Stafford shops opening - Turning into a boom town?

Carole · Dec 5, 2023

Tumble weed said:
But department stores don't exist today , John Lewis couldn't make their flagship Bull Ring store work, with unbelievable footfall and passing trade from commuters.

I don’t think that using Sharon White as an example of how to run a department store is a good one. She closed Birmingham John Lewis with high footfall? Why?
Pettiness towards her predecessor perhaps?

Anyway, back to your argument that department stores don’t exist. Really?

Or is that a generational opinion?

I recently had the good fortune to visit the most lovely town of Holt in Norfolk, population 3500.

It had an abundance of thriving independent shops, a few charity shops, I didn’t see any Turkish barbers or tattoo parlours or vaping shops, it had gorgeous coffee shops and the most fabulous DEPARTMENT STORE , which was buzzing with people.

It was a joy to spend time there and to see what can be done when some people have vision.

Tumble weed · Dec 6, 2023

I mean at a guess the sheer size of most department stores would today be crippled by rent alone, before worrying about footfall and customers, or lack of.

Carole · Dec 6, 2023

Tumble weed said:
I mean at a guess the sheer size of most department stores would today be crippled by rent alone, before worrying about footfall and customers, or lack of.

But department stores exist all over the UK, and people travel to get to them.

So, they do very much work if they have town planners who have a clear overview of what makes a town viable.

airbusA346 · Dec 6, 2023

Tumble weed said:
Yeah , that's him . He's out lasted Shorties and the other one that was down by rooster's though. But there is a heck of a lot in town now, but how often do you really change a barber? , I know I tend to stick to the same ones.

I've used Omer since 2019 I think, but I've had to use someone else the last two times due to him being away etc.

Tumble weed said:
I mean at a guess the sheer size of most department stores would today be crippled by rent alone, before worrying about footfall and customers, or lack of.

And the rates.

Mudgie · Dec 6, 2023

Carole said:
I don’t think that using Sharon White as an example of how to run a department store is a good one. She closed Birmingham John Lewis with high footfall? Why?
Pettiness towards her predecessor perhaps?

Anyway, back to your argument that department stores don’t exist. Really?

Or is that a generational opinion?

I recently had the good fortune to visit the most lovely town of Holt in Norfolk, population 3500.

It had an abundance of thriving independent shops, a few charity shops, I didn’t see any Turkish barbers or tattoo parlours or vaping shops, it had gorgeous coffee shops and the most fabulous DEPARTMENT STORE , which was buzzing with people.

It was a joy to spend time there and to see what can be done when some people have vision.

"Didn’t see any Turkish barbers or tattoo parlours or vaping shops" because Norfolk is very much still in the mid twentieth century.

Carole · Dec 6, 2023

Mudgie said:
"Didn’t see any Turkish barbers or tattoo parlours or vaping shops" because Norfolk is very much still in the mid twentieth century.

Perhaps that’s why I like it.

For clarification, I’m not saying that barbers or tattoo parlours or vaping shops don’t have a place, but I personally think a High St or town is better when there isn’t an abundance of them. When there is more variety of shops, a choice of independents.

I used to be supportive of Stafford but it no longer has much of interest to me. For a woman of my age there is nowhere to buy a decent dress or pair of shoes. If I want something I have to go elsewhere.

Theresa Green · Dec 6, 2023

Barbers, Vaping shops, sweet shops, nail bars, car washers, banks and

If anyone is under the illusion that most of these are genuine businesses they are sadly out of touch

Of course, some will be genuine, but you can exclude banks and

GNM67 · Dec 6, 2023

Tumble weed said:
Is the bed shop still a weed making shop ? The landlord posted a letter in the window saying he went to the police and they didn't care

the weed growers did a runner before the police did anything. Then the bed factory took it over.
I assume they are growing upstairs again. But at least the beds are now on sale, although the shop is never open.

Mudgie · Dec 6, 2023

GNM67 said:
the weed growers did a runner before the police did anything. Then the bed factory took it over.
I assume they are growing upstairs again. But at least the beds are now on sale, although the shop is never open.

Arighi Bianchi in Macclesfield has all sorts of beds and other furniture, a massive long established shop.
I was there yesterday morning, and then eight of the town's pubs.

proactive · Dec 6, 2023

Mudgie said:
Arighi Bianchi in Macclesfield has all sorts of beds and other furniture, a massive long established shop.
I was there yesterday morning, and then eight of the town's pubs.

Macclesfield was a town I drove through on my way to Chapel en le Frith and then Glossop, before driving over the Snake Pass and then heading to Bakewell and eventually back to Shrewsbury on an extended shakedown test yesterday.

Mudgie · Dec 6, 2023

proactive said:
Macclesfield was a town I drove through on my way to Chapel en le Frith and then Glossop, before driving over the Snake Pass and then heading to Bakewell and eventually back to Shrewsbury on an extended shakedown test yesterday.

Chapel, Glossop and Bakewell are all towns I've known, Bakewell the only one I've stayed in or driven through though.

Cue · Dec 6, 2023

Theresa Green said:
Barbers, Vaping shops, sweet shops, nail bars, car washers, banks and

If anyone is under the illusion that most of these are genuine businesses they are sadly out of touch

Of course, some will be genuine, but you can exclude banks and

Popup and American sweets yes, but Yum Yum is a pillar of Stafford

airbusA346 · Dec 6, 2023

Cue said:
Popup and American sweets yes, but Yum Yum is a pillar of Stafford

Apart from Yum Yums and Mr Simms are there any other sweet shops in Stafford? Because I don't recall Stafford being overrun with them like Vape Shops, barbers etc.

Theresa Green · Dec 6, 2023

I’ve just spoken to the Prime Miniature about it and he’s deffo getting something done

Either this Parliament or maybe never

Theresa Green · Dec 6, 2023

airbusA346 said:
Apart from Yum Yums and Mr Simms are there any other sweet shops in Stafford? Because I don't recall Stafford being overrun with them like Vape Shops, barbers etc.

I don’t recall Stafford being in

either

Withnail · Dec 7, 2023

Communication works best when you communicate - obfuscation also exists.

Theresa Green · Dec 7, 2023

Len's Lens · Dec 7, 2023

With the new Cloud Town offering drinks & snacks and Munch & Slurp only footsteps away, where would you recommend for a satisfying lunchtime break?

Mudgie · Dec 7, 2023

Len's Lens said:
With the new Cloud Town offering drinks & snacks and Munch & Slurp only footsteps away, where would you recommend for a satisfying lunchtime break?

Maybe not the Coach and Horses nowadays.

proactive · Dec 7, 2023

Len's Lens said:
With the new Cloud Town offering drinks & snacks and Munch & Slurp only footsteps away, where would you recommend for a satisfying lunchtime break?

Telford.

Stafford shops opening - Turning into a boom town?

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