Department stores through the eyes of a consumer – introduction

Bournemouth was first established as a leisure town, and has continued to thrive as a seaside holiday destination in England for well over a hundred years. Due to the influx of visitors in the summer, and an ever growing population, Bournemouth town centre has become an ideal location for shopping.

Many department stores and shops have opened in Bournemouth over the years, with places such as the Arcade hosting many smaller shops whilst big stores such as Beales and Bobby’s offer a wide selection of goods to offer to all kinds of shoppers. Each store has had its own ways of attracting business from the population of Bournemouth, and this reflects in the unique customer experiences each one has offered. This article aims to highlight the history of four of these major shopping locations in the town centre, and what consumers have found in them since their inception.