A Marketing Manager who devised award-winning campaigns and delivered innovative new events and exhibitions at Frenchgate Shopping Centre Doncaster has been promoted to Assistant General Manager.
Karen Staniforth joined the team at the 800,000 sq ft retail destination in Doncaster town centre in 2015. Two years on, she has been promoted to Assistant General Manager at the centre, which recently welcomed high-profile brands including New Look Men, TK Maxx and Krispy Kreme.
Karen, who has a post-graduate diploma in Business Management, has also overseen a range of cultural events and exhibitions, as well as digitally-led creative campaigns.
During her time as Marketing Manager Karen introduced the centre’s first installation of fringe art with expressionist work by artists from across Yorkshire, before welcoming Les Monaghan as artist in residence for 2016, with his The Desire Project exhibition showcasing near-life size photographic portraits of the public.
Shortly after, Karen developed the concept of the #Paperdolls Summer Fashion Competition. The digital and interactive game enabled shoppers to select and style a full outfit for their very own fashion doll.
The campaign won a merit award in the recent national retail ceremony, the Purple Apple Awards, after judges praised it as ‘a campaign that moves away from the traditional fashion show and devises a new look promotion, successfully incorporating a digital element’.
Karen (47) also devised this year’s inaugural Frenchgate Flower Show and gardening competition, and spearheaded the creation of a new cultural hot spot at Frenchgate. ‘The Art Space’ is currently hosting a poetry exhibition, titled ‘These poets, our kin / These poems, our stories’.
Paddy Mellon, Frenchgate General Manager, said: “We are keen to develop Frenchgate as more than just a shopping centre and give our loyal customers a multisensory experience. Karen has played a pivotal part in turning that vision into a reality for us.
“A major part of her role is to continue to support retailers both existing and new as well as building strong relationships with our stakeholders.
“Her promotion is richly deserved and I look forward to working alongside her as we continue to develop Frenchgate’s offering.”
Karen said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to my new role and I am looking forward to working with our fantastic retailers to ensure Frenchgate maintains its award-winning status.
“I am passionate about maintaining the Centre’s high presentational standards and I will be working hard with our excellent team to continue to deliver innovative and design led marketing campaigns which will engage our shoppers.”
