Graham Soult FIPM
LightNews LightNews
banner
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM
@grahamsoult.bsky.social
390 followers 430 following 270 posts
Retail Cupid 💘, high street champion, Fellow of the Institute of Place Management (IPM), Durham Business Group chairman. BBC: "The North East's best-known retail expert". Učim se slovenščino! https://www.cannyinsights.com/
www.cannyinsights.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · May 13
My one day a month of #RetailCupid 💘 work in #Durham is currently running until March 2026, and yesterday I was delighted to hear from another new business that is looking to trade in the city.

Read about how this free support works at www.cannyinsights.com/2025/05/13/p... 👇
Project case study: Indie Durham City phase 2 - Retail Cupid - CannyInsights.com Retail Consultancy
Our Retail Cupid work in Durham involves matchmaking occupants with vacant premises, to help businesses wishing to trade in the city.
www.cannyinsights.com
1
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · 6d
Exactly! 😂
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · 6d
I keep the Co-op bags to reuse, forget they're compostable, and then end up with a handful of disintegrated slivers 🤣
1 1
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
harrywallop.co.uk
Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 14d
The encapsulation of Britain’s post-industrialised economy morphing into a experiential/wellness one.
Visit the excellent @beamishmuseum.bsky.social, go down a 1910s mine and then luxuriate in Coal Mine bath salts from the gift shop 🧐
1 1 4
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
mrsteveleach.bsky.social
Steve Leach 🛒 @mrsteveleach.bsky.social · 13d
Proud to reopen our #Nettleham food store tomorrow after 6 months of hard work, after a fire gutted the building - the #LincsCoop team have all pulled together with a pop up shop to support the community while we’ve repaired the original store 🫶
1 1
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
kientan74.bsky.social
Kien Tan @kientan74.bsky.social · 16d
Completely agree! How many developed markets in the world can say this? And not just for customers but also new entrant challenger suppliers: can't get listed by one grocer, try another one!
1 1
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · 16d
I know Tesco's share is significantly more than anyone else's, but the fact we have six grocers with a share of 8% or higher is notable - when did that last happen? To me that indicates a healthy market with plenty of competition.
1 2
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · 16d
It was nice to pop up on BBC Politics North just now, and be described as "a leading retail expert"!
3
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
mrsteveleach.bsky.social
Steve Leach 🛒 @mrsteveleach.bsky.social · 16d
What a transformation for our #Horncastle funeral #LincsCoop team now relocated into a brand new £1.2m purpose built home to continue to provide outstanding care for our community 🫶
1 1
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · 17d
The #Peterborough store (also a former M&S, snapped by me here in 2018) shows that B&M is capable of a more tasteful approach to signage when it wants!
2
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
kientan74.bsky.social
Kien Tan @kientan74.bsky.social · 20d
🇺🇿 I mean, once in a lifetime, amiright?
Tashkent, you have been a joy… Sorry I only got to spend one free evening, but you were a beaut…
Chorsu Bazaar at night Inside Chorsu Bazaar at night Friendship of the Nations Flagstaff Tashkent Metro
1 1 9
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
bryanroberts72.bsky.social
Bryan Roberts @bryanroberts72.bsky.social · 23d
Sainsbury’s Marsh Mills. 11 sail-like panels to create a nautical canopy to honour Plymouth’s heritage. Known locally as the Sainsbury’s Opera House
1 1 4
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · 24d
Interesting, thank you! I'm definitely eating out less in the evenings - it's just not possible any more 😥
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
harrywallop.co.uk
Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 24d
The piece went online a fortnight ago, but is in print today.
Here’s a gift link, if you’d like to read free:

Middle-class families are choking on the £100 ‘casual meal out’
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/96d6c66...
Middle-class families are choking on the £100 ‘casual meal out’
A table for four hitting triple digits is triggering ‘bill shock’, to the detriment of Britain’s best-known restaurants
www.telegraph.co.uk
5 2 3
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
bryanroberts72.bsky.social
Bryan Roberts @bryanroberts72.bsky.social · 27d
Waterstones in Bradford 🥰
1 3
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · 27d
"Anyone who is opening a business wants to be part of somewhere vibrant, supportive and on the up. I have no doubt Bishop Auckland is on the right track."

Some comment from me about #BishopAuckland in @thenorthernecho.bsky.social today!

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2549614...
Bishop Auckland business owners upbeat on future of high street despite empty units
The Northern Echo spent the morning on Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland speaking to independent business owners who remain upbeat despite empty…
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
1
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 29d
St Helier, Jersey October 2025. Very nice work by Hettich in taking over Burton's Art Deco store site. Nice outside and splendid work inside.

Two foundation stones.

Have sent photos below to Laid By Monty for their excellent site

laidbymonty.com
1 2 3
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
kathrynmorrison.bsky.social
Kathryn A Morrison @kathrynmorrison.bsky.social · Oct 5
Bet not many of these #Cambridge students realised that Gardenia's shopfront was installed for Lennards (shoe shop) by Pollards in the late 1920s. A tad altered, but recognisable - hope it isn't now swept away!
1 2 6
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
bryanroberts72.bsky.social
Bryan Roberts @bryanroberts72.bsky.social · Oct 4
Former C&A. Before that another outpost of the Holdron’s business.
1 1
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
bryanroberts72.bsky.social
Bryan Roberts @bryanroberts72.bsky.social · Oct 4
Former M&S
1 1 1
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
bryanroberts72.bsky.social
Bryan Roberts @bryanroberts72.bsky.social · Oct 4
Bit of Peckham Rye art deco. Former Holdron’s department store. Now a tremendous shop in its own right
1 4 7
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
kientan74.bsky.social
Kien Tan @kientan74.bsky.social · Oct 4
You, a mere beverage simpleton: it’s squash

Me, a sophisticated Aldi shopper: I think you’ll find it’s a concentrated electrolyte water enhancer…
A bottle of squash
1 2 14
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
danielroe.dev
danielroe 🇺🇦 @danielroe.dev · Sep 30
about to go on stage at #TechConnect to talk about open source maintenance and AI.

so much to say.
a screen displaying "Speaker: Daniel Roe, Nuxt" behind a lectern
1 1 28
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
harrywallop.co.uk
Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · Sep 24
I am not surprised Amazon has axed its Amazon Fresh convenience stores. They just weren't very good.
I wrote about them back in 2023:
1 1 11
Reposted by Graham Soult FIPM
tomholder.bsky.social
Tom Holder @tomholder.bsky.social · Sep 20
"Dave, did you write the copy for the new parchment paper product"

"Yup"

"Did you get weird about birds again?"

"..."
2 3
grahamsoult.bsky.social
Graham Soult FIPM @grahamsoult.bsky.social · Sep 16
The phishing account has vanished now!
1