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Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod
I wasn't being pedantic, although now out of retail it's a topic close to my heart. I managed shops in Accrington for over 20 years and actually do know what I'm talking about. It pains me when a well known chain goes bust, it's happened to me twice and ended up in rubbish redundancy pay from the government as the company has no money.
It's a case of use it or lose it, as I have said before, Accy won't get a Next or a River Island, if New Look can't make a dollar here, there's no way.
We now have no book shop, no music shop ( unless you count Custard Cube), nowhere for ladies of a certain age to buy their clothes other than M&S. The Arndale has had empty units constantly for at least the last 15 years,( Cryers to name one) there's no incentive for businesses to go in there, they get a 6 month deal and then whoosh, you can't afford to be open.
We used to have a healthfood store on Union st, and a decent seconds outlet....
Same in the market, we used to have 3 cheese stalls, now we have 1.
The fruit and veg market is tiny, although if you want your phone unlocking or some fake luggage the world is your oyster.
I feel for the the likes of Superdrug and Holland & Barratt, you look around the mall and see what's going on, it's not promising. Glad I am out of it.
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If people can get the same or a similar product for less elsewhere, then that is what they will do.......and as for use it or lose it...you can't use something that isn't there. Shopping habits have changed.......people have less money to spend, but yet the shops open 7 days a week...where is the sense in that.
Opening more days costs more money so therefore eats into profits....ah Yes, I hear you say, but if they don't open then people will go online or to the supermarket.......so there is no real answer. Except, we have been to Bury today and the Market was very busy, (this inspite of the fact that it was a miserable grey day with the threat of rain). Why do you think that is?
It might have something to do with the fact that it is a good market with a very diverse range of produce at very competitive prices.
We went through Ramsbottom......a small town. Even that was very busy, with shoppers thronging the main street.
What these towns are doing to bring in trade...surely, could be emulated by Accrington.