Co-op Dept. Store in Stafford to close, along with many others

[rbellamy]

Chickens or eggs?

French style markets or English style hypomarkets? ( too much insulin )

If that's a constructive comment, you'll have to explain what you mean.

 

[ChrisLewis]

I partly agree with Sir Terry Leahy statement, the way we live our lives has changed, but if you look at the figures for retail footfall in Stafford it still shows there is a demand for the "shopping experience" as opposed to just purchasing online. Interestingly some of the medieval towns of England are still bastions of the most popular high streets!
Our key issue is that we need to protect the experience and keep the selection of shops.

 

[Gramaisc]

I recall a Frenchman, some years ago on Radio 4, proclaiming that they had actually saved their town centres from horrible development by having retail hypermarkets at the edge of towns. This, he claimed, had allowed the older-style shops to survive. It does seem to have worked, to some extent, over there - but, we must either (communally) use the remaining shops or they'll go - it's our choice in the end. The French are a bit more 'local' in their thinking, I believe.

 

[tek-monkey]

The French also don't put up with BS from their politicians, whereas we just bend over and take it.

 

[United57]

There are a number of towns that are trying to keep the multiples at bay and support independents. Unfortunatley it appears our local politicians want to attract the multiples.

 

[proactive]

...and he's right, isn't he?

To a certain extent he may have a point, but his opinions are solely based on increasing the likelihood of world domination for his company. He couldn't really care less what people actually want, he just want to shove Tesco down all our throats and sod everyone and everything else.

 

[Trumpet]

Just to let you know i've sorted the venue out now, it's cost me an extra £60 but as long as we leave the place clean and tidy we will get £50 back
I spoke to St Leonards and yes they are definately closing in March but exactly when they don't know.
Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Glad you're sorted. Was going to suggest the Conservative club on Lloyd Street.

 

[rbellamy]

To a certain extent he may have a point, but his opinions are solely based on increasing the likelihood of world domination for his company. He couldn't really care less what people actually want, he just want to shove Tesco down all our throats and sod everyone and everything else.

True, however he can't make people shop at Tesco and abandon the high street. We all do it religiously and voluntarily. We, as consumers (well most of us, anyway) are responsible for the shop closures in the town, because we're too lazy to get up off our backsides and walk round the town to shop.

 

[tek-monkey]

Price still comes into it, for many the local alternative is not an option. I'm not talking butchers here, we have some alright ones, but things like clothes and technology just aren't competitive on the high street. People have to weigh up how much they value their local shops against how much they are willing to subsidise them.

The internet will kill the supermarket too, thats why Tesco are expanding so aggressively into local stores. They want the local distribution centres, that will force you to shop there for essentials.

 

[proactive]

True, however he can't make people shop at Tesco and abandon the high street.

He can by undercutting the high street, either by the power of bulk buying which the smaller shop cannot compete with or by loss-leaders like they do with their fuel.

We, as consumers (well most of us, anyway) are responsible for the shop closures in the town, because we're too lazy to get up off our backsides and walk round the town to shop.

We have all too easily been enticed by the glittery jems that supermarkets have to offer, it is true.