Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

[Really?]

That's what You Tube is for - had a quote of £300 to fix our dishwasher - a ten minute search on You Tube, a £25 quid part and a couple of hours of my time on a cold and yet Sunday - good as new. I wanted to support the local tradesman but many of those have ripped me off in the past they are the last port of call.
I had a plumber from Cannock who claimed he could fix my German Boiler - he did it but charged me £125 extra for a tool he had to buy to do it (even itemised it separately on his bill) - then he kept the bloody tool and became very aggressive when I asked for it.

 

[tek-monkey]

This is the reason there are so few hardware shops nowadays. Imagine the disappointment for a shop keeper when you come in looking for an A5 piece of 5mm plywood. "Bread and dripping for us again tonight Love"

But that's all I need, pointless buying more than you want. The shop on first avenue used to have offcuts lying around you could buy. Ended up getting a laminate floor sample from wickes, will do the job.

 

[bunique]

Kismet Rose looked open today - @Cheeky40 are you not closing after all?

 

[Cheeky40]

Kismet Rose looked open today - @Cheeky40 are you not closing after all?

I'm still closing, the 1st of April will be the last day

 

[bunique]

Ah okay!

 

[Floss]

-

 

[Trumpet]

£25k pa rent for the sheds.

 

[proactive]

£25k pa rent for the sheds.

Doesn't matter as long as you make the sales required. Certainly no shortage of people there to attract as customers, for the right business.

 

[John Marwood]

£25k pa rent for the sheds.

It's a pensioners coach trip wander around area

Purses tightly closed mocking the silly prices

 

[iamlegend]

I've not been in town since before Christmas! It's a shame what the town has come to but most town centres will be the same because the internet will always win on price. I occasionally pop into primark but that's it.

 

[bunique]

£25k pa rent for the sheds.

A friend of mine was saying her other half looking into a unit and the rents are based on prospective income.

My daughter and I spent 6 hours in town on Friday, lunch with friends, a bit of browsing, a bit of shopping and a little treat before heading home. We had a lovely time considering everyone keeps saying there's nothing there

 

[tek-monkey]

A friend of mine was saying her other half looking into a unit and the rents are based on prospective income.

Sounds more like a tax?

 

[Cheeky40]

I did look at trentham, at a 1000sq unit, which worked about a minimum £60,000, which is roughly what I'm already paying, but the more you make, the more you pay.
They take a percentage of your takings however you need to be able to make the minimum rent required otherwise they can terminate your contract.
I know people who have a shop there, and they are one of only 3 originals left since the complex opened.
I have worked both in the Garden centre, and the hotel there, and It is very seasonal, with a heck of a lot of really quiet periods, and many that visit do just go to browse, plus it doesn't help that the garden centre seems to now stock everything that all the other shops now sell, so I don't think it would be right for any more gift shops to open.

 

[tek-monkey]

A cut of takings, not profits? Sod that!

 

[Cheeky40]

There's a new shop coming to Stafford on Mill street.
Chantillys, which is relocating from stone after 30 years
Beauty, swimwear, underwear, gifts and jewellery.
27th of May it opens

 

[Gareth]

Guess that goes straight into where Saffron was

 

[Wormella]

There's a new shop coming to Stafford on Mill street.
Chantillys, which is relocating from stone after 30 years
Beauty, swimwear, underwear, gifts and jewellery.
27th of May it opens

More info from Stone Independent Traders facebook page

 

[Wormella]

On a similar note is there community / page for stafford independents?

 

[daz100]

Matalan is moving from Queens to the old PC World in May.
The Matalan on Queens is being split into 2 units and I assume will get the facelift like the other units?

 

[Lucy]

Ah that's really positive, the PC World unit is a great site.