By ITWA

Leeds Loves Shopping – the UK’s only retail festival – returns for a sixth year with a late night shopping launch event on Thursday 13 October 2011. The Big Shopping Night Out will give visitors to the city the opportunity to take advantage of late night opening, events and offers throughout the ‘high street’ stores including Accent, Topshop, House, Primark and House of Fraser. There will be street entertainment in the Victoria Quarter’s Shopping Affair.

Among a full calendar of events, the Leeds Loves Shopping festival will incorporate: the Leeds Fashion Show on Friday 14 October 2011, and a farmer’s market on Briggate on Sunday 16 October 2011.

In addition, a series of briefings and seminars highlighting the economic importance of the retail sector in Leeds and to showcase the new retail developments in the city.

Deborah Green, Chief Executive of Marketing Leeds, organisers of the festival along with Leeds City Council says: “Leeds has a vibrant retail sector and one that is experiencing a unique period of development. Leeds Loves Shopping is a great opportunity to support the sector. The festival will demonstrate the importance of retail to the Leeds economy and I am delighted by this year’s addition of seminars that highlight new developments and the Big Shopping Night out, which is a unique way to enhance the experience for visitors. Leeds Loves Shopping is an ideal platform to highlight the city’s strengths in retail both nationally and internationally.”

The Leeds economic infrastructure

Leeds offers a combination of shopping with over two million square feet of retail space and 971outlets. The £350m Trinity Leeds scheme, the first major retail led development outside London to start since the downturn, will create 3,000 new jobs and take the city to 4th in the country’s retail rankings (currently 7 th). When linked to the development of Eastgate Quarters, which was granted planning permission in July 2011, an additional £1billion will be invested in the city’s retail sector. Cath Follin, City Centre Manager and Head of Markets for Leeds City Council, says: “Leeds is constantly striving to be the best at all it does and has a long history of success in the retail sector, attracting many high street stores yet providing great spaces for independent boutiques too. The Big Shopping Night Out is a unique way to enhance the experience for visitors and retailers in the city have put together an exciting calendar of events, offers and promotions throughout the weekend to demonstrate that Leeds is a premier retail destination.”

A suite of city festivals Leeds Loves Shopping is part of a suite of city festivals hosted in Leeds that celebrate the city’s diversity. It follows the successful Leeds Loves Food festival, which attracted 40,000 visitors to Millennium Square and other city venues for a weekend in July. The Leeds Fashion Show is a creative, not-for-profit, initiative supporting young people to bridge education and the fashion industry. The show offers promising designers guidance and internship through fashion workshops before theybecome part of the Dress Me Beautiful event. They can then network with established designers and gain exposure to high potential markets.

More Information from: www.leedsfashionshow.co.uk