Hit the high street

What's new at the Bridges?

From comic merch and contemporary cosmetics, here are the new stores opening up in The Bridges this summer!

Uplift

Not only are the Bridges home to some of the biggest high street names and fabulous local businesses, but they’re also a key player in bringing insightful service providers to the city centre to help shoppers and passersby achieve their career goals. New for 2022, Uplift is a great tenant that offers quick-fire advice for people looking to get into the digital world of work. So, whether you’re looking for IT user skills, advice on completing online applications or want to take your career up a gear with their Taxi Driving course, Uplift have the tools to help you stand out from the crowd. Get in touch with them for a friendly chat on 07535 002 565 or via email contact@upliftassociates.co.uk

Laser Clinic

There’s plenty to smile about this summer as a brand new store for Laser Clinic opens its doors right here in the Bridges soon. With over 180 clinics globally and a team consisting of over 1600 trained staff performing over 2.5 million treatments a year, Laser Clinics are the go-to experts when it comes to delivering spectacular results for men and women around the world. Renowned across the UK for their outstanding aesthetic treatments such as laser hair removal, cosmetic injectables and skin treatments, you’ll be beaming after chatting with the super friendly team at Laser Clinic.

Be More Geek is here!

Head to Be More Geek if you’re keen on flicking through page after page of Marvel hardbacks, DC prints and enjoying a healthy supply of comic merch! Whether your kids are looking to add to their Daredevil collection or just beginning to dip their toes into comic book stores and graphic geekery for the first time, one trip to Be More Geek in the Bridges to wade through their cool comics, games, graphic novels, art and memorabilia will have them coming back time after time for more!

We caught up with James Gee, Managing Director, for a quickfire Q&A

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm born and bred in the North East and am very proud of my northern roots. Needless to say, I'm a huge football fan but I'm also a film fanatic and I love my business and what we do.

How did Be More Geek come to fruition?

Be More Geek actually started when I worked at Grainger Games. I was in charge of bringing in new business at the time and came up with the idea of having a section for collectables and pop culture merchandise in each of the stores. When Grainger Games came to an end, I set up Be More Geek as its own business and we opened our first store in October 2018. The whole idea behind the business is inclusivity and letting out your inner geek. Being a bit of a geek myself, I love the business and what it stands for.

Your expansion across the North East shows no sign of slowing down. What was the attraction of opening a store at the Bridges?

Yeah, it's been a busy few months, to say the least! I've always known the Bridges and was keen to explore the option of opening a Be More Geek store there. It's a really fantastic shopping centre and given the proximity to our other stores, it made complete sense logistically to try and open there. The Centre Management team were very accommodating through the whole process and have been it since we opened.

How are you settling in?

We're loving it! We've got a fantastic new team of staff in the store who love the brand and the products and have started building up relationships with our new customers. The shopping centre benefits from great footfall and I think a lot of our customers like the attraction of our products and of course our Star Wars themed mural. We're very excited to see what the Summer holidays bring and have some exciting events planned for later in the year.

How is Be More Geek different from other comic stores?

Aesthetically, we aim to deliver a vibrant and engaging set-up in each of our stores. Our purpose-designed murals are always a point of difference and our world-famous wall of POP! vinyl has become a key feature in each of our stores. We aim to deliver fantastic customer service in an environment where geeks (or anyone who wants to Be More Geek) can feel comfortable, relaxed and enjoy the experience.

Your advice to other independents looking to open a brick and mortar store on the high street?

Don't be afraid to experiment, especially in the early days. Try a big range of different products in smaller batches so you can find what really works for your customers and demographic. There are tons of incredible products and suppliers out there to try, some will work and some won't but perseverance will get you there. Above all else, make sure your customers are your number one priority and try to relax from time to time even though it can be tough!