Pop Up Shop in Guildhall

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Went through the guildhall today and saw a vintage/ retro pop up shop next to F.H.Hinds and had a little nosey round!
Spoke to the very nice lady who is/was a scene creator at a theatre, the shop looks amazing but upon inspection doesn't seem to be and awful lot in it for sale.....
Some very nice little things (aprons if your in need of many many aprons)
But just wasn't aware that the council had decided to have temporary lets to pop up shops its a great idea!
Anyone else seen this?

 

[tek-monkey]

Saw an xmas one opposite HMV, but nowt else.

 

[peggy]

another pop up shop in guildhall by River Island, lots of beautiful crafty type gifts, home ware, clothing, beauty treatments and cupcakes, sadly only there untill tomorrow but seemed to house 4 or 5 local little traders. lovely lady said what a shame the rent was so high, otherwise they would have liked to stay longer.

 

[tek-monkey]

Surely some rent is better than no rent? I'd be offering monthly leases at a large reduction if it meant I was still getting something! Plus the place looks better busy than empty, may attract more people? Although I guess if its in use less people enquire about it as they think its taken, so maybe not.

 

[Gramaisc]

Surely some rent is better than no rent? I'd be offering monthly leases at a large reduction if it meant I was still getting something!

But, then you might get all the other tenants wanting their rents reduced and just end up back where you started...

 

[tek-monkey]

Agreed, but most places want some stability they wouldn't have with a short term lease plus if you own a lot together they will benefit from the pop up shops footfall. I'd say if they were known to be making a profit at current rent they wont move, some may try but will they quit if there isn't somewhere better to go?

Of course if you are willing to move store potentially every month then you'd be laughing, but any footfall you create could well end up benefiting a direct competitor when you move on. As an example if I had a potential business for cheap shoes and you'd been selling cheap shoes, I'd be looking at taking your plot and your customers.

But I'm not in business, just a consumer, so what do I know?

 

[peggy]

I feel Stafford town would benefit if these small independant business's were maybe offered lower rates? I want Stafford to maintain a unique, interesting town to encourage shoppers and visitors rather than a cloned high streets that lacks character.

 

[Ecker]

I feel Stafford town would benefit if these small independant business's were maybe offered lower rates? I want Stafford to maintain a unique, interesting town to encourage shoppers and visitors rather than a cloned high streets that lacks character.

Your sentiments are laudable Peggy and I am 100% behind you on this front. However, given that the horse bolted a long time ago and that Stafford has all the dynamism of a tap dancing clam, the chances of anything even remotely interesting happening are probably on a par with Nelson getting his eye back.

I recently went into M&S and was astonished to see that some wit had put a sign over a rack of men's socks which read: "Gift Ideas". If that's the best M&S can manage, they are in for another year of reduced christmas sales (and whinging about it).

A local councillor is moving her business from the town centre to Astonfields Road and will be selling online, does that tell you something about the likelihood of reduced rates for small independent businesses?

It is an established fact that anyone wanting anything just a tad above the mundane would no more dream of attempting to buy it in Stafford than they would contemplate the possibility of flying to the moon.

On a positive note however, I think we all appreciate the chances which have been taken by independent business people and should continue to use them; even if it means going out of our way to do it.

 

[MoD1982]

Ah, that wonderful cycle again. Shops are empty, so council puts rents up to cover costs. Some businesses can't cover costs, rents go up again.

What's the betting that if those empty shops were suddenly filled up, that the rent would magically stay the same? As long as Stafford Council hold the shops to ransom to pay for unneeded buildings and other codswallop then how can they expect the town to thrive?

 

[Withnail]

I feel Stafford town would benefit if these small independant business's were maybe offered lower rates?

Your sentiments are laudable Peggy and I am 100% behind you on this front. However...Stafford has all the dynamism of a tap dancing clam...

Shops are empty, so council puts rents up to cover costs. Some businesses can't cover costs, rents go up again.

If we, or at least i, have learned nothing else this year, we have surely learned that local councils are essentially debt-collectors for central government.

With apologies for quoting Wikipedia (which we have also learned is deserving of the epithet 'stupid clot', apparently) -

For each property in the rating list for their area, the local authority calculates and issues a bill, which it is responsible for collecting, with powers to pursue payment. The rateable value is multiplied by the Uniform Business Rate, referred to in legislation as the non-domestic rating multiplier...

The multiplier is set by central government, and is uniform.

I know we are talking about two different things here, but it must be wondered how many commercial properties within the town centre are owned and leased by SCC? I'm guessing the answer would be in the region of none. Therefore it couldn't be in a position to do anything about 'rent'. It also would appear to be in no position to do anything about 'rates' either, unless i have misunderstood the lessons we have learned this year (which tbf would not be hugely surprising), for reasons outlined above.

In the circumstances i'm perplexed at what people expect the council to actually do?

 

[MoD1982]

Wow, I feel like such an idiot now. Thank you for putting me right on that one. If only I'd thought to look at the mighty source known as Wiki first before presenting my personal non-factual rant, then perhaps I would not be in the position of being embarrassed in such a public fashion by such a smart-arse.

Also when quoting my post I love how you addressed my point of the council lowering the rates if more businesses fill the shops. I am glad you see my point about the rent and thank you for correcting me with Wikipedia, the reliable secure website that nobody can tamper with.

 

[Withnail]

Keep yer 'air on.

I had no intention of embarrassing anyone - i knew nothing of these things myself until it was discussed earlier in the year. I would have quoted from the VOA, but being part of HMRC you can imagine how incomprehensible most of it is.

Also, i love how you addressed my point that the council a) don't set business rates and b) do not own any commercial property so don't charge rent, thus avoiding any answer to the question of what you expect the council to actually do. This is, of course, if i have understood the situation correctly, which as i mentioned before is far from certain.

One more thing, i can assure you that there is absolutely nothing smart about my arse.

 

[proactive]

One more thing, i can assure you that there is absolutely nothing smart about my arse.

Too... much... information...

 

[peggy]

As a parent of small children, public embarrassment is common place in my life, but nice to know it wasn't intentional.
Just a little thought though, I don't remember my post mentioning the council or requesting a solution.
Just hoped I could encourage members heading into town to have a look and then innocently (and quite clearly naively) airing my thoughts on how I dreamed of seeing the town shaped. Always been a a bit of a fantasist.
Oh and I am sorry to hear about your arse, perhaps its a touch of norovirus? I hope it will smarten up in time for Christmas.

 

[Withnail]

Oh and I am sorry to hear about your arse... I hope it will smarten up in time for Christmas.

Well i did give it a good wash this morning, but without a mirror i can't say for sure that it has done much to improve its aesthetic appeal. I have my doubts - after all, they do say you can't polish a... well you catch my drift.