THE MANAGER of Bournemouth’s biggest retail park has hailed ‘customer experience’ as its recipe to success as it remains thriving 20 years after opening.

Castlepoint cost more than £275 million to build in 2003, and still has some of the biggest brands flocking to the site including recently opened Mango and soon to arrive, Rituals.

Centre manager, David Pickett, told the Daily Echo that curated brands was “always how Castlepoint was meant to be”.

“We are trying to tick as many people’s boxes as we can.”

(Image: Newsquest)

Located in Castle Lane West, David said the retail park benefits from being in the middle of a large residential area while also having convenient car and bus routes.

“We are trying to instil ourselves into the community, we want to be in the heart.

“As much as we want to attract people from everywhere, we do not forget that we are Bournemouth.”

Popular brands fill most of Castlepoint’s units, with David adding that conversations are being had with companies to fill the large vacant unit formerly home to Burton and Dorothy Perkins.

David said the aim is for Castlepoint to be a destination for customers, where people can see friends, try on garments and ‘chat to a human being’.

The retail park recently installed ‘chatty benches’ to encourage conversations between customers, which David said have done “extremely well”.  

“It is the experience that keeps shops going, being able to talk to someone.”

He added: “Chatty benches give people an outlet, it gives you a reason to spark a conversation.”

Discussing the balance between stores and restaurants, David said the park must strike a balance.

He said placing food outlets in a centralised location, such as West and East Villages, gives people more choice.

In recent years, Castlepoint has introduced events including the summer screen, showcasing the Olympics and Paralympic games, as well as last year’s Christmas event Festive Point.

“I like to go places where there is something different and unexpected,” said David.

“We do not always expect to be able to sit down and watch tennis while shopping.”

This year, customers will be able to enjoy ‘Festive Flight’ where Castlepoint will be partnering with TUI to transport passengers across the globe in a virtual experience.