Liverpool's diverse mix of high-end, value, independent and specialist shops are allowing it to buck the trend of declining high streets.
New research commissioned by the BID Company into the city's visitor experience showed over half - 61% - of those who had come from outside the area said shopping in Liverpool was better than other 海角视频 cities.
The city's unique blend of stores proved to be among the most important factors when choosing Liverpool for a shopping trip, 70% of respondents said.
That's despite the "growing challenges" facing high streets across the country, with rising competition from the internet and out of town retail parks killing off well-established brands.
Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, and chair of the Liverpool Visitor Economy Network (LVEN), said: "What is evident from this study is that there are very high levels of satisfaction and enjoyment expressed by visitors to our city centre, which is great news.
"The particular praise being directed at the strength of Liverpool's retail mix is encouraging considering the challenges that the high street faces nationwide.
"It is a must that Liverpool's high street continues to reinvent itself and some of the recent openings show that we are on the right path, including the world’s biggest Lush, Everyman cinema at Metquarter, the newly-opened Roxy Ball Room in Cavern Quarter and Lane7 at Clayton Square being recent examples."
Carried out by North West Research & Strategy (NWRS), the study showed all aspects of shopping in Liverpool scored positively, with approximately two thirds of those surveyed rating each with a “very good” score, with the “range of choice” and “range of good value” shops again scoring the highest.
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It focused on the motivations and reasons people visit Liverpool, the main influences, overall visitor satisfaction and expectations against actual visit experience, and spend.
That involved face-to-face interviews with non-city-based, inbound visitors to Liverpool, which were conducted in locations such as Bold Street, Church Street and Williamson Square.
The view that Liverpool is “a good place to shop for quality brands” was agreed by 90% of respondents, followed by the city being “a good place to shop for cheaper brands” agreed by 86%.
70% of people thought that Liverpool is “good for independent and quirky shops” - a fact that will be celebrated during the BID’s Independents’ Week (July 1-7) and Celebrating Bold Street July 7.
When asked how much time respondents would typically spend in the city centre while visiting specifically for shopping, 58% of people said they spent half a day or more.
The BID said the highest area of spending for day visitors is recorded in shopping - £45, with staying visitors estimating spending in shopping at £59 and a slightly higher amount - £61 - on food and drink.
Mr Addy said: "These results tell us a lot about where we are now and what we need to do to keep our city centre thriving.
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"It is also clear from the study that a friendly smile goes a very long way, with previous visits and word of mouth proving by far to be the most prevalent marketing influence for visitors to come here, 69% and 25% respectively."
Chair of Retail and Leisure BID, and Metquarter centre manager, Jennina O’Neill, said: “While we take these results with great encouragement we know that we cannot rest on our laurels. We will continue to adapt and provide dynamic solutions in order to face the ongoing challenges seen in the high streets across the country.
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"Never has it been more vital that our high street is well-managed and promoted for the benefit of businesses, visitors and locals. To achieve this we will continue to work with our partners to provide additional services through the BID Safety Partnership, the BID Street Rangers and the Street Support Liverpool network among others, as well as raising customer service standards right across the BID network of levy paying businesses."
The next date on the BID's calendar is Celebrating Bold Street on Sunday, July 7 - a street party which in the past has included a farmers’ market, art and crafts stalls, street entertainment and long-established restaurants such as Café Tabac, Maray, Maggie May’s, LEAF, Mowgli and Soul of Bold Street serving.
The event will be the culmination of Independents' Week, a week-long campaign to engage local independents, employees and visitors in celebrating Liverpool's business community.