AS HIGH streets around the country are struggling under the pressure of internet shopping, resulting in the closure of big-name stores such as House of Fraser and Marks and Spencer, what is the secret of those which are not only surviving, but thriving?

Guy Barker, of Barkers Northallerton, said it had been a shock to hear that House of Fraser was closing 31 of its 59 stores, including in Darlington and Middlesbrough, and said it took a constant effort to keep up with customer needs to stay relevant on the high street.

He said: "We don’t see ourselves as just a building full of products, we want to be so much more than that. Yes, we have great products, leading brands from around the world, but we need to create a pleasant environment and exciting window displays for people to want to shop with us.

"That is not to say that House of Fraser did not do all of that – I think that is what the store in Darlington had been trying to do with the money spent on it recently. "But I think it is much harder for a national chain store to be fully involved in the community.

"We support several charities, including the Friends of the Friarage Hospital, and we raise quite a lot of money for them through events."

Mr Barker said the department store was well situated in Northallerton as the town is home to strong businesses including Lewis and Cooper, Maxwell’s, Betty’s, and Kitson’s and Thompson’s butchers.

However, Northallerton is not immune to the struggles of most high streets, and there are also several empty units, despite the ongoing work of the Business Improvement District, which sees organisations within the catchment pay a levy, based on their rateable value.

The levy funds the BID group run by local businesses that determine how the funds are used.

Key proposals have included marketing to promote the town, new events to draw visitors in and enhancing the town’s appearance.

Mr Barker said: "I think the BID has been a positive move for Northallerton. We have learnt from it and there is now much better communication between businesses, and more events have been organised in the town which helps all of us.

"With the recent 1940s weekend, it brought a lot of people into our store. It is so important to try and get people into the town and stay there.

"Not just as a shopping destination but to experience different events, and I think stores can do that themselves by holding their own events and being more than just somewhere to make a quick purchase."

He added: "At the moment, I think 25 per cent of all clothing is bought online, but that means 75 per cent is bought in store. The growth of the internet is starting to slow and we want to push for that 75 per cent to stay with us."

Mr Barker said the store has evolved beyond recognition in the last ten years, and the management team were constantly discussing new ways to improve the store.

"I think stores can get tired looking quite easily if you don’t keep on top of it. We try to do something each year to keep improving."