement at a traditionally quieter time, encouraging dwell time, repeat visits and exploration of both the shopping centre and the wider town.
But seasonal collaboration isn’t just about activity and atmosphere – it’s also about purpose. Every year at arc, we work closely with a charity partner, ensuring our campaigns give something back to the community not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. This year is no exception, with Still Good Food playing a central role in our fundraising efforts. Their work tackling food waste and food insecurity aligns closely with our values, reminding us that the festive season is as much about generosity as it is about celebration.
From a retail perspective, these initiatives help drive footfall and support our tenants during a critical trading period. But the true success lies in the atmosphere they create. Seeing families skating together, children captivated by merry performances, and shoppers browsing market stalls is a powerful reminder that town centres thrive when they offer experiences, not just merchandise.
This year’s festive season also carries personal significance for me. In January, I will be retiring, and this Christmas feels like the culmination of everything I believe about placemaking and partnership. It’s about passing the baton to the next centre manager, leaving behind strong relationships and a shared vision for what arc – and the town as a whole – can continue to achieve.
With the support of our fantastic site team and key partners I’m sure that the collaboration will continue long after I step away. Because when shopping centres, councils, BIDs and local organisations work together, the result is more than a successful Christmas programme. It’s a town centre that feels alive, welcoming and rooted in its community.
If there is one thing I will take with me, it’s the knowledge that the most meaningful success in retail isn’t measured solely in sales figures or footfall, but in the memories created and the sense of belonging a place can foster. And at Christmas, there is no better gift than that.
