Oswaldtwistle Shops

Gayle · 03-12-2005, 16:25

This is going to be a really long starting post

I’ve just taken a walk the length of Union Road in Oswaldtwistle and done an audit of all of the shops that we have there. I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised in the variety but there are a number of obvious gaps in the market but I’ll get on to that later.

Firstly, here is a list of shops that we currently have. I’ve divided them up into three categories for clarity.

Category 1 - shops that we probably have plenty of.
There are two different types of criteria for this category – either we’re over saturated with them i.e. off licences, or they’re specialist shops that would struggle with competition i.e. the wool shop. So, this is not a reflection on the quality of any of the shops in this category.

8 Alcohol shops (that includes off licences and general stores like the Co-op)
7 Beauty salons (including tanning shops)
8 Hairdressers and 2 barbers
7 Sandwich shops (includes 2 that are also cafes)
3 Chinese takeaways (including Bamboo Gardens)
5 Pizza/kebab takeaways (including Franco’s)
2 Indian takeaways (including Reena’s)
3 Insurance shops
2 Pet grooming shops
2 Card and wrapping paper
2 Chemists
2 Florists
3 Chippies
5 Newsagents (includes general stores that also sell newspapers)
2 Butchers
3 Second hand (junk) shops
2 Launderettes
1 Fitness equipment shop
1 Fitness Gym
1 Sweet shop
1 Model aircraft
2 Kitchen appliance shops
1 Equestrian clobber centre
1 Loss Assessor
1 Tool Hire
1 Wool Shop
1 Vets
8 Pubs

Category 2. Larger stores – self explanatory.
Ossy Mills
1 large pet store
1 largish Co-op

Category 3. Shops that could possibly stand a bit of competition.

If Oswaldtwistle were a thriving town (I actually do think it’s on the up but not there yet), there would be more variety in this category. So you might think it odd that I’ve put the Ladies clothes shops in this category even though we do have five nice ones (there are a couple of very nice ones that have just sprung up) but I think it would be wonderful to be such a thriving town that we could sustain even more choice in this area.

There are also a couple of shops in this category that could do with the competition to make them pull their socks up i.e. they’re very run down or untidy.

1 Homecare
1 Furniture (second hand but high quality)
1 Glass/window
1 Book store (second hand but specialises in antique and rare books)
1 Car parts
1 Charity shop
2 Children’s clothes
1 Post Office
1 Mobile & Computer shop
1 Bank
1 Bookies
1 Estate Agents
1 Decorating shop
1 Funeral
1 Curtain Factory rejects
1 Carpet shop (off cuts only)
4 Ladies clothes shops (high quality) + 1 High Quality Dress Agency

Plus – 1 GUN SHOP – I haven’t put this in any category because if it was up to me it wouldn’t exist at all.
There are six empty shops.

So, what else do we need – I offer these as suggestions for discussion, I’m sure there are many other ideas out there.

Men’s clothes shops
Shoe shops – Adult and children
Video hire
More Ladies clothes shops
Book shop (new books)
Electricals – i.e. TV, videos etc
Gift shops
Pottery/plates/cups etc
Named stores – Next, Claire’s Accessories, Boots – I add this with a reservation, would we be appealing enough to attract a chain store?

What else have I missed????????

The other comments that I have are that we have few physical gaps in the street which restrict flow. We have Ossy Mills at one end but quite a gap before the shops start, then there’s another gap between the Tinker & Budget and the Golden Cross. Somehow we need to find ways to fill those physical gaps in the shopping street.

Less · 03-12-2005, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Electricals – i.e. TV, videos etc

What else have I missed????????

There is a T.V. Repair shop near ossy mills, not tidy, not prominent but it's been there over 10 years so must be serving a purpose.

What else?

Doctors surgeries they are another form of business that must be bringing in some form of revenue.

Drug dealers, prostitutes, beggars all of which although not having to pay business rates operate at times in full public view!

This isn't as much fun without smilies

Gayle · 03-12-2005, 18:20

Yes, TV repair shop tucked at one end though never actually see anyone in it.

There are two medical centres and a dentist - suppose you're right, they perform a service so I suppose you could call them businesses. I hesitated about putting them on my list as I don't think they're essentials on a main road - they'd be just as successful slightly off set. They're not what I would call a retail business which is what I was looking at.

As for the other suggestions - they tend to stay off the main road but I'm sure we have our fair share already.

garinda · 03-12-2005, 22:55

Two of the sandwiches shops you counted are also bakeries, and have been there for over 110 years between them. Trade is mainly lunchtime takeaways, as most people buy bread at the supermarkets nowadays.

garinda · 03-12-2005, 23:01

Men’s clothes shops
Shoe shops – Adult and children
Video hire
More Ladies clothes shops
Book shop (new books)
Electricals – i.e. TV, videos etc
Gift shops
Pottery/plates/cups etc
Named stores – Next, Claire’s Accessories, Boots

Good luck to anyone who opens any of the above. We recently had a very nice aromatherapists shop open, it lasted a month.

Gayle · 03-12-2005, 23:03

Yes, that's why I counted them under sandwich shops. I think the fact that they're bakeries is really good and the fact that they're individual does benefit the street. It's a shame that most people (myself included) buy the plastic bread that they sell at supermarkets.

Gayle · 03-12-2005, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Good luck to anyone who opens any of the above. We recently had a very nice aromatherapists shop open, it lasted a month.

The thing is that thousands of people come to shop in Ossy each week - at Ossy Mills - we have to get people visiting the rest of the town!

garinda · 03-12-2005, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Yes, that's why I counted them under sandwich shops. I think the fact that they're bakeries is really good and the fact that they're individual does benefit the street. It's a shame that most people (myself included) buy the plastic bread that they sell at supermarkets.

No problem, I just thought there should be a distincion that's all. The other sandwich shops buy their bread in, my brother's and the other shop, bake their own, thus employing about fifteen more people.

My other post isn't being defeatist as well. I love Ossy, and thought about starting a business here when I moved back, but with day time trade being so quite it just wasn't a viable option. My mum let a shop for the last thirty years to a florist/fancy goods shop, which sadly closed last year because trade was so bad.

People want to live in Ossy it seems, but not shop here. See the carpark at ASDA for the answer.

garinda · 03-12-2005, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

The thing is that thousands of people come to shop in Ossy each week - at Ossy Mills - we have to get people visiting the rest of the town!

Ossy Mills is a great success, though I do think it used to be better about ten years ago, when Mile's Mum was the buyer. It had the same merchandise as Harvey Nicks, but at a fraction of London price.

Sadly there is very little benefit to the rest of the town, even in the immediate vicinity, because people get back in their cars/coaches without venturing any further.