Wayfarers Shopping Arcade News

Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, located at the heart of Southport, has welcomed a new store; Gentle Cosmetics.

The iconic, Grade II listed Victorian arcade, has recently seen a number of shops buck the economic trend and Gentle Cosmetics is no different. Selling a range of natural handmade products from bath bombs and shampoo, to hand cream and body scrub the store is a welcome addition to Southport and the Arcade.

Owner Helen Flynn, of Maghull, an ex signage specialist, had no doubt where she wanted to start, and grow, her first retail venture.

"It feels such an honour to have the opportunity to open my first shop in Wayfarers. Its a beautiful arcade, a great location and somewhere that everyone knows."

Gentle Cosmetics is Helen's first step into the retail world and the store is certainly welcoming with its aromas and eye catching displays. The enthusiastic owner is fully involved with every detail of each product including designing, naming and wrapping each creation. All packaging is environmentally friendly and every item is individually wrapped. Helen enjoys providing customers with the personal touches such as presentation straw and dried flowers and fruit in the customers bags along with their purchases, a service she likes to call the 'Gentle Experience'.

Helen continued; "Everything at Gentle is tender on the skin, kind to the environment and a special gift, presentation ready whether its a gift for a friend or a nice treat for yourself!"

Another item that Gentle Cosmetics will soon see flying from the shelves is revolutionary product; solid shampoo. The unusual item works like a bar of soap and provides up to 40 washes to revitalise hair, the equivalent of 3 - 4 bottles of standard shampoo, perfect for holidays.

Nicola Lynch, managing director of Wayfarers Shopping Arcade said; "We are delighted to welcome Gentle Cosmetics to the arcade. We really feel that they add something to the retail experience that Wayfarers offers. Their products are unique, individual and high quality. We look forward to watching the business grow." Read More...

A new store has opened in Wayfarers Shopping Arcade in the form of skateboarding store; Skateport.

The new shop which opened on Saturday, March 30, is a destination store that brings a new market to the iconic shopping arcade.

Skateport, which started off in Cambridge Walks a year ago, has grown immensely in its first year and owner and skateboard enthusiast, Dan Goodman, sees the move to Wayfarers as the next step to grow the thriving business; "Skateboarding is a lifestyle and the skateboard community is massive in the town. Wayfarers is the ideal location for us; the ambience is fantastic and the new store is huge to accommodate the demand that skateboarding has."

Skateport, located on the upper level of Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, sells top of the range skateboards, equipment, and a clothing range including the new brand Pariah, which sees Skateport as the first store in the UK to stock the brand. The store also provides a workshop service to build new skateboards that are purchased from within the store and a 'Premier Lounge. Dan added; "The Premier Lounge is a chill out room for members only, featuring a plasma television, a sofa and a games console. Membership is free and we want people to be able to come into the store and relax, browse and purchase at their leisure."

The arrival of Skateport will see new tenants in the large unit on the upper level of Wayfarers Shopping Arcade. The unit has been fully refurbished to welcome the vibrant new shop. Yvonne Burns, arcade manager, said; "Although it is still a challenging environment for retailers generally, we are pleased that a successful retailer in the town sees the opportunity to expand in Wayfarers. We wish Dan every success."

Dan, who has a retail background, has been a skateboarder since the age of 11 and has always dreamed of opening a large shop which is also an experience to shoppers. Read More...

Southport's Wayfarers Shopping Arcade is proving it really is a cut above with the addition of a traditional men's barbers shop.

Owner of The Master Barber's Shop, Robert Rix, has many years' experience in hairdressing and has previously worked at premier salons in London's West End, Kensington and Knightsbridge.

Master Hairdresser Robert, who lives in Birkdale, aims to bring a quality, personal men's grooming service to Southport, with an emphasis on customer service, skill and hygiene.

'I will offer a full service to my clients, bringing back many of the forgotten arts, such as sculpture cutting, precision razor cutting, hot towel shaves, singeing and head and neck massage, says Robert, whose shop opened at the Lord Street arcade last week.

'I will also run an advisory service for my clients where I will recommend what treatments or styles might suit them best. I think men are more fashion conscious now than they have ever been.-

Robert is also one of just a handful of qualified wigmakers in the UK who can make bespoke wigs, often form chemotherapy patients, but also for fashion. The Master Barber's Shop has a separate consultation room so clients can discuss their needs and have measurements taken in privacy. The human hair wigs take around six to eight weeks to make.

Manager of the Wayfarers Shopping Arcade Yvonne Burns said: 'We already have some top-class hair and beauty outlets for women in the arcade and we are so pleased to be able to offer men the same high-quality, personal service. The Master Barber's Shop is an ideal addition to our eclectic mix of retailers and we are sure it will be a big hit with our customers.

Robert, originally from Yorkshire, began his career as an apprentice to a gentleman's hairdresser, aged 15 and hopes to take on his own apprentice barber in the future. Read More...

Bringing 21st Century technology into the 19th Century surroundings of the listed Wayfarers Arcade, free high speed wireless internet is an additional service available to visitors.

Useful to download an app while you enjoy a cappucino or check your emails over lunch, the free service will be available to shoppers, tourists and conference visitors alike. Read More...